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6 0 WEDDING GUIDE 0 J ANUARY 2018 11 tips tor choosing a wedding photographer M ost of your wedding day will be a blur — the cake, the fl owers, 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 fi nd 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 photogra- phers in the area of your wedding venue. Search online or ask for referrals from your wedding venue. Make phone calls to the ones you fi nd to see if they are available for your date and are within your budget. Ask for their website to view galleries of weddings 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 startled by the camera or photographer. 3. Meet Your Photographer — You can’t pick a photog- rapher based on just their sample photos or the price, you have to meet them. Once you have found some photogra- phers whose work you like, try to set up an in-person meet- ing. You need to feel comfortable with your photographer because they’ll be capturing your every move on your wed- ding 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 off er- ing, plus any additional fees that could be added. Consider: how many hours of shooting are included? What exactly do you get? Albums, books, photo CDs? Most packages include about four to eight hours and include everything from pre-ceremony getting ready to the live event, to cake and toast, to garter and bouquet, to fi rst dance and fi nally until the end of the reception and party. It’s better to err with a package that allows more time than you think you need. Pay for more coverage, especially if you’re planning a big sendoff exit. 5. Book your Photographer — Since every professional photographer has a diff erent style, technique and person- ality, you need to make sure the photographer you inter- viewed and “got on good with" will be the same one who photographs your wedding. Th e really good photographers book weddings eight to 12 months in advance. Popu- lar spring and summer dates fi ll up quickly. Book your photographer as soon as you have chosen one. Booking usually requires a nonrefundable deposit to guarantee your date. Th e rest of the payment is usually required on or be- fore the actual shoot 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 previous 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 products supplied. PHOTOS BY CURT PETERS / DIGITAL DUNES PHOTOGRAPHY By developing a rapport with their photographer, Trent and Jenna Petersen were able to preserve perfect moments from their special day at Heceta Head Lighthouse on July 7, 2017. 7. Get It In Writing — Once you’ve chosen your photogra- time to deal with mishaps. pher, get in writing everything included — from the date of 10. Plan Your “First Look” — Plan a “First Look” shoot the wedding and the times they’ll cover, to postproduction before the ceremony, where the photographer captures a work and how and when you’ll receive the fi nal products. few intimate moments of just the two of you. Be sure to 8. Schedule an Engagement Shoot — Once you hire a plan on at least a few shots of the two of you together be- photographer, schedule an engagement shoot. Th is is an fore bringing in the rest of the wedding party. Th is is the opportunity to get comfortable with your photographer time when your hair and makeup are perfect. Your clothing while having your picture taken. Th is photo can be used is fresh and clean. Fewer guests have arrived. It’s a perfect for “Save the Date” announcements or invitations. It can be time for photos. used online for social media. It can be enlarged and printed 11. Be Aware of the Photographer — Look at the camera, and matted for guests to sign the mat at the reception. Plus, be aware where it is. Smile, Smile, Smile. Look into each it gives both you and the photographer a chance to interact other’s eyes while reading vows. Don’t hide your emotions. and give each other feedback. Laugh, enjoy and be happy. 9. Allow Extra Time in Schedule — On your special day, Don’t sweat the small stuff , like a reschedule of your en- everything will take longer than you think. Figure out gagement shoot because of rain or your bridesmaid melting a timeline and then allow 15 extra minutes than you fi g- down during the toast, or family members playing hard to ured! Do this for things like getting your hair done, getting get during the group shots. dressed, the toast and cake cutting, the garter and bouquet Allow your photographer to help keep you on schedule toss and the group photos. and to corral your family members. Allowing for more time will alleviate any mishaps that Listen as they pick the locations, frame the shots and might happen. Misplaced wedding rings to grandma’s late know what will look best. Th at’s why you hired them. — arrival all take extra time. Make a schedule that leaves extra Submitted by Curt Peters of Digital Dunes Photography
