Hiring Photographers and Videographers

Fast forward: Imagine sitting on the porch swing  with your grandkids showing them your wedding album  and feeling so happy reminiscing about your special day, complete with your stunning gown  or tux,  breathtaking wedding flowers,  beautiful wedding decorations,  and smiling friends and family.

When it comes to planning a wedding,  the wedding photographer  and/or videographer  cannot be overlooked. After all, this is the person who will be documenting one of the most important days for you and your partner. Those memories will be with you for a lifetime and it is worth the money for most people to hire a top-notch photographer to make sure that each and every time you take a walk down memory lane the images will be as vivid as the day you walked down the aisle.

One of the first issues to consider -- before talking about photographers and videographers -- is which to choose. What are the advantages of choosing one over the other? Photographers can capture still moments which will be priceless, breathtaking, comic, artistic, and powerful enough to make you cry. Photos can easily be shared with loved ones either in an album or through uploading them to the Web. While videographers will record sound and movement, such as you saying your vows, or grandma doing the hand jive, a video has a very different feel to it. It's not as easy to share a video as you would photos. Videos offer something quite unique -- the ability to show those who were too young at the time of the wedding what it was like.

If you have a large budget, why not hire both? You'll then have both photos and a video to look back on. And if you don't? Well, many people find a way to have both a photographer and videographer by hiring a photographer for only a few hours and a videographer for the rest of the wedding or vice versa. Another alternative is to stick to a high quality photographer and opt for an amateur videographer. This way you'll get great quality pictures (usually the first thing on people's lists) but also a video, which many couples wish they had afterwards. Finally, look into companies that can provide both a photographer and a videographer at a discounted price. Since they will be working together there will be the added benefit of only having to deal with one vendor and for them, they can easily work together without tripping over each other. When choosing a photographer and videographer from separate companies be sure to talk this over in advance. Some professionals happen to be quite picky when it comes to sharing the responsibilities for documenting a wedding.

Personality and Background

With both photographers and videographers, one of the most crucial criteria is that the person you plan to hire is someone with whom you feel like you can get along well. If there is any bad chemistry, move on. This person will be with you all day long, and closely following your every move so you should feel comfortable with him or her (which may be a choice of gender for some). This person should also be sensitive to your needs and wishes, so much that you trust that they have your best interest in mind. Under no circumstance should the photographer or videographer assume they can order you or worse, your wedding planner around. Lastly, this person will be spending time with your friends and family too. If for any reason you think that he or she might be rude, unprofessional, poorly dressed, disorganized, unreliable, or lazy, find someone else!

Besides using your best judgment when hiring a photographer or videographer, you should also check the person's references. If he or she can't offer any, then chances are that this is not someone who you want to hire. If a professional is reputable, gladly offering references won't be an issue. On a similar note, when you start shopping around, make sure to ask friends, family, and vendors if they have any recommendations.

Another way to make sure that you are hiring a reputable vendor is to ask them about any affiliations they might have with a professional organization. Usually, those who are a member of an organization adhere to higher standards and are continuously working to improve their craft. It is also a sign that the individual is up to date on the newest trends in the industry.

Wedding vs. Event Photographers

If you are concerned about owning your negatives, creating your own album, or saving a bit of cash by forgoing the album all together, consider hiring an event photographer rather than a "wedding photographer". Instead of having to battle it out over the negatives or paying an arm and a leg to get them, most event photographers will give you your negs without a hassle. Plus, making copies and reprints is cheaper. For creative folk, and for those who want something besides the standard album offered by wedding photographers, hiring an event photographer gives you much more freedom in creating a personalized look for your wedding album. 

Photographers

Start asking around, meeting pros at bridal shows, and browsing the Internet for local pros. Make a list of everyone you want to get in touch with and start making calls (or sending emails). Be sure to ask about:

• Availability (both date and time).
• Photography style (candid, traditional, photojournalism, artistic).
• Rates and packages (labor and allotted hours, processing, copies, etc).
• What you receive in the end (negatives, album, additional copies, CD copy of your photos, photos on the Web).

This should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect from a photographer. From there, you'll have to set a date to meet with the person face to face. In a face to face meeting you can ask to look at the photographer's portfolio (do not meet with anyone who does not have a portfolio). Seeing the portfolios in person (versus viewing them online) gives you a chance to see how the final album will look and feel. It also gives you a good idea of the photo quality and even more about the artist's style. Take time to look through the album and note what you like and dislike. It should read like a book, playing the wedding out like a story. Even without knowing the bride and groom you should get a feel for their style and the flow of the wedding. Also look for sharp, crystal clear images, an intuitive sense for using light, and attractive compositions. If the pictures seem too artsy, too bland, washed out, blurry, badly composed, cold, not emotional enough, consider looking for someone else. You'll be spending a bit of money and you want it to be worth it.

Once you have looked over the photos and have a good feeling about someone, you need to talk details.

Items to Discuss with a Photographer

Photographer's Style Traditional -- Mostly poses and informal shots. Photojournalism -- Mostly candid shots. The photographer blends into the background. Mixed -- A little bit of both abilities. Film Format Color or black and white -- Color can always be converted to black and white, but not vice versa. 35mm -- Don't forget that you'll be paying for the film and the developing costs. Medium Format -- Great if you'll want to have poster-size enlargements made. Digital -- Easy to transfer to CD, Web, or to make copies for others. Online Wedding Album -- Lets friends and family make copies on their own instead of going through you. Other Questions If hiring through a company with multiple photographers on staff, how will they ensure that you get the photographer you want, and not just a replacement? Are there a variety of album options from which to choose? Can you make a list of must-have photos that you want taken? How long has he/she been in business? Is this a full-time profession? Any formal training? Has this person ever won an award or been published? What's his/her philosophy for shooting weddings? What's the biggest wedding he/she has ever shot? Does the photographer bring back up equipment? How does the photographer dress? Does he/she have an assistant? Will that person be dressed and act appropriately for the style wedding you're having? Will someone else fill in should the photographer get sick? Has he/she ever shot a wedding in the location where you are having yours? Effects Fish-eye -- Great for indoor shots, especially in stunning venues. Sepia Tones -- Not quite black and white, but it adds an artistic touch and an old-fashioned feel. Infrared -- This is a stylized shooting method for black and white film that makes pictures look more dramatic. Choosing the Shots How are the shots presented (photo proofs, a contact sheet, online gallery)? How long will it take to get the proofs after the wedding? How long is allowed to choose the proofs you want? Can you keep the proofs/negatives? Is there a charge for them? Is it more for unmarked proofs? How long will it take to get the pictures developed? Fees What are the rates and packages? How much will the following items cost? Are some of these items included in the package? Duplicates Enlargements Folios Negatives CD or Web display How many hours of service are included? What is charged for overtime? Is there a travel fee charge? What about for shooting in two or three different locations (ceremony, reception, and other location)? What guarantees does the photographer offer you in regards to services? Some of the issues to consider: Film or development problems Faulty equipment A no-show on his/her part Faded pictures How much is the deposit and when is it due? Are there any refunds on the deposit should the wedding be cancelled?

Items to Discuss with a Videographer

Shooting Style Cinematic or Documentary? Maybe you want the video to play like a movie or perhaps you'd rather get up close an personal with guests, the bridal party, and the parents for interviews. Perhaps you even want the video to appear more artistic. Does the videographer have a sample? It's a good idea to see a sample video start to finish to get an idea of the person's ability and skill as well as his or her style. Can the videographer film before and after the wedding? Shots of the bridal party getting ready, the morning-after brunch, and shots of the area around the wedding can add a nice touch to the film. Inquire if this is an option and if there will be an extra charge for it. Will there be background music? Music is a nice touch. Often you'll need to choose it beforehand so that the videographer has an idea of what pace you want the film to move at (think slow jazz versus rock). Any special effects? Ask the videographer what types of special effects he/she can edit into the film. One note: Don't go overboard and have the effects upstage the wedding. Still shots? Some videographers have the ability to add in still shots (which you provide). Ask if this is an option and if it's included in the price. Captions and titles? Can captions and titles be edited into the film? Technical Stuff How many cameras are used? Two cameras get both sides of the story such as the reaction on Mom's face as the bride says I do. What type of camera is used? Digital (DV) cameras are smaller, easier to maneuver, and boast better video quality than analog, which is why most videographers use them. Make sure that it supports wide screen formatting and that it is high definition. Ability to preview? Some couples like the ability to pick and choose parts of their video to be cut before a final edit is made. Ask if this is a possibility, and if so, what happens to the cut footage? Can you purchase it at an extra charge or is it included? Take two or three? Sometimes you can get more than one version of the video. Ask about this option in advance. Fees and Contract Details How does the videographer charge? Is it a flat rate or hourly? Will there be extra charges for having to travel to the ceremony and reception sites? What is included in the price? The rate given to you should include a certain number of hours, the labor (shooting and editing), and the final product. Inquire about costs of extra copies. Are there any hidden fees? If you spontaneously request something, will a fee pop up out of the blue? How much is the deposit? When is it due? Is there a refund policy? When are the rest of the payments due and what is the outstanding amount?

Related Guides

Hiring a Cake Designer	Choosing an Officiant	Hiring a Wedding Planner	Hiring a Wedding Caterer	Hiring a Wedding Florist

External Links

• Brides.com -- What to do if you hate your photos.
• Ultimate Wedding -- Photo pose checklist and "Little Known Questions to Ask a Photographer".
• USABride.com -- Money-saving tips.
• Wedding Channel -- The benefits of online photo galleries.
• Wedding Photojournalist Association -- Shop for photographers, see online galleries, award winning wedding photos and more.

International Resources

For this resource in your home country, please see:
FR: Photos et Vidéos de mariage