Cottage Grove sentinel., January 27, 2017, Page 10, Image 46

10 Wedding
11
Guide • Wednesday, January 25, 2017
TIPS FOR CHOOSING A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
ost of your wedding day will
be a blur — the cake, the
flowers, the music, the food
and drink — but the photographs will
capture those lost or missed moments
and live on forever. You owe it to your-
self to do everything you can to make
them fabulous.
Here’s a guide how to not only find
your perfect photographer, but how to
work with them.
1. Ground Work — Start Early
About a year before your wedding
date, start your search by looking for
photographers in the area of your wed-
ding venue. Search on-line or ask for
referrals from your wedding venue.
Make phone calls to the ones you find
to see if they are available for your date
and are within your budget. Ask for
their website to view galleries of wed-
dings they have done so you can get a
sense of their quality and style.
2. What Do You Want
As you review photographers and
their photos, make note of key
moments you want captured at your
own wedding: Did this Photographer
get great images that you like?
Look for creative compositions and
that the images and people are in focus
with nicely blurred backgrounds. Make
sure people look relaxed, and not star-
tled by the camera or photographer.
3. Meet Your Photographer
You can’t pick a photographer based
on just their sample photos or the price,
you have to meet them. Once you have
found some photographers whose work
you like, try to set up an in-person
meeting. You need to feel comfortable
with your photographer because they’ll
be capturing your every move on your
wedding day. You need to like your
photographer’s personality in order for
them to do their best job.
4. Compare Photographer Packages
Packages should be spelled out
exactly to what the photographer is
offering, plus any additional fees that
could be added. Consider: how many
hours of shooting are included? What
exactly do I get? Albums, Books, Photo
CD’s? Most packages include about
four to eight hours and include every-
thing from pre-ceremony getting ready
to the live event, to cake and toast, to
M
garter and bouquet, to first dance and you and the photographer a chance to least a few shots of the two of you
finally until the end of the reception interact and give each other feedback. together. This is the time when your
and party. It’s better to err with a pack-
9. Allow Extra Time in Schedule
hair and makeup are perfect. Your
age that allows more time than you
On your special day, everything will clothing is fresh and clean. Fewer
think you need. Pay for more coverage, take longer than you think. Figure out a guests have arrived. It’s a perfect time
especially if you’re planning a big send timeline and then allow 15 extra min- for photos.
off exit.
utes than you figured! Do this for
11. Be Aware of the Photographer
5. Book your Photographer
things like getting your hair done, get-
Look at the camera, be aware where
Since every professional photogra- ting dressed, the toast and cake cutting, it is. Smile, Smile, Smile.
pher has a different style, technique the garter and bouquet toss and the
Look into each others eyes while
and personality, you need to make sure group photos.
reading vows. Don’t hide your emo-
the photographer you interviewed and
Allowing for more time will allevi- tions. Laugh, enjoy and be happy.
“got on good with" will be the same ate any mishaps that might happen.
Don’t sweat the small stuff, like a
one who photographs your wedding. From misplaced wedding rings to reschedule of your engagement shoot
The really good photographers book grandma hasn’t arrived yet all take because of rain or your bridesmaid
weddings eight to
extra time. Make a melting down during the toast, or fam-
twelve months in “I do love nothing in the world so schedule
that ily members playing hard to get during
advance. Popular well as you.”
leaves extra time the group shots.
spring and summer
deal
with
Allow your photographer to help
— WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, to
“MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING” mishaps. This will keep you on schedule and to corral
dates fill up quick-
ly. Book your pho-
allow you to your family members.
tographer as soon as you have chosen choose a package that has enough time
Allow them to pick the locations,
one. Booking usually requires a non for you and the photographer.
frame the shots and to know what will
refundable deposit to guarantee your
10. Plan Your “First Look”
look best. That’s why you hired them.
date. The rest of the payment is usually
Plan your “First Look” shoot before — Submitted by Curt Peters of Digital
required on or before the actual shoot the ceremony. Be sure to plan on at Dunes Photography
day.
6. Ask For and Check References
Online reviews are great, and that
should be part of your research, but
once you’ve narrowed it down to a few
photographers, ask to speak to a previ-
ous client or two. If you are able to
speak with other previous clients, be
sure to ask what they thought of the
experience — from beginning to end.
Ask if they were happy with the results
of the photographs and any other prod-
ucts supplied.
7. Get It In Writing
Once you’ve chosen your photogra-
WE CATER REHEARSAL DINNERS AND WEDDING RECEPTIONS!
pher, get in writing everything included
— from the date of the wedding and
the times they’ll cover, to postproduc-
tion work and how and when you’ll
receive the final products.
8. Schedule an Engagement Shoot
Once you hire a photographer,
schedule an engagement shoot. This is
an opportunity to get comfortable with
your photographer while having your
78215 Cedar Park Rd • Cottage Grove, Or
picture taken. This photo can be used
for “Save the Date” announcements or
Judd & Sharon Van Gorder
invitations. It can be used on-line for
social media. It can be enlarged and
printed and matted for guests to sign
the mat at the reception. It gives both
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