Choosing your wedding photographer

Indian wedding portrait of a couple in Boston CommonBoston Wedding Photographer

Once I had my wedding date and wedding venue locked down, I could start on the next BIG 3: my wedding photographer, DJ and caterer. For some brides, if you have a particular wedding vendor that you must have.  Lock them down as soon as you have your wedding date.  We contacted two vendors that we really really wanted at our wedding events and they were both booked 9.5 months out. 

In choosing your wedding photographer:

Visit their blogs often.  Look at their style, the angles they shot from, the quality of the photos, and notice the number of wedding photos that they put up per wedding.  It is easy to like photos because you like what is in them (the colors, clothes, flowers etc), but don’t get distracted.  For an Indian wedding over a few days, a photographer can easily shoot over 1000 pictures, but you will only see a dozen or so on their blog or even on Shaadi Bazaar.  Yes, you get an idea if you like the photographer’s work, but you are only seeing 1% if they show 10 pictures and they captured 1000.  So make sure you meet with them and take the time to look over an entire wedding album from at least one wedding before you decide that the photographer is right for the both of you.   More advice.

If you know someone who has used the photographer ask to look at their whole wedding album.  Also, see if different weddings have different photos.  Compare albums from the same photographer, are there unique elements for both? or do the weddings and wedding portraits look almost identical.  This year especially, I’ve heard from several different brides that they were not entirely satisfied by all the photos that were taken at their wedding events.  The reasons varied from, there were not enough photos, there weren’t photos of the immediate family at the reception, there were only a few photos of the couple that they liked.  On the flip side, if the couple did not take the time to communicate what photos they wanted, set aside a photo session with the photographer, or create a photo list then a photographer cannot assume priorities of a couple.  Your wedding photos are a team effort between you and your photographer so be clear in your expectations.

When you meet with the photographer look over what they have to offer in their contract.  What will you receive as part of the package?  Have an idea of the number of hours you need coverage,  the number of events that you will have.  Approximate start times and end times (but keep the hours consistent). 

How many photographers do you want?

What photos do you and both your families want?

Do you want an album form the photographer?  Parent albums from the photographer?  A guest book?  Gallery wraps? These are all things you will need to think about.

I will be sharing more photos from our engagement session over the next 8 months 🙂  Also next week, I will start with my reviews of the Decor companies in our area.

 Photo Credits: Symbol Photo & Binita Patel Photography