It may be years from now when you realize the importance of having hired a good photographer.
But how do you choose the right one?
First, don’t hire a relative, unless that relative is a professional. Just because Uncle Ira wants to do you a favor by shooting your pictures isn’t a good reason to let him. Tell him you’d be happy, of course, if he’d like to bring his camera to take snapshots for himself.
When selecting a photographer, ask friends, family and co-workers for referrals. Word of mouth is the best way to select any vendor. Still, it’s always good to do your own research.
Next, set up an appointment with three or four or more and make sure you actually meet and talk with the photographer who shoots weddings. Look at as many photos as he or she will show you. If you don’t like the style, leave courteously.
Many couples are choosing to limit the number of posed pictures and are requesting less-intrusive candids. In time, a photo of your mother helping with your headpiece may mean more than a stand-up picture of you and mom with pasted smiles.
Some photographers aren’t apt at candids. If this is your interest, make sure the photographer knows your desires and has attractive samples of candid work.
Get what you want in writing and have everyone sign. That way, if something goes wrong, you can prove you had a mutual agreement. Make sure that the photographer’s name is in writing and that he or she doesn’t send an assistant to shoot your wedding, although many use assistants to help.
Find out if the photographer has shot at your particular wedding site before. It helps to know the lighting and restrictions of the rooms. If not, request that the photographer visit the sites beforehand.
Find out how many rolls the photographer will shoot. The more pictures taken, the more you’ll have to choose from. Decide whether you’ll want black and white, color or both.
The money part is tricky. Definitely establish ahead of time what is owed when, and whether it is refundable if you decide to cancel. Most photographers request 50 percent up-front.
Find out, too, whether there is a charge for overtime and if you can hold off payment until the proofs are ready.
Also, a photographer isn’t required to turn over the negatives unless it’s been guaranteed beforehand.
As a rule of thumb, you may want to allocate 7 percent to 10 percent of your wedding budget to photography. Fees generally begin around $500, but can rise from $1,000 to $30,000 for a big-name professional.
Be sure to give the photographer a wedding program, so he or she knows the schedule, a list of everyone in the bridal party and addresses of the wedding and reception sites.
Things do go wrong occasionally. If you get back awful photos, consider asking to have the prints redone.
If the film is destroyed or missing, the photographer should arrange to reshoot you, the groom and the wedding party at no charge. Make sure this is stipulated in the contracts.
Of course, the photographer can’t re-create your wedding day, but returning to the site is a good start. If the new shots don’t work, request a refund, which you’ll only get if the photographer hasn’t lived up to the arrangement.