There
are so many options and elements that go along with the photographing of your
wedding! You could easily sit with a potential photographer for an hour or so,
just chatting about the possibilities.
Attending
different bridal shows, I was dumbfounded by the number of excellent
photographers on display there. Being absolutely drawn to art and beauty, I
was naturally compelled to ask a million questions. And brides, it's all here
for you...
These
are some of the
questions I asked...
What
are your prices?
(There
is no point in talking to someone who's minimum rate is $3000 if my budget for
photos is $2500.)
From what I saw this weekend, prices begin at approximately $1000 and go as
high as $5000+. Things that can affect the price are the number of locations,
the wedding albums your order, the styles you're looking for, etc.
What
type of training/accreditation can a photographer have?
Photographers
can be trained at college and then start out on their own. They can also learn
by becoming an apprentice under another 'big named photographer', learning the
tricks of the trade by accompanying them to weddings and being taught all of
the different techniques. Photographers also have the option of becoming PPO
(Professional Photographers of Ontario) member, which means that they submit
their work to be reviewed and competed against. There is no reason to say why
any one of these different types of training are better than the other. The
reason I say this is because just about all of the photos I viewed were
amazing but often in different ways. Each photographer has his/her own style,
specialties, and approach to photographs. Some are beautiful portraits, some
look like they walked of the page of Brides Magazine and others were more
daring with a bit of an edge.
How
far ahead do I need to book a photographer?
Depending
on the photographer, weekends can fill up rather quickly. For a single
photographer operation, there are only so many Saturdays in a year (52, to be
exact), so anyone in demand could end up needing 12 or more months advance
notice. If your wedding is on a day other than Saturday, in the off-season
(winter tends to be less busy than spring/summer/fall), or more than 8-12
months ahead, you should have an easier time booking the photographer you
really want. Always call to check, however, because cancellations do happen.
What
type of new artsy options are available these days?
So
many different options on the styles of photos.
•
colour vs. black and white
•
portrait/posed vs. candid
•
black & white with painted/digitally added colour
•
unique locations such as photos standing in water, in the middle of the road,
pumping the gas tank of a vintage car
•
traditional beautiful outdoor locations such as parks, gardens, etc.
•
inside photos in your church/chapel/reception hall
•
photos can be created with different borders and rendering
•
different types/sizes/colours/makes of albums are available - including albums
imported from the Netherlands that are made of aluminum and glass
•
so much more...
Would
it be cheaper to hire a friend of the family who is particularly handy with a
camera?
Cheaper
- likely. Better - not necessarily. You have nothing after the last guest
leaves, except your living memory and your photos or videos. These are what
you will be showing your children/future children, what you will give to your
parents as Thank you gifts, and what you will look back upon in future days.
Often. Your friend may be handy with a camera but your odds of getting the
dream photos you imagine in your head, are not good. If your photo budget is
extremely strapped, try hiring a photographer for their smallest package and
then allowing your friend to compensate with his/her own camera aside from
that. You could also add throw-away cameras on each of the tables so that
guests could take shots as well (these won't turn out very well if guests are
having a few drinks beforehand!). Otherwise, if preserving your memories is a
priority, make cuts in other areas of your budget to compensate for more money
where you want it most.
Should
a couple preserve memories in video?
Absolutely,
a video is a terrific addition to your library of memories. Just remember that
you need room in your budget, and that you still want to document the day with
photographs.
