** photo courtesy of Melissa Miksch Photography www.melissamiksch.com **
Budget, budget, budget...... MUST. STAY. ON. BUDGET.
Sound familiar?
This is often the first thing I hear when I meet with couples. The infamous budget. We all have one, or do we? Some are more detail oriented or are much more disciplined to follow one. Others find themselves overspending and left scrambling to find the means and resources to pay for expenses that come alongside a wedding. Where can corners be cut? Is it the guest list or will it be on a service? Often times it is one of the services being paid for and too often I see it in the areas of photography, planning, or music. Right now, I want to turn your attention to the subject matter of wedding photos. (More on the latter, later.)
There is a saying about good intentions. Often times, couples may be approached by a well-meaning family member or friend who offers to be the wedding photographer to help save the bridal couple money. Who doesn't think free or "just a few hundred bucks" sounds better than $1500 - $5000? I myself am a lover of a good deal but you must be careful because you always will get what you pay for.
I remember a story told to me by a bride I served several years ago. Her friend hired a "photographer" from Craiglist for "cheap". (In my modest opinion, cheap and wedding should NEVER be used in the same sentence.....) Upon arrival, the "photographer" had in hand his "equipment", which was a camera phone. This was at the height of the magical, mystical invention of the camera phone for the common folk. In absolute horror, the bride and her family were scrambling to locate someone with a camera just hours before the festivities were to begin. They were left out of pocket "a few hundred bucks" and had resorted to purchasing disposable cameras that they handed out to their guests to use.
Definately far from picture perfect memories.
During my eight year career as a wedding officiant, I have worked with many a photographer. Just like anything wedding related, there are many choices. Creativity and skill are important factors just as much as price. Remember, you are paying for the service and the person's time, equipment, second shooter (or assistant), too. What is the personality of the photographer? How is his or her customer service? What is their turn around time on average to get the final product back? Is there the option of owning the rights to your photos? Can the photographer use your wedding photos in their advertising, their portfolio, or enter your smiling faces into competitions? These are a few questions to keep in mind after you ask if they are available to shoot your nuptuals.
Often times, the photographer(s) will be the ones to work with the couple from the start to the end of the wedding day. After the ceremony is done, after your hair and makeup is on, and after the paperwork is signed, you can imagine there are still images you would like to have documented afterwards. How about that father/daughter dance? The cutting of the cake? How about a random shot of your bridesmaid dancing with her future husband? These are often highlights of the reception afterwards. Do you really want a stuffy, arrogant, or aloof person behind the camera?
Word of mouth is just as important as online reviews. Did a co-worker recently get married? Or do you have a friend who uses the same photographer to take her family photos as she did when she got her senior portraits done? Don't be afraid to ask around. Ask for referrals to photographers from your wedding venue, the catering company, or your wedding officiant. Regardless of how you find your photographer, remind yourself that this day with the person you marry will only come once. Your photographer will help you remember events of your special day that you may need a picture or two to jog your memory.
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