Wedding Photography FAQs
(Courtesy juliepepin.com)
When should I start organising my wedding photographer?
Choosing a wedding photographer is something that should be done as soon as the date and venue are booked. Most good photographers will have their schedules planned months in advance and will not often have something available at short notice. If you are keen to have a spring/summer wedding (the busiest wedding season), then it is imperative that you get your preferred photographer booked by early winter to avoid missing out.
What sort of wedding photographer should I choose?
This will ultimately depend on how you want to look in the pictures on the day. But there are two types of photographers that many people opt for – event-based and stylistic. Event-based photographers look to try and capture the essence of each moment of the day looking to emphasise the moment over those in the shot. This is great for capturing the little stories that unfold throughout the day such as the ceremony itself and all the dancing and jokes that occur at the reception. Stylistic photographers take a more glamorous approach to their work and will place the bride, groom and characters as the point of interest which is perfect for portrait shots and seeing how each guest reacts during the day.
How can I pick a good photographer?
Although every wedding photography service will have different strengths and weaknesses, there are two main ways to determine whether they are right for you. Firstly, have a look at some of the shots they have done previously. By browsing through their portfolio, it will give you the chance to determine the potential look and style of your photos and see if it matches what you had hoped for. Secondly, ask family and friends for recommendations as referrals are often a reliable and accurate way to find a photographer who might not necessarily spend much on promoting their services.
What sort of services will a photographer cover?
It will depend on what you want and also the services that a photographer may provide. Every photographer will cover the major events of the day starting from the bride’s arrivals to the ceremony itself as well as the majority of the reception. After that, it will be up to the individual parties to pick any extras such as location shoots, portraits etc. Most of these services are covered in packages offered by the photographer and it’ll be up to you to find something that fits your needs.
What format will the photos themselves be in?
A good photographer will often have the images in several formats to help you choose how you want to display them. Nowadays, almost every picture will be stored digitally meaning that accessing the picture will never be a problem. Alongside that, many photographers are able to take pictures either using 35mm film or medium format cameras. These types of photography, particularly medium format, generally have higher levels of quality than digital images and won’t fade once they are developed making them a popular choice for some couple. However, these are more expensive to produce so it will drive photography costs higher than it would just having digital shots handed over on a disc.
Should I stick with just photos or can I get videos too?
With the way technology has evolved, many cameras are now capable of recording both high quality images and videos. Video can be a good service to have as it can capture all the details of a particular moment all in one take making for a moving and emotional piece of footage. Alongside that, the added bonus of sound will provide some great memories about any jokes or mishaps that may happen during the reception. However, it can be tricky to find a service that will do both photography and video at the same time as they are likely to specialise in one particular area. Photography can also be a much cheaper service over video or both as the equipment and production costs are much lower for a company to use throughout the day.
How much will my wedding photography cost?
This is a figure that will depend on which photographer you use and what service/packages, if any, you choose. Most photographers will have a range of packages where basic albums consist of 4-6 digital prints whilst others will consist of an entire range of shots in multiple formats. The basic album won’t be too expensive and the albums themselves may only cost around $100-$200 for the ceremony itself. But most photographers tend to merge their services into packages which take into account the day itself, a range of different shots and any pre/post-wedding images. These packages will then go into the four figure mark with some studios charging over $3,000 for their services.
I have several particular requirements for my wedding day. Are photographers willing to change their services to my needs?
As long as the demands are reasonable, there shouldn’t really be any reason for photographers to say no to your ideas. The focus will also be around what the couple wants and photographers will bend their packages to ensure that they can get regular work and make sure that their clients are happy with what they are being given. Just bear in mind that some photographers will have certain criteria for covering weekends and you will need to discuss this with them to see whether it would be an issue or not.
I can’t find any suitable photographers in my town. Will photographers travel for work?
Most photographers are willing to travel for weddings if need be. They will quite happily travel inter-state, even overseas, to shoot a wedding provided they have enough time in their schedule and will often cover the entire event. However, you will need to bear in mind that travel costs will need to be accounted for and will likely make their services higher than what might be stated on their website.
How long will it take for me to get my albums after the wedding?
The wait isn’t usually that long for an album and most wedding photographers will have a disc of all the digital shots ready in 1-2 weeks. Understandably, physical albums and prints take a little longer to develop and the waiting time will depend on what photo packages you ordered. Even so, you should have the albums within 4-6 weeks after the actual wedding.
