Your wedding is a special day that you will remember for the rest of your life and you don’t want to leave it to just anyone to capture it for you.Here are a few items you should consider when selecting a photographer for your day.
•Registered business name with an ABN – Photographers with a registered business name and ABN are subject to associated business and taxation laws, which will offer you much more protection. If there does happen to be a dispute a registered business name will enable you to seek assistance from the Department of Consumer Affairs etc.
•The photographer will be with you most of the day, so one of the most important considerations is how well you think you can work with the person. If dealing with a studio, ask to meet the photographer who will be assigned to your wedding and ask to see a portfolio of that individuals work before signing any contracts.
•Look at as many photos as possible – Most photographers will show you the best of the best, so ask to see a whole wedding or a larger number of photos
•Ask about equipment – Questions about equipment may start to confuse you, however the most important items to note are that the person is using SLR equipment (brand is not relevant) and has backups of all items.
•How do they shoot – If the photographer is using digital there is no substitute for shooting in the RAW format. There is a lot happening on the day and no photographer will get the camera settings 100% right 100% of the time. Shooting in RAW format gives much more flexibility in repairing images which otherwise may have been lost to under or over exposure. While repairing of other formats is possible the corrections or enhancements may be too obvious.
•Make sure there is a clear contract which outlines rights, responsibilities (of all parties) and inclusions. Make sure it is very clear what is included in the quoted price and what’s not. Ask for a clear price list on the items which aren’t included.
•Find out where the photos are printed – Photos printed at professional labs are still far superior to any home based system. Also ask whether you will have the choice of what photos are printed, whether they are printed in Matte or Gloss, with or without borders etc. (Again make sure this is documented)
•If the photographer is attending the reception ask about their expectations. Weddings are expensive and photographers should consider it a privilege to be a part of your day. If you choose to provide a meal and drinks, I’m sure it will be appreciated, however you should not feel under any obligation to provide anything. Avoid people who insist they must be supplied.
•Discuss the style of photos you like with the photographer and whether they can provide them. Its quite common for wedding photos to have soft focus or similar effects applied to them, if you don’t like this ask that the photographer supply the images in the style you prefer. If they wont or cant, go somewhere else!
•Be wary of Photographers/Studios who are openly critical of their opposition. This is a negative approach to business and may be an indicator of how they will interact with you on the day.
•Ask how the photographer will deal with bad weather•Ask about copyright, reprint rights etc.
•Ask if they have current insurance
No comments:
Post a Comment