Your wedding pictures may be the single greatest investment of your wedding in terms of priority if not in cost. Yet with the rise in popularity in digital photography, an increasing number of photographers are racing into wedding photography. Why not? It's trendy, fun and pays more than random portrait sessions (or at least so it would seem).
It's tempting to choose wedding photographers based on their portfolio alone and to take their word for it on the more technical stuff that you wouldn't know as much about. However portfolios can be deceiving. There are many ways to stack portfolios to reflect experience and style beyond what the photographer can actually deliver - using images from weddings they second shot, using images from workshops with models in settings that are promoted to deliver exceptional portfolios, and staging pictures to look like actual weddings.
So here are four great questions you can ask prospective wedding photographers to get beyond the portfolio and see if they're really the ones for you.
1. What measures do you take to protect the digital files while they are in your possession?
Experienced wedding photographers are aware that hard drives crash and have implemented measures for protecting your wedding pictures while in their possession. Their answer should address fireproof solutions (fire safe and/or off site storage) and storage on multiple drives in the event of hard drive failure. For example, here is a sample work flow provided by STUDIO 6.23, wedding photographers, Grand Rapids, MI:
- Weddings are shot by two professional photographers for redundancy in the event of card or camera failure,
- Images backed up on two hard drives, one of which is left unplugged to prevent against electrical surge or lightning strikes,
- Original media cards are stored off site in a fireproof safety deposit box until the images have been edited, backed up online and delivered to the bride and groom.
2. How long will it take for the proofs to be ready? And then how long to receive the products (such as wedding albums, parent books, etc...)?
Experienced photographers are typically able to deliver the initial proofs within three months, usually with a blog preview within the first month. Some have systems in place to deliver proofs faster than this, however, this does fit within industry standards. Inexperience, however, often reveals itself in the time it takes to deliver the final products including wedding albums and parent books. Experienced photographers have developed the systems required to follow through with clients until all products are delivered within a reasonable period of time.
3. How many weddings have you shot? And how many as the lead photographer?
Most wedding photographers begin by second shooting with other professionals - often for free or reduced fees in exchange for use of the images in their portfolios. This is a great idea as it gives them first hand glimpse of what wedding photography truly entails. And while this does provide insight, it does not provide experience in leading and posing the family and party photo sessions as well as making important scheduling decisions throughout the day.
4. How well suited are your camera and lenses for low light conditions?
One thing that separates amateurs from professionals is the quality of equipment they carry in their bag. Having a good eye and knowing how to work with people is important. But it does not make up for equipment that is less than adequate to shoot in the low light conditions that churches and reception halls are famous for.
You cannot be expected to know all of the technical details needed to determine the quality of their answer. However, you will likely be able to get an idea of how prepared they are based on the confidence in their response. If the technical side is important to you, they should be carrying at least one lens with a 2.8 aperture or faster. If the number is smaller than 2.8, it's even better. In addition, they should have a professional camera, but that's for another article.
While there are many more questions that you could ask, these should give you a quick hunch as to whether the photographers are truly prepared to offer the quality of service and product that you expect for your wedding day. Please note that you are typically safe when hiring local professionals that have an established reputation in the community and with their peers. Sure, they cost more than some of the others. But that's likely because they have invested in the equipment that is critical for wedding photography and they fully understand all of the work that is involved.
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BEN + MINDY PETERSON, |
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