Yes, there are many considerations that need to be explored in the selection of your wedding photography studio. Your decision will not only impact you on your wedding day, but will also affect your entire family, your friends and future generations of family members who will want to know more about their family history. Quite a formidable task - the selection of your photography studio.

In the past it was a much more simple task than it is now. One went by recommendation, by price and by reputation of the photographer or studio that you would select. It’s not that easy today. There are many more considerations that need to be factored planning your wedding.

Remember, it’s through they eyes, talent, heart and ability of the person or studio you select to photograph your wedding that you and everyone whom you know and will hold near and dear to you in the future will remember this most important day of your life. The decision is THAT important!

Who should interview prospective photographers?

The answer to this question may not be so obvious as one might think at a glance. The proper response might well be found by asking another question: To who are the photographs important?

Many bridal couples feel that it is their prerogative to make the decision as to who will be their photography studio. Yet, regardless of who’s paying for the pictures, the answer may well be found in thinking about what the wedding and the wedding memories mean to the various people involved with the wedding.

I would certainly think and hope that as many of the parents who are available to sit down and talk with the photography studio would help in the final selection. Even those who are out of town and not available for an in-person consultation should be included in the discussions. A well-meaning and thoughtful photography studio would and should encourage bringing the parents into the conversation.

Direct contact with the parents before booking the wedding oftentimes means having their complete cooperation on the wedding day. What a difference that could make with when and where the pictures will be taken! Not to mention the stress that can be avoided on the wedding day!

Make a list!

Have you ever thought of making a written list of everything that you’ve always objected to about wedding photographs and begin your conversation with prospective photography studios by seeing how they answer those objections? A prepared shopper is a wise shopper!

To Pose or not to pose?

Posed portraits and family group photographs, now considered to be old-fashioned and outdated by some of today’s couples, are sometimes left out of wedding albums almost entirely. They are being replaced with more and more black and white images that are considered more trendy and artistic.

After all is said and done, however, when the bridal couple gets to see the proofs from which they are to select their album, they are oftentimes quit shocked and disappointed. They often find themselves hard-pressed to find a wedding photograph worthy of framing and/or giving to their parents. What originally sounded like an artistic, avant-garde photographic coverage might very well later turn out to be a collection of assorted snapshots…not even worthy of something that “Uncle Harry” might hand over to the bride and groom.

That is not to say that all photojournalists are not doing their job. To the contrary. Some of them are creating excellently composed and exciting moments of time in their photographs that are truly worthy of documentation. These same photographers/studios are usually those who have tradionally-based techniques in mind when they’re searching for those photojournalistic moments. They understand lighting, composition; facial analysis and much more that go into creating images on a consistent basis – the mark of a truly professional photographer. They know where to be and when to be there. They also understand light and how it affects the images that they are creating, so they know how to take good advantage of available lighting

From how many photographs should I expect to select?

The number of photographs viewed, it should be remembered, is not nearly as important as the quality and substance of the photographs. A significantly smaller number of pictures may be much more valuable to the bridal couple and their families than a far greater number of pictures that are somewhat meaningless.

Is “Traditional” photography a dirty word?

There must be many reasons why traditional bridal portraits and family photographs have been the hallmark of wedding photography for so many years. For brides who still want to wear the traditional wedding gown, who want to get married in their personal church, who don’t want the groom to see her in the wedding gown before she walks down the aisle…who, in fact, still want traditional music during the ceremony and want to be married by a minister…for all of these couples AND their families…there are countless reasons for retaining traditional wedding photographs! `

This is not to say, of course, that some form of more contemporary photography should not be included in the photographic coverage of a wedding. But in what percentage or combination? Rather than selecting a photography studio that considers themselves “Traditional or Photojournalist”, undoubtedly the choice should be to find a photography studio that is flexible enough to be able to provide and adequate mixture of both! In addition the photographer should be one who interviews not only the bride and groom, but also speaks to both sides of the families and who offers a variety of suggestions – something to please everyone.

Something that’s very important to take into consideration when selecting a photography studio for your wedding is whether that studio can provide both traditional and contemporary photography in the mix that you want. A very astute photographer, by the way, will not only offer to do what you want, but will also offer advice to you based on what experience has shown that will ultimately be most rewarding and long lasting.

Make certain that the photography studio of your choice is not offering photojournalism, simply because they do not know how to produce the other. A photographer worthy of photographing your wedding, regardless of style should have a thorough knowledge of posing and lighting. Even if the photographer chooses a style that does not require you to pose for pictures needs to know what looks good and what doesn’t. Without that knowledge a photographer becomes nothing more than an advanced amateur who charges for his time.

Which brings us to the point…

How much are your wedding pictures worth?

To be sure, the cost of the photographs must be factored into the question that helps you arrive at the selection of your photography studio. At the same time, might it not be an equally important consideration to take into account the VALUE for you money that you will receive. Wouldn’t you agree, therefore, that sometimes you’re better off spending a little more than you had planned, instead of a little less that you should? The selection of a photography studio based primarily on price could be a poor investment in the long run couldn’t it?

• So, lets talk about investment. Upon what factors should this decision be made? Speaking as studio that has been a successful wedding photography studio for over 30 years…. and as a family man with children…we have the unique ability to consider the options you have from many perspectives. Let’s first look at the choices you have from the viewpoint of the bride and groom.

For years, the bride has probably been dreaming of her wedding day…the day when Prince Charming will caress her and carry her off into the sunset to live happily ever after. How can one put a price on this dream? Especially, if a photographer can capture that dream and fulfill every fantasy of hers in photographs. Should the price be a specific percentage of the cost of the wedding? I don’t think so. Even a bride who is planning the simplest weddings is entitled to have her dreams-come true in her book of memories. The wedding photographs might well be the most expensive part of her wedding day plans. And yet that may not be too extravagant for that bride!

Other brides may want to astound their guests with magnificent floral arrangements, linens and things that impress everyone beyond all expectations. How will these brides remember all those details? Certainly, they won’t recall those images from memory! There is just too much happening on the wedding day for brides to see and remember everything. Photographs, then, should be budgeted, as at least equal to the total costs of many of those items and possibly even more!

The national average of typical wedding photography coverage is now close to $1500. That means, of course, that many families are spending much much more to preserve a lifetime of memories. How much are YOUR memories worth to you and your family? How can one put a number on that?

You should, however, have a good idea what you may ultimately be spending. Several questions might be appropriate for you to ask when interviewing photography studios. A few that we consider viable at this point are:

• How much money do you think I will ultimately spend to get everything that I want in my wedding pictures? Would that include pictures for families too?
• How much money would YOU want and/or expect me to ultimately spend for you to give me “everything that you’ve got” in your wedding photography services?
• What am I actually buying here? Is the album included? Is there possibly an upgrade for the album that you might present to me later? If so, I would like to be familiar with that now.
• How much IS an extra 8x10, 5x7 etc?

As you can see, a prepared shopper for wedding photography has much more to take into consideration than the cost of an 8x10.

What other considerations are there within the pricing structure of wedding photography?

There could be many hidden surprises that might surface after the wedding in regards to the wedding photographs. Some topics that should be discussed in advance are:

• How will I select the wedding photographs? What will I see?
• Will I be expected to select the photographs without taking them home to study>
• How will people who cannot be present select their photographs?
• Will you photograph the wedding the way I want you to do?
(Gosh, would we like to be there when you ask that question to your photography studio your interviewing!)

Should I listen to well meaning friends?

Of course you should. Some of your friends may have already dealt with photographers and may be more than willing to help you avoid possible pitfalls into which they have fallen in the past. At the same time, however, they may be filling you full of “old-wives tales” that could perpetuate many of the problems that bring bride’s stress on their wedding day.
Our advice would be to listen to what your friends have to say and then weigh their opinions against those of the professionals, whose purpose is to help you get through the wedding day as effortlessly and with as much pleasure as humanly possible.

Remember, a wise shopper is a prepared shopper… one with written questions and places in which to record the responses.

A choice of photographic styles can be confusing. How do I know what’s right for me?

You and your families should be the final judge. You should not feel that the decision is yours alone, just because you may be paying for the pictures. You should definitely consider the feelings of all those who are involved with the wedding.

Ultimately, time-tested and proven photography studios. Unproven, new photographers, friends of the family, photographers who offer to “do you a favor” or to take your wedding pictures “at cost” or for free are ones to be avoided no matter what the cost…especially if they want to take the pictures just to get the experience. THESE PHOTOGRAPHERS COULD END UP BEING THE MOST COSTLY OF ALL!

What about Black and White photographs?

Black and white, selective color photography is alternate approaches to be considered. All of these have merit. They can be a great addition to color photography. I would not suggest that most of your photography be done in black and white, since so much of the beauty of the wedding day is the color. A few exciting, unusual and different images can be a marvelous addition to your basic color coverage.

Can hairstyle and make-up affect photography to any great extent?

Unquestionably yes! Make-up should be blended from the jaw line smoothly onto the neck. A sharp demarcation of skin tones will be picked up in your photographs and become a terrible distraction. Strong shades of eye color, especially white, can call attention you your make-up rather to your eyes. Make-up for photography is not necessarily your regular make-up for eveningwear. It must be very subtle.

Hairstyles, too, can become very distracting. Long, soft curls on both sides of your face may be very fashionable, but they also cause shadows on the face and can create unbelievable problems. Hair should be styled professionally, even if you want to retain your “natural” appearance. Most women’s faces can be nicely flattered by professional hair stylists who know how to analyze faces and work individually with their clients. New and different hairstyles should be tried in advance and with your headpiece in place.

Preparedness stress!!!

But most of all, you MUST know that more stress on the wedding day is caused by beauticians who go over their allotted time for hair and make-up than any other single factor. They oftentimes think that theirs is the only important factor in the preparation of the bridal party to walk down the aisle. Photographers are often forced to MAKE-DO with shortened periods of time for their picture taking, because of the bride being late by their hair stylist and make-up people. Unless your beautician can guarantee your final touch-ups to be completed within your schedule for photographs, you should definitely find someone else.

Do I REALLY want to see the “REAL ME?”

Okay, then you must consider the following: Do you really want to capture the “real” you? Is that what you’re really looking for? After all, if you were looking for that, would you be dressing special for the occasion? Would you be having your hair and make-up done special for this day? No, I have to think that you would like to have you and your day idealized you probably want to have a photographer who is capturing you at your very best. If that’s the case, then here is a set of questions that might be a way to get to know the real capabilities of your prospective photography studio:

Do you prefer a “hands-on” or “hands-off” approach to wedding day photography?

Some photographers tend to pose people when photographing them. This is considered to be a “hands-on” style. Other photographers remain on the side and capture the moments as they are actually taking place – the “hands-off” approach. There is, of course, benefit, in both styles. Undoubtedly, a blend of the two would be the best response to this question.

Where would you be placing the emphasis in your photography? On the wedding party? The family? Faces? Feelings?

Be certain that you agree with the answers here. Too often photographers look for little details, but miss the things that will be most important to you after the wedding. Of course, it’s YOUR responsibility to let your photographer know exactly where you want the emphasis to be placed. If you were not certain, then it would be incumbent upon you to ask the photographer for advice and then weigh the thoughts of one photographer’s against those of another.

The timing element of photography on the wedding day (when the pictures will betaken) is one that has the potential for causing a lot of stress, this is a major consideration in the planning of a stress- free wedding day. Ask your photographer how you might best plan the picture taking to avoid stress.

Decide for yourself whether or not the photographer is making sense. Have an open mind here; After all, undoubtedly this photographer has more experience than you have had on this topic. He/she can possibly guide you away from making drastic mistakes in the planning of your schedule for your wedding day.

The suggestions may be different from how you had originally thought of planning your wedding day, if so, they should be considered and evaluated seriously. If the photographer leaves it entirely up to you to make the decisions as to when, where and how to have photographs created on the wedding day, I would suspect that the photographer has not had enough experience to guide you well. I would definitely take this as a clue to inexperience and/or the inability of the photographer to learn from past experiences.

How do you feel about my wanting to take pictures together with the groom only after the ceremony? I don’t want him to see me on the wedding day before I walk down the aisle.

The response to these questions/statements could be a make or break situation in the selection of the wedding photographer who is right for you. The photographer whom you select should be flexible on this issue. One who is adamant that his/her is the only correct way is, in our opinion, one who should be scrutinized much more deeply.

There is no correct answer to this…other than to give the benefits of having your pictures taken with the groom before or after the ceremony. I have no personal desire here other than to acquaint you with the facts. I would hope that your prospective photographer would use the same approach.

Here’s an interesting fact regarding the reality of the photographer and your relationship at your wedding: The results that show up in your photographs will be in direct proportion to your cooperation with the photographer. The rapport that you establish right from the first meeting with your photography studio will eventually affect each and every memory you have on your wedding day.

How will the photographer know whom to include in the pictures?

Your photographer cannot be expected to know whom the important people are that you want to be certain to be certain to get into your photographs. For that reason a list should be made of those who are most important to you. That list should be given both to the photographer AND to one person from both the bride’s side and the groom’s side of the family, whom you designate to bring those people to the photographer. This may sound arrogant, but please consider this…the photographer cannot possibly have the time to locate people, while trying to keep up with the flow of the day. His/her job of course is to produce the images.
Should I be concerned with the photographer’s equipment?

I don’t think that you should worry about the photographer’s equipment, other than to make certain that he/she has back-up equipment for when there is a mechanical failure.

What about feeding the photographer?

Absolutely yes! The photographer is usually the first one on the job and one of the last to leave. Unless fed, you cannot expect him/her to retain full strength to complete the job correctly.

What happens in the event of a photographer’s inability to be at your wedding? Is there a back up?

I don’t even have to discuss the importance of that with you. However, if your interviewing a small photographer that works from his/her home, ask them to be specific with you regarding the back up plan. Who is the back up photographer exactly? You will want to know this.

What is your gut reaction at the conclusion of the interview? Should you make a commitment or go see others?

I would think that if your comfortable with the answers to all of the above topics; you’ve found yourself the right studio. I’d leave a deposit, as long as you have the assurance that you have “x” number of days to reconsider without penalty.

In conclusion…

If you’ve been able to stick with all of this…throughout this incredibly detailed list of suggestions as to find the right photography studio for your wedding, you have to also become aware that this decision can and should NOT be made with only your own feelings in mind.

Undoubtedly, all the family members of the bride and groom will be affected by your decision. And what about the possibility that future generations of family members may be interested in knowing some of their history? Are they to be considered, too, when making your choice?

Yes, the choice of your wedding photographer is more important than any other single factors in the preparation of your wedding day. Do it with caution and with confidence.

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