Choosing the right photographer is just as important as
every other element in your wedding including your wedding planner. As a wedding planner I work with every vendor
chosen and often times choose the vendors to ensure each event is perfect. But sometimes certain elements are already
chosen, such as the photographer.
But how do you choose the RIGHT photographer?
I asked three amazing photographers, I’ve worked with in the
past, that very question.
Trent
Ernst – Eye for Detail Photography
I’ve worked with Trent Ernst of Eye For Detail Photography before in the past and have always admired his unique style and vision with each photograph he takes. I’ve also enjoyed his sense of humor. This is what Trent said when I asked “What are 3 key elements in choosing the right photographer”:
“Some people think
photographers just point a camera in the right direction and push a button. But
there are as many photographers as people with cameras and each one has their
own vision, their own way of looking at things. As a photographer, I don't want
just anybody as a client, and I am going to be as picky as you are in choosing
clients.
Wedding guide books will have a list of twenty questions to ask
photographers, from what type of gear they use to how long are they in
business. I'm not a fan of many of these, as the questions don't really get to
the heart of the matter. How does
knowing that I use a Nikabladt camera with a 50 1.2 lens with turbo diesel
injection let you know if I am the right photographer for you? All it lets you
know is that I have a certain tool. Do you ask your plumber if he uses
Mastercraft wrenches?
When I talk to clients,
I tell them there are three things they need to be looking for when
choosing a wedding photographer. The
first is: Can I afford this person? Just like plumbers, there are
people who have been doing this for a few months and who will charge
enough to cover gas and coffee, just to say they are a photographers. Then
there are others who have been shooting weddings for two or three decades and
actually run a business with overhead and rent they need to pay each month, so
wind up charging a lot more. Gary Fong famously charges $120,000 to shoot a
wedding, though he is an exception, not the rule. Just remember, you get what you pay for. Sometimes you'll find a
young up and comer who will charge next to nothing who knows what she is doing
and will take killer photographs, but don't
chose the photographer solely on price. This is why most photographers
don't post prices on their website. Not because they are trying to trick you,
but because if this is the only thing a potential client sees, there is a good
chance they won't bother to answer the next two questions.
The second question is: do I like this person's style? You need to look at their portfolio.
What does their previous work look like? I typically tell people that you need
to appreciate the photographer's style. If you can't see yourself in their
photos, chances are, they are not right for you. I shoot dramatic images with
strong processing and a lot of flash. Others shoot all natural light with lots
of lens flare. Others shoot all black and white. Some pose every single shot.
Others shoot photo journalistically. What works for you?
The best relationships
I have had with clients are the ones who insisted that I shoot their weddings
because they loved my style. The worst are the ones who just need a photographer
and I was the only one who was free.
Speaking of relationships, that's the third thing. Do you (pardon the
pun) click with the photographer? There
are people I talk to for the first time and we are fast friends by the end of
the conversation. There are others who don't appreciate my sense of humour, or
don't like the fact that I am a dude or think my breath smells funny. Whatever the reason, if you don't like the
person, then they aren't the right photographer.
Chances are you'll be
spending more time with me than with your husband to be on your wedding day. As a photographer, I want that
experience to be something that you'll always remember in a good way. I
still have people who come up to me and thank me for going, quite literally,
out on a limb during their wedding, climbing a tree to get the right angle.
That's so much more gratifying than getting served with a restraining
order by your former brides.*
There might be some
specific questions you want answered (do you do spot colouring? Not if I can
help it.), but if you start with these three questions as the heart of your
conversation with potential wedding photographers, you will be miles ahead of
the person who just asks about the equipment. “
*(Note: I have never
been served with a restraining order by any former bride. Remember that sense
of humour I was talking about?)
To see some of the amazing work Trent did for me at one of
my weddings, please visit www.tlsweddingdesigns.ca/gallery
Stay tune for Part 2 of this blog with Danica Sullivan of DanicaGPhotography
No comments:
Post a Comment