The Right Choice

How to Choose the Right Wedding Photographer For You AND for Those Who Will be Affected By Your Decision

by Monte Zucker

Yes, there are many considerations that need to be explored in the selection of your wedding photographer. Your decision will not only impact you on your wedding day, but it will also affect your entire family, your friends and the future generations of family members who will want to know more about their family history. Quite a formidable task - the selection of your photographer.

In the past it was a much more simple task than it is now. One went by recommendation, by price and by the reputation of the photographer whom you would select. It’s not that easy now. There are many more considerations that need to be factored into your choice - undoubtedly one of the most important decisions in planning your wedding.

Remember, it’s through the eyes, talent, heart and ability of the person you select to photograph your wedding that you and everyone whom you now and will hold near and dear to you in the future will remember this most important day of your life. The decision is THAT important!

Who should interview prospective photographers?

The answer to this question may not be as obvious as one may think at a glance. The proper response might well be found by asking another question: To whom are the photographs going to be important?

Many bridal couples feel that it is their prerogative to make the decision as to who will be their photographer. Yet, regardless of who’s paying for the pictures, the answer may well be found in thinking about what the wedding and the wedding memories mean to the various people involved with the wedding.

I would certainly think and hope that as many of the parents who are available to sit down and talk with the photographer would help in his/her selection. Even those who are out of town and not available for an in person consultation should be included in the discussions. A well-meaning and thoughtful photographer would and should encourage bringing the parents into the conversation, even if it means simply telephoning them before a consultation to suggest plans to them and to offer them an opportunity to make their own feelings known.

Direct contact with the parents before booking a wedding oftentimes means having their complete cooperation on the wedding day. What a difference that could make with when and where the pictures will be taken! Not to mention the stress that can be avoided on the wedding day!

Make a list!

Have you ever thought of making a written list of everything that you’ve always objected to about wedding photographs and/or wedding photographers? Wouldn’t it be fun AND EDUCATIONAL to prepare a WRITTEN list like that and begin your conversation with prospective photographers by seeing how they answer those objections? A prepared shopper is a wise shopper!

To pose or not to pose?

Posed portraits and family group photographs, now considered to be old-fashioned and outdated by some of today’s couples, and are sometimes left out of wedding albums almost entirely. They are being replaced with more and more black and white images that are considered more trendy and artistic.

After all is said and done, however, when the bridal couple gets to see the proofs from which they are to select their album, they are oftentimes quite shocked and disappointed. They often find themselves hard-pressed to find a wedding photograph worthy of framing and/or giving to their parents. What originally sounded like an artistic, avant-garde photographic coverage might very well later turn out to be a collection of assorted snapshots ... not even worthy of something that “Uncle Harry” might hand over to the bride and groom.

This is not to say that all photojournalists are not doing their job. To the contrary. Some of them are creating excellently composed and exciting moments of time in their photographs that are truly worthy of documentation. These same photographers are usually those who have traditionally-based techniques in mind when they’re searching for those candid moments. They understand lighting, composition, facial analysis and much more that go into creating images on a consistent basis - the mark of a truly professional photographer. They know where to be and when to be there. They also understand light and how it affects the images that they’re creating, so they know how to take good advantage of available lighting.

From how many pictures should I expect to select?

The number of photographs viewed, it should be remembered, is not nearly so important as the quality and substance of the photographs. A significantly smaller number of pictures may be much more valuable to the bridal couple and their families than a far greater number of pictures that are somewhat meaningless.

Yes, it may be far more important in later years to have fond memories of the family and friends of the bride and groom than the small details, such as the buttons on the back of the bride’s dress or the sequins on the hem of her gown, that some photographers record. To the photographer these images may be artistic and worthy of remembrance. To be sure, they very well could be. But to the exclusion of what?

Is “Traditional” photography a dirty word?

There must be many reasons why traditional bridal portraits and family photographs have been the hallmark of wedding photography for these many years. For brides who still want to wear the traditional wedding gown, who want to get married in their personal church, who don’t want the groom to see her in her wedding gown before she walks down the aisle .... who, in fact, still want traditional music during the ceremony and want to be married by a minister .... for all of these brides AND their families .... there are countless reasons for retaining traditional wedding photographs.

This is not to say, of course, that some form of more contemporary photography should not be included in the photographic coverage of a wedding. But in what percentage or combination? Rather than selecting a photographer who considers himself/herself to be a traditionalist or a photojournalist, undoubtedly the choice should be to find a photographer who is flexible enough to be able to provide an adequate mixture of both. In addition the photographer should be one who interviews not only the bride and groom, but who also speaks to both sides of the families and who offers a variety of suggestions - something to please everyone.

Does your photographer have the ability and the desire to please you, or is he/she only adamant that things must be done in a pre-described manner?

Something that’s very important to take into consideration when selecting a photographer for your wedding is whether that person can provide both traditional and contemporary photography in the mix that you want. A very astute photographer, by the way, will not only offer to do what you want, but will also offer advice to you based on what experience has shown that will ultimately be most rewarding and long-lasting.

Make certain that the photographer of your choice is not offering photojournalism, simply because he does not know how to produce the other. A photographer worthy of photographing your wedding, regardless of style should have a thorough knowledge of posing and lighting. Even if the photographer chooses a style that does not require you to pose for pictures needs to know what looks good and what doesn’t. Without that knowledge a photographer becomes nothing more than an advanced amateur who charges for his time.

Which brings us to the point ....

How Much are Your Wedding Pictures Worth?

To be sure, the cost of the photographs must be factored into the equation that helps you arrive at the selection of your photographer. At the same time, might it not be an equally important consideration to take into account the VALUE for your money that you will receive. Wouldn’t you agree, therefore, that sometimes you’re better off spending a little more than you had planned, instead of a little less than you should? The selection of a photographer based primarily on price could be a poor investment in the long run, couldn’t it?

So, let’s talk about your investment. Upon what factors should this decision be made? Speaking as one who has been a successful wedding photographer for over fifty years .... and as a family man with children and grandchildren .... I have the unique ability to consider the options you have from many perspectives. Let’s first look at the choices you have from the viewpoint of the bride and groom.

For years the bride has probably been dreaming of her wedding day.... the day when Prince Charming will caress her and carry her off into the sunset to live happily ever after. How can one put a price on this dream? Especially, if a photographer can capture that dream and fulfill every fantasy of hers in photographs. Should that price be a specific percentage of the cost of the wedding? I don’t think so. Even a bride who is planning the simplest of weddings is entitled to have her dreams-come-true in her book of memories. The wedding photographs might well be the most expensive part of her wedding day plans. And yet that may not be too extravagant for THAT bride!

Other brides may want to astound their guests with magnificent floral arrangements, linens and things that impress everyone beyond all expectations. How will these brides remember all of these details? Certainly, they won’t recall those images from memory! There is just too much happening on the wedding day for brides to see and remember everything. Photographs, then, should be budgeted as at least equal to the total costs of many of those items .... and, possibly, even more!

The national average of typical wedding photography coverage is now close to $1500. That means, of course, that many families are spending much, much more to preserve a lifetime of memories. How much are YOUR memories worth to you and your family? How can one put a number on that?

You should, however, have a good idea of what you may ultimately be spending. Several questions might be appropriate for you to ask when interviewing photographers. A few that I consider viable at this point are:

1. How much money do you think I will ultimately spend to get everything that I want in my wedding pictures? Would that include pictures for the families, too?

2. How much money would YOU want and/or expect me to ultimately spend for you to give me “everything that you’ve got” in your wedding photography services?

3. If I choose to spend what to me seems realistic in my circumstances, would/could you think of doing even more for me than I’m paying for .... in the hopes that I may ultimately go beyond my budget?

4. (Of course, if the answer is “yes!” to this question .... the follow-up question should/could be:) Then, why should I buy a larger package to begin with, rather than wait to see how much money I have left after the wedding? (You can see how much fun it might be to spring THAT one on a photographer.)

5. What am I actually buying here? Is the album included? Is there possibly an upgrade for the album that you might present to me later? If so, I would like to be familiar with that now.

As you can see, a prepared shopper for wedding photography has much more to take into consideration than the cost of an “8/10.”

6. And, by the way, how much IS an extra 8/10, 5/7, etc.?

7. Is retouching included in the price? If so, which pictures would be included?

Be concerned if simple retouching of close-up photographs is extra. You need to know specifics about this in advance. If there is to be NO retouching, then you have to face the question - can you be satisfied with that?

What other considerations are there within the pricing structure of wedding photography?

There could be many hidden surprises that might surface after the wedding in regards to the wedding photographs. Some topics that should be discussed in advance are:

1. How will I select the wedding photographs? What will I see?

2. Will I be expected to select the photographs without taking them home to study?

(The answer to this could be a firm “yes” or “no.” In either case the photographer may have a very valid reason for his response. There IS no correct answer to this. It’s up to you to decide if this photographer’s answers to this and other questions are valid to you in your given circumstances.)

3. How will people who can not be present select their photographs?

4. Will you photograph the wedding the way I want you to do?

(Boy, I’d like to be there when you ask that question to the photographer you’re interviewing!)

Should I listen to well-meaning friends?

Of course, you should. Some of your friends may have already dealt with photographers and may be more than willing to help you avoid possible pitfalls into which they have fallen in the past. At the same time, however, they may be filling you full of “old-wives tales” that could perpetuate many of the problems that bring bride’s stress on their wedding day.

My advice would be to listen to what your friends have to say and then weigh their opinions against those of the professionals, whose purpose is to help you get through the wedding day as effortlessly and with as much pleasure as humanly possible.

Remember, a wise shopper is a prepared shopper .... one with WRITTEN questions and places in which to record the responses.

A choice of photographic styles can be confusing. How do I know what’s right for me?

You and your families should be the final judge. You should not feel that the decision is yours alone, just because you may be paying for the pictures. You should definitely consider the feelings of all those who are involved with the wedding.

Ultimately, time-tested and proven photographers .... those who offer references to support their services would be ones that I would seriously consider as a possible choice. Unproven, new photographers, friends of the family, photographers who offer to “do you a favor” or to take your wedding pictures “at cost” or for free are ones to be avoided no matter the cost .... especially if they want to take your pictures just to get the experience. These photographers could end up being the most costly of all!

What about black and white photographs

Black and white, hand-colored, sepia and infrared photography are alternate approaches to be considered. All of these have merit. They can be a great addition to color photography. I would not suggest that most of your photography be done in black and white, since so much of the beauty of the wedding day is the color. A few exciting, unusual and different images can be a marvelous addition to your basic, color coverage.

Can hair styles and make-up affect the photography to any great extent?

Unquestionably, yes! Make-up should be blended from the jawline smoothly onto the neck. A sharp demarcation of skin tones will be picked up in your photographs and become a terrible distraction. Strong shades of eye color, especially WHITE, can call attention to your make-up rather than to your eyes. Make-up for photography is not necessarily your regular make-up for evening wear. It must be very subtle.

Hair styles, too, can become very distracting. Long, soft curls on both sides of your face may be very fashionable, but they also cause shadows on the face and can create unbelievable problems. Hair should be styled professionally, even if you want to retain your “natural” appearance. Most women’s faces can be nicely flattered by professional hair stylists who know how to analyze faces and work individually with their clients.

New and/or different hair styles should be tried in advance and with your head piece in place.

Preparedness stress!!!!

But most of all, you MUST know that more stress on the wedding day is caused by beauticians who go over their allotted time for hair and make-up than any other single factor. They oftentimes think that theirs is the only important factor in the preparation of the bridal party to walk down the aisle. Photographers are often forced to make-do with shortened periods of time for their picture taking, because of the bride being made late by their hair stylist and make-up people. Unless your beautician can guarantee your final touch-ups to be completed within your schedule for photographs, you should definitely find someone else.

How important is the personality and appearance of your photographer?

The ability, the personality and the appearance of your photographer will be one of the greatest assets or detriments on your wedding day.

This means that you should definitely meet with the actual person who will be photographing your wedding day. it’s one thing to look at pretty pictures and listen to a good sales person. It might be quite another experience, however, to meet and get to know the person with whom you will be spending a good deal of your time on your wedding day.

On the other hand, you might be of the mind that you do NOT want to spend ANY time with that photographer. Instead, you might prefer a photographer who might use the “hands-off” approach. That is, not bothering you or anyone. Not asking you to pose for anything. A photographer who remains in the background and captures the “real you!”

Do I REALLY want to see the “REAL ME?”

Okay, then you must consider the following: Do you really want to capture the “real” you? Is that what you’re really looking for? After all, if you were looking for that, would you be dressing special for the occasion? Would you be having your hair and make-up done special for this day? No, I have to think that you would like to have you and your day idealized! You probably want to have a photographer who is capturing you at your very best.

If that’s the case, then here is a set of questions that might be a way to get to know the real capabilities of your prospective photographer:

1. Do you prefer a “hands-on” or a “hands-off” approach to wedding day photography?

Some photographers tend to pose people when photographing them. This is considered to be a “hands-on” style. Other photographers remain on the side and capture the moments as they are actually taking place - the “hands-off” approach. There is, of course, benefit, in both styles. Undoubtedly, a blend of the two would be the best response to this question.

2. Do you have a philosophy when it comes to photographing a wedding?

One of the main questions that I would ask a photographer whom I’m considering trusting with the all-important task of photographing my wedding is to find out what is his or her photographic philosophy. Is it that of recording the actual events of the day or is it, instead, to interpret. Are you comfortable with the answers you get on that question?

In order to evaluate this response you have to ask yourself the question, “Do I want to look totally ‘natural,’ or do I want to have the most flattering pictures of myself and my friends and family that I can possibly have?”

Another way of looking at is “Do I want to remember my wedding day the way I visualized it in my dreams, or do I want to see it from a totally factual viewpoint?”

3. Can you suggest any ways in which you might photograph me, so that I can have the most beautiful pictures I’ve ever had? I usually am not at all happy with most of the pictures I’ve had taken of me. I look better in my most unposed moments.

An experienced photographer would respond to this question with a discussion of facial analysis, the selection of specific angles of your faces, photographing your face from either your left or your right side, and why. A photographer who responds with vague generalities is probably one who could be skirting the question or, frankly, has no idea of what you’re talking about. I’d worry about that!

4. Is there anything about my face or my personality that you think you could or should emphasize or de-emphasize?

You, yourself, can evaluate the response to this better than anyone else. I don’t even have to offer you help here. This could be, however, a question that helps you decide whether or not the photographer whom you are considering is aware of those things which are important to you.

Light coming from one side of your face or the other side could in itself eliminate a curve or bump in your nose, or something else that you may wish to de-emphasize about your face.

If one of your eyes is different from the other, does the photographer recognize this and know how to deal with it. An eye that’s smaller than the other, for instance, should be photographed with the smaller eye AWAY from the camera. Does the photographer know this and understand why? If not, I would certainly question the ability of that photographer to capture flattering images of you, regardless of whether they are posed or unposed.

5. Where would you be placing the emphasis in your photography? On the wedding party? The family? Faces? Feelings?

Be certain that you agree with the answers here. Too often photographers look for little details, but miss the things that will be most important to you after the wedding. Of course, it’s YOUR responsibility to let your photographer know exactly where you want the emphasis to be placed. If you are not certain, then it would be incumbent upon you to ask the photographer for advice and then weigh the thoughts of one photographer’s advice against those of another.

6. The timing element of photography on the wedding day (when the pictures will be taken) is one that has the potential for causing a lot of stress. This is a major consideration in the planning of a stress-free wedding day. Ask your photographer how you might best plan the picture taking to avoid stress.

Decide for yourself whether or not the photographer is making sense. Have an open mind here. After all, undoubtedly this photographer has had more experience than you have had on this topic. He can possibly guide you away from making drastic mistakes in the planning of your schedule for your wedding day.

The suggestions may be different from how you had originally thought of planning your wedding day. If so, they should be considered and evaluated seriously. If the photographers leaves it entirely up to you to make the decisions as to when, where and how to have the photographs created on the wedding day, I would suspect that the photographer has not had enough experience to guide you well. I would definitely take this as a clue to inexperience and/or the inability of the photographer to learn from past experience.

7. How do you feel about my wanting to take pictures together with the groom only after the ceremony? I don’t want him to see me on the wedding day before I walk down the aisle.

The response to these questions/statements could be a make-or-break situation in the selection of the wedding photographer who is right for you. The photographer whom you select should be flexible on this issue. One who is adamant that his is the only correct way is, in my opinion, one who should be scrutinized much more deeply.

There is NO correct answer to this .... other than to give you the benefits of having your pictures taken with the groom before or after the ceremony. I have no personal desire here other than to acquaint you with the facts. I would hope that your prospective photographer would use the same approach.

If you feel that there is no way in the world that you want him to see you beforehand, I would hope that the photographer would respect your wishes. In no way should your desires be compromised! At the same time, I would hope that the photographer would explain to you to the pros and cons of what you’re thinking of doing.

Emotionally, I would accept your wishes right from the very start. At the same time, I would explain to you what you might be missing:

a. You might be missing some private, tender moments when the groom would see you for the first time. It has been the experience of countless couples that the moment they first meet (when in private) is one of the most beautiful, memorable moments of that day.

b. Getting the family and bridal party together before the ceremony can be fun, relaxing and tension-breaking.

c. You can certainly expect to have more beautiful photographs of the two of you together when they’re taken before the ceremony, while you’re fresh and excited. Afterwards, your hair, make-up and flowers most certainly will be less than perfection.

d. After the wedding you will want to be free to enjoy being together with your guests. There will be no hold-up to pose for pictures.

e. After the wedding it will be much more difficult to round up and hold all those who you will want to have in your photographs.

The results that show up in your photographs will be in direct proportion to your cooperation with the photographer. The rapport that you establish right from the first meeting with your photographer will eventually affect each and every memory you have of your wedding day.

So, if you want to save all the photographs with the bride and groom together until after the ceremony, you should be prepared to accept whatever happens. Neither you nor the photographer can or should accept the full responsibility for the number or quality of the photographs taken afterwards. There are just too many intangible things that might occur for you to place the responsibility on yourself or the photographer. It becomes a pretty-much hit-or-miss situation.

If you can live with that, I would hope that the photographer could live with that, too.

How will the photographer know whom to include in the pictures?

Your photographer can not be expected to know who the important people are that you want to be certain to get into your photographs. For that reason a list should be made of those who are most important to you. That list should be given both to the photographer and to one person from both the bride’s side of the family and the groom’s side of the family, whom you designate to bring those people to the photographer. The photographer can not possibly have the time to located people, while trying to keep up with the flow of the wedding day.

Do you have specific requests for pictures that you feel you must have, as well as pictures that you really do NOT want to have taken?

Special requests should be spelled out in writing well in advance of the wedding day to avoid disappointments and hardships by both the bridal couple and the photographer.

How do you want the photographer to handle special requests by guests to have their picture taken?

At whose expense should these pictures be made? Do you want to be responsible for guests asking to have their picture taken, or do you want your photographer to deal directly with them?

What about well-meaning guests who want to take pictures over the shoulder of the professional photographer?

You’d better straighten out this matter with your photographer, before you hire him. Once the policy is agreed upon, it should be the responsibility of the members of the bridal party to enforce the agreement. The photographer should not be expected to be the “fall guy,” if the decision is to cut-off others from copying his poses.

Should I be concerned with the photographer’s equipment?

I don’t think that you should worry about the photographer’s equipment, other than to make certain that he has back-up equipment for when he has mechanical failures. If it’s going to happen, you can be sure that it’s going to happen at your wedding.

Yes, there may be a difference as to whether the photographer is using 35mm cameras or a larger film size. These differences should be discussed and understood thoroughly with the photographer during the interview.

What about assistants?

Most photographers can not possibly do everything by themselves. Assistants can be invaluable to both you and the photographer, especially when it’s necessary to move from one location to another.

What about feeding the photographer and his staff?

Absolutely, yes! The photographer is usually the first one on the job and the last one to leave. Unless fed, you can not expect him to retain full strength to complete the job correctly.

What happens in the event of a photographer’s inability to be at your wedding? Is there a back-up?

I don’t even have to discuss the importance of that with you.

What happens in the event that the date of the wedding is changed or canceled entirely?

Something that needs to be discussed, don’t you think?

What is your gut reaction at the conclusion of the interview? Should you make a commitment or go to see others?

I would think that if you’re comfortable with the answers to all of the above topics, you’ve found yourself the right person for you! I’d leave a deposit, as long as you have the assurance that you have “x” number of days to reconsider without a penalty.

In conclusion .....

If you’ve been able to stick with all of this .... throughout this incredibly detailed list of suggestions as to how to find the right photographer for your wedding, you have to have also become aware that this decision can and should NOT be made with only your own feelings in mind.

Undoubtedly, all the family members of the bride and groom will be affected by your decision. And what about the possibility that future generations of family members may be interested in knowing some of their history? Are they to be considered, too, when making your choice?

Yes, the choice of your wedding photographer is more important than any other single factors in the preparation of your wedding day. Do it with caution and with confidence.

The joy (or pain) of your ultimate collection of wedding photographs will live on much longer than the amount of money invested.

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