photographers

Meet with your top-choice photographer in person, before your big day

This week we look at a few wedding photography issues - from choosing the person who will ultimately document your wedding on film, to ordering reprints after the fact.

Having the internet to help view different photography portfolios and sample wedding galleries is a HUGE timesaver for brides and gooms today, but this research will only be the beginning of the story. It is up to you to do your own due diligence and meet in person with your top choice photographers to make sure that you "click" with them. If you and your photographer share the same vision and have a great working relationship, it'll show in your photos.

A quick photography checklist

In addition to getting to know your photographer on a more personal level, here is a good list of questions that you'll want to be sure to ask during an initial meeting:

1. What is the payment/deposit procedure?
2. What is your cancellation policy?
3. What is your policy/cost for overtime, should my wedding run longer than scheduled?
4. Do you have a standard list of photos/poses that I can choose from? (Ex. Bride and Father Dancing, Exchange of Rings at Ceremony, Cake Cutting at Reception, etc.)
5. How soon after the wedding will I be able to review the proofs? How many proofs will I receive?
6. When will I receive my wedding albums?

Do you have a website where our family and guests can order additional prints?

An important note:

Most experienced wedding photographers will charge quite a bit extra for orders of additional prints and/or for selling you the original negatives. Some photographers won't sell the negatives at all. Find out up front what these costs are, and what your photographer's policy on obtaining negatives is.
Finally, make sure that the photographer you choose will be the one who will actually be photographing your wedding. If you're dealing with a large company who has several photographers available, they may send whomever is available on your wedding date. Be sure to get this in writing, as part of your contract with the photography company.

Wedding Quote of the Week

My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.--from "Romeo and Juliet" (1595), William Shakespeare