One of the great perks of being a professional Wedding Photo & Video studio and knowing the industry as well as we do, is being able to differentiate between the good and the bad, the real and the faux, authentic quality and undeniable inferiority; real value and superficial junk! The only problem is how to relay all this to Brides without seeming insincere and self serving. After all, this is our business and we would obviously love for everyone to use us! But do we? Would that really be self serving? Many, many wonderful years of experience have shown us that vendors and clients form a “good fit” just like the couples themselves do. We all have different tastes, expectations and needs and the right thing to do is find a great company that is capable, willing and eager to fulfill them and to go above and beyond for YOU – regardless of who they are!
So, without further ado, here are the things you should strongly consider when deciding on a Wedding Photographer and/or Wedding Videographer for your wedding…
Responsiveness
So, you’ve found those pictures you absolutely love online or in a magazine. Now, you want to ask some questions or set
up your consultation with the studio. When you e-mail or call them, are they getting back to you in a timely manner? What
is your first impression, really? If they can’t return your e-mail and phone calls now, do you really think they’ll get
back to you once you’ve paid your deposit? Remember, for your wedding day to be as amazing as you plan on it to be, YOU
have to feel great and not stressed or nervous (although, that’s probably not totally possible, but at the very least your
vendors should not be contributing to it!).
Enthusiasm
Maybe the person you’re meeting with isn’t as “jumping-out-of-his-seat” as excited as you are about your Wedding. But, are
they excited to talk with you and forthcoming and knowledgeable with the answers to your questions? Are they eager to hear
and incorporate your ideas or are they putting them down? Did they greet you with a smile? The fact is, there are many
“professionals” in this industry, but as important as it is to hire someone with knowledge and experience, it is also
important to hire someone who loves what they do; someone who will lie down on the floor or climb a tall ladder because
they see an amazing shot! This is why excitement and enthusiasm are so important. Your wedding memories will undoubtedly
reflect the positive attitude and excitement of the company you hire.
Familiarity With Your Venue
Weddings are generally very similar in respect to what photos are captured. That, however, doesn’t mean that the photographer
just sticks to one list of images to take. Obviously, they adjust to each individual bride and groom, the venue and the
details. It is absolutely possible to take great shots never having been to the particular venue. Though, it is much easier
and much less time-consuming if they have. You will be busy greeting your family and friends, dancing, etc. If your Wedding
Photographer knows the best place to take you for some formal shots without searching and evaluating the lighting situation,
you will have a lot more time for other things without compromising the quality of your pictures.
Price/Packages
So, you may have used some budgeting tools like the Knot’s budget calculator and calculated your ‘budget’ for the Wedding. But
when you seem to call potential vendors, the budget, well, it doesn’t seem to be working… What should you do? First, you have
to understand that most wedding website budget calculators are not based on local vendors – they are averages taken from almost
the entire country and just as property values and salaries tremendously vary, so do prices. To accurately calculate a budget,
first you should write down exactly what you want to include in your package. What type of an album? How many hours is your
entire wedding day, including the preparations and formals? Would you like an engagement shoot with a photo sign-in board or
book? Would you like your professionally shot images to be displayed on plasma screens throughout your reception? Would you
like a Photo Booth? Would you like one or two photographers / videographers? Do you need parent albums and how many? Once
you’ve determined exactly what you’re looking for, it will be much easier to compare apples to apples when dealing with
different companies. Always remember, however, most companies can order/get most albums, so don’t make your decision based on
the albums; make it based on the work in them. And if you need to reduce cost, why not wait to order your albums until after
the wedding? Don’t compromise the coverage that you cannot do over because you want an extra album or you’re taken with the
flush mount. Albums are beautiful, but they stand secondary to the artistry, creativity and coverage of your once in a life
time Wedding Day!
Speak up!
Never walk away from a company if you are unsure of something that was discussed. If you have a question, ask it! This is
YOUR Wedding day and YOUR Wedding memories. If you’re not sure about something, make sure you acknowledge it to the person
you are meeting with. They want to know everything you are looking for down to the very last detail to ensure they capture
everything you want. They also want to make sure your package is exactly how you want it. If there’s something you want,
tell them!