First, find out what style of photography you like. Then do a little research. Go through your social media and see if there are any photographers whose work you like. Browse through their portfolio and see if you like their style, if you do, contact them, and find out about the cost and their hourly rate. Photography services are often offered by the actual photographer or via a company. If you are dealing with the photographer directly, then there is nothing to worry about. Make sure you speak to the photographer whose work you have already seen and like. There is however, a little caveat here to be aware of and that is the authenticity of the work you see on the photographer’s profile. Sometimes, they put other photographers’ works on display just to attract customers. This has happened to me before. It is very difficult to prove that the work belongs to the person who claims it. There are ways to be sure. A video production company, however, works differently. They often provide both wedding videography and photography packages. This way, most of the wedding photos they put on display on their website correspond with a wedding video of the same couple they have also filmed. This way, you can be sure that they have truly done the work and have experience in what they claim.
Try the engagement photo session as a trial run.
The photographer or the video production company you decide to hire often offer a free engagement shoot session as part of the popular packages they have on promotion. This is an ideal opportunity to first get to know the photographer, finding out if you can connect with him/her and see the results and their quality of work. This way, if you don’t like it, you can always hire someone else before it’s too late.
Ask even the most trivial questions.
There are so many questions to ask, but which will bear the most revealing responses? To get a good feel for your photographer, here’s one you shouldn’t skip. “‘What is your attitude towards wedding day photography?’ It is important to not only know the photographer’s style of images, but the way that they shoot to get those images. Are they like a fly on the wall, or do they like to get right in there posing people and creating moments throughout the day? Do they capture a lot of candid moments?
Find out about the rights to your photos.
At Afrang Media Productions LLC, we always pass all rights to clients and provide them with the best quality photos in JPEG format. We don’t, however, provide raw footage. Raw files. Raw files are the photos right out of the camera before going through the editing process which entails color corrections, white balance corrections, perspectives, cropping, exposure corrections and many other factors that could make a photo stand out and look amazing. That said, if a client requires raw photos, all they have to do is ask. We can always work something out.
Ask about the turnaround time.
A turnaround time for a typical 8-hour wedding shouldn’t be more than a couple of weeks. Of course, that all depends on how busy your photography or the video production company you hired, are! Some photographers and or companies often will allow you to have a few photos of your wedding within 24-48 hours of the wedding so that you can share with friends and family while waiting for the rest. However, you need to ask in most cases.
Make sure you connect!
Look for a sincere, prepared, pleasant photographer, because that’s who you will be spending your entire day with.
It is always helpful to set up a video chat or meeting before booking. This gives couples an idea of who the photographer or the company they are planning to hire is, and vice versa. There have been plenty of times we’ve talked and even met with a couple, and it just didn’t feel like we’d be the right personality type or style for their day—and that’s OK. You must find someone you feel comfortable with, who you like, and who you trust, because we are the artists you trust with your most precious moments and memories. Engaging well with your photographer means you can just let them capture your day and create in a way that is not only true to your wedding day, but to who they are as an artist. It is just a win-win for everyone.
So, when it comes to selecting your wedding photographer, it all comes down to choosing someone who lives with your visual style and you as a person. When you have a genuine connection with your photographer, they’ll do a better job capturing your emotions—your love, your joy, your tears,.... Years from now, your photos will be all you have to remember and reflect on, and you’ll thank yourself time and again for investing in them.