Happy Hump Day! So there are tons & tons of articles on why you should hire a professional photographer…I’m speaking strictly of weddings in this instance…and every one of those articles suggest different things. But I wanted to give my prospective clients my view on it…which some may think is either a really good idea or a really bad one. I think it’s a good one because if I can get just *one* future bride to stop and think before she hires a photographer…then this post was a success to me.
What sparked this post is the all the recent wedding inquiries I’ve been receiving. Ninety-five percent of the girls inquiring do not even introduce themselves or ask if I even have their date available. They jump straight to the question of “how much will my wedding pictures be?” That’s it, nothing else. Granted a few do start off with “I love your work & the quality…” but then it goes off on a tangent of “but I need you to be really cheap.” I’m sorry, what?!?
That makes me sad girls because as a photographer who is potentially going to be shooting one of the biggest days of your life…I want to know more about YOU! You’ve put a lot of time & effort into planning your wedding & I would LOVE to hear more about it! I LOVE my brides & become great friends with them as we go through the wedding process together from shooting their engagements, then their bridals, the wedding & sometimes their “trash the dress” sessions! Some of my brides plan up to a year in advance…that’s a whole year I get to know them better! Which is a great thing!
YES, there will always be someone cheaper than myself & always someone better than myself. I pride myself on my quality of work, my ability to produce images you’ll love. I always tell my clients if it’s not a product I would own myself or hang on my own wall…I wouldn’t sell it to you. I have high expectations of my own self & always hold myself accountable! With today’s technology almost everyone I know (non-photographers) has an entry level DSLR. Thus making it very easy for someone to pick up a camera and call themselves a “wedding photographer.”
Your decision on hiring a photographer should not be based solely on price & who can do it the cheapest. I’m a firm believer “you get what you pay for.” When you email potential photogs you need to be asking them a ton of questions! If they can’t or refuse to answer you back, then maybe it’s a sign to look elsewhere.
I LOVE when a girl emails with a list of questions, or calls with her list in hand…you can never ask too many questions! Your wedding photography is an *INVESTMENT* & should be treated as such by doing your research! Yes, wedding photography is expensive. If it’s a deal that’s too good to be true, then it typically is.
So girls here’s some DO’s & DON’T’s to think about when contacting (or hiring) a photographer who may end up shooting your wedding!
DO:
Introduce yourself…at least say “Hi!” (if contacting via email)
If you have a budget…let em’ know.
Give a few details about location of wedding and reception…or at least one you have in mind if you haven’t booked one yet.
Check out the photographer’s work online…if it’s not enough & price list fits your budget…request a meeting to see more samples.
Ask questions about equipment, time it takes to edit, products, travel fees, how long they’ve been in business, how often they shoot, etc. If you’re booking a photog for your wedding who advertises “wedding photography”…yet they don’t have any wedding images to show…don’t you want to know why?
Meet a potential photographer you’re seriously interested in to see if you even get along. You won’t be comfortable taking pics all day if you can’t be comfortable around your photographer.
Ask any & all questions BEFORE you sign a contract.
Keep in mind a photographer does not *have to* shoot your wedding just because you want em’…they choose to.
DON’T:
Hop around from site to site and just “price shop.” Check out the quality of work first. The images should catch your eye & make you want to see more. If the images don’t do that for you then why inquire about their pricing?
Immediately ask for a discount. Yes, we all know the economy is bad…but it’s like that for EVERYONE!
Assume anything is “included” or “free”…always ask. If anything differs from original package…get it in writing.
Have you mom/sister/aunt inquire & set everything up for you…I’m shooting YOUR wedding that day…not theirs. It’s important you have a say so. Feel free to bring em’ to a meeting for support…but I want to hear about your day from YOU.
Name other photogs who will shoot for less & ask “So what are you going to do for me if I hire you instead?” Ummm…nothing…feel free to hire the other photographer.
Say “I’ll get back to you…” and then never do. I know it’s hard sometimes but follow up whenever you can…even if it’s to say you’ve decided on someone else. It doesn’t hurt my feelings…promise! 
Disclaimer: These are not written in stone by any means. They are merely my suggestions based on requests/questions I receive on a regular basis. The bottom line is “do your research.”
At the end of the day when it’s all over with & everyone’s gone their separate ways…one of the most important things left besides the marriage itself are the images. Don’t trust that task with just anyone!
To my current 2010 brides…I cannot wait to shoot your weddings! To my future, prospective brides…I can’t wait to hear more about YOU & YOUR DAY! 
xoxo
Amy
by Amy Gibbons
3 comments
add a comment link to this post email a friend