Wedding photography tips for brides
by Shang
Shang Chen, an independent professional wedding photographer, shares 5 tips for choosing a wedding photographer for your special day.
Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb receives no form of compensation from this vendor.
1. Start early! The most sought-after photographers are usually booked at least one to 1.5 years out for popular dates, and on average, photographers get booked around 6-9 months prior to a wedding date. Start by looking at both the WPJA (Wedding Photojournalist Association) and the PPA (Portrait Photographers of America) websites for professional, accredited photographers. Other great places to search include Yelp, WeddingWire, The Knot, typing the Google search term "[your city] wedding photographer", and getting recommendations from your wedding planner or wedding venue.
2. Have an idea for your budget. If you're not sure where to start, you can type in your zipcode at http://www.costofwedding.com/ for some average expense statistics. The cost of photography might seem high, but this is also because many photographers spend a week or more working on your images and albums and are limited to only shooting a couple dozen weddings a year.
3. Understand what goes into your package, especially the amount of work that goes into the photographs, and don't be afraid to ask more questions! Ask your photographer whether the images you'll receive will come straight out of the camera, will be lightly-edited, or will be heavily retouched. Find out around how many images you might be able to expect. Other things you'll want to consider include the cost of the photographer handing over the digital files to you, the albums and prints, and other considerations such as additional photographers, travel fees, and taxes.
4. Pick a photographer for the style of their photographs and for his/her personality. Once you've found photographers within a similar budget, narrow your selection to a photographer whose photos you really respond to. Look at entire weddings done by the photographer. Check to see if he/she has a blog or slideshows. If photo quality and packages are comparable between photographers, you'll want to ask yourself if you click with the photographer. Consider how he/she communicates with you, how he/she sounds on his/her blog, and simply, how comfortable you are with this person. You'll have to trust him/her because the photographer will be spending a significant chunk of your day with you, often including when you're putting on your wedding gown!
5. Ask for everything in writing. Paperwork is important because it has the power to protect your interests and money. The best way to secure a photographer is to send in your retainer and contract as soon as you're willing to commit. There may be other people inquiring for your same date, and many photographers do not hold dates.
Shang Chen (Shang Chen Photography) is a wedding photographer based in Boston. Her favorite part about weddings is witnessing the families and friends who take part in the extraordinary union of two people.
