Choosing Photographer & Cinematographer
Friday, February 21, 2014 | 1:53 PM | 0 comments
How to choose the right photographer and cinematographer for your big day?
This has been taken by Wedding Tweets.
How to Choose the Right Wedding Photographer?
If you do a simple online search for wedding photographers in Singapore, you will find yourself faced with an overwhelming number of choices to consider. With so many wedding photographers offering a myriad of packages and prices, it can be hard to zero in on the right one for your wedding.
We cannot emphasize enough the importance of choosing the right wedding photographer for your wedding. He or she is tasked with the all-important role of capturing these once in a lifetime memories and you won’t get a second chance to do it again! So to help you out, here’s what you need to avoid when selecting yourwedding photographer.
Don’t Choose Price Over Portfolio
Of course, this is not a hard and fast rule, but usually, your wedding photographer’s portfolio is the best gauge of the work you are going to get. Many couples go for a certain wedding photographer because he offered a cheaper price but end up with a set of wedding photos that leave much to be desired. If you don’t love your wedding photographer’s past work, it is quite likely that you are not going to love your wedding photos too.
Couples might also make the mistake of assuming that price is directly related to quality when it comes to wedding photography. Although quality might very well be the reason why a certain photographer is able to command an asking price of $5000 per shoot, you should bear in mind that one man’s meat is another man’s poison when it comes to wedding photography.
Don’t assume that just because you hired the most expensive wedding photographer in town, you are going to love the photos you end up with. Sometimes, wedding couples who splurge on an expensive photographer end up sorely disappointed with the results. As different wedding photographers have very different styles, the best way to tell if a photographer’s style is aligned with what you are looking for is to view his or her portfolios or albums from other weddings.
Don’t Equate Experience with Quality
In terms of experience, this is a grey area. Some couples insist on wedding photographers with years of experience as they feel that this translates into well-taken pictures. However, we have come across budding photographers who have shown that they have the “eye” to take stunning pictures as well. If you go for a photographer who is just starting out, you might be able to hire a photographer who suits your style for a bargain.
That being said, any aspiring photographer should still possess a body of work that he or she can show to you as his portfolio, even if it involves working as an assistant or volunteering his services for the weddings of friends to build up his portfolio. All in all, the photographer’s portfolio is your best gauge of the work you can expect for your own wedding, rather than price or years of experience.
Do Enough Research
Even if you fall in love with the work of the first photographer you meet, show some restraint and force yourself to do more research before making a decision. Many couples commit to a photographer on impulse and then end up having regrets when they come across a better deal or photographer somewhere else.
Take the time to research a wide range of photographers so that you are clear about the options available to you and are confident about the decision you make. Of course, if your wedding is on a “hot” date or you are keen on engaging a highly sought-after photographer, you might not want to wait too long before making a decision to avoid disappointment.
Don’t Neglect the Written Contract
You might meet with a potential photographer and get along like a house on fire, but never forget to have a proper contract if you decide to engage his or her services. This contract should cover the details of your package, in terms of what it covers, the end products to be delivered, as well as any additional fees that may be incurred.
Do Check About Emergency Arrangements
Everyone knows about Murphy’s Law and when it comes to your wedding day, you can never be over-prepared. Make sure to check with your photographer about who will take over in the event that your photographer is ill on the day of your wedding or has an emergency. You will need to be agreeable with the style of work of the back-up photographer as well, just in case the unexpected happens.
Don’t Skip the Negotiation Process
If you don’t ask, you won’t get. Don’t rule out the possibility of asking for a lower price if you find a photographer that you like. Some photographers are open to lowering the price to seal the deal, especially if they are just starting out in the business or if your wedding happens to fall on an off-peak period.
Every couple has different needs for their wedding and thus, it might be hard to find a photography package that meets your needs fully. If you come across a potential choice, consider negotiation possibilities to create a package that suits your needs in terms of coverage, end products etc. For instance, if you do not need an actual wedding album and are contented with the soft copies, you can check with the photographer to see if you can have that item removed for some cost savings.
Do Consider the End Product
Often, couples are preoccupied with the photographer’s portfolio but forget about the end product, which is the photo album that you will be receiving. Of course, if you choose to develop your own albums, this would not be a consideration.
However, in most cases, your wedding photography package will include an actual photo album as the end product. Some areas that you will need to consider are the print quality of the images, the paper quality, and the layout design of the album.
Hopefully with these tips, you’ll be able to find the best wedding photographers to meet your needs!
Here are some of the DIY question that done N & G:1) You must like the portfolio (most important!)
2) All images can be return to you
3) Can the hours to split according what you want?
4) What are charges for the extra time being used?
5) What is the average total no of photos taken for AD?
6) Can all the raw copies be return?
7) Can we get back all the images for the instant photo booth? (if you have it)
xoxo
N & G
