What to think about when Comparing Wedding Photographers
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The Photographer

It may be obvious but your photographer will be with you on your wedding day.  Many people don’t think about the photographer’s personality and how this will impact their wedding day.  Choose a photographer that you are comfortable with and who will put you at ease.  No one wants a stressed out, pushy, demanding or arrogant photographer.

Ask for lots of testimonies that other recent, wedding couples have given the photographer.

Will the photographer you have met before the wedding, be the same photographer that photographs your wedding?

If the photographic studio has many photographers make sure you view photographs from the photographer that would be shooting your wedding.

What happens if the photographer is sick on your wedding day?

Products Being Offered

Images on CD
Ask the photographer will every image taken be on the CD or do they select and edit what you will receive. 

Are the images on the CD colour & density corrected for the best printing results?  When photography labs print from traditional film negatives, they colour correct and enhance contrast and density to give you the best result.  Most mini labs do not do this with digital printing (hence the reason why digital printing is cheaper).  With professional labs, you will be able to pay extra to have the images colour corrected.    

Will the photographer offer advice on where to go to get images printed and explain how to get the best result from the images that they have taken?

Can you have any special artistic / creative images on the CD?  If so is this extra?

Are you only limited to BW and colour images on the CD?

What photograph size can you print up too using the CD?

When will you receive your CD?

Photographs Taken
It is very important that you see photographs from many complete weddings (every image that a photographer has taken on a wedding day).  This will show the quality of every image taken and if there is enough diversity in the images i.e. it might sound great that a photographer has guaranteed to give you 300 images from a two hour shoot but if you are getting 10 images of every group shot etc there is not much variety for you.  Remember quantity is important but quality is even more important.

How will the images be printed?  Are they colour and density corrected?  Printed in gloss or on professional matt paper?

What size will the photographs be?  ‘Proofs’ generally means very small photographs while ‘prints’ generally means larger photographs.  This is not always the case so it is important to check.

How long will it be before you will receive the images?

How will the images be presented?  Do they come in a bag, box etc?

Albums
Will the photographer be offering their time to sit down with you and design your wedding album together or are you expected to do this on your own?  Can you choose the images that go in the layout and have the final decision on the layout?  What (if any) limitations are there with the album layouts i.e. are you only allowed to have less than four images to a side or do you only have a couple of layouts to choose from?

Does the photographer use the latest album planning software so you can see exactly what the final design will look like?  Will they print out the layout with all the final notes so you have a copy to keep?  This is very important as you will have proof if they have placed the wrong image in your album etc.

Are you able to digitally improve photographs in the album i.e. open up grandma’s eyes, be a little creative etc?  If so is this an extra cost?

Are the photographs that go into your album included in the price or is this extra?

How long does it take to complete the album?

Are there many options with the cover materials you can select from and are there examples of each option you can view?  What other special options do you have for your album e.g. matt colours, page colours, title pages etc?

Albums are not all created equal.  What happens if there is a problem with the album after you have received it?  What guarantee if any is on the album?

Who is the company that makes the album?  What is their reputation with quality? 

Time
When does the time start for a wedding i.e. when the photographer first starts photographing or when they leave home?

Website
Does the photographer offer a service where all your images can be uploaded to the internet so family and friends all around the world can view your photographs?

How long after the wedding will this be done?

Is it all the photographs taken or just a couple that the photographer chooses?

How long will the photographs be on the internet for?

Can you have a password protected website if you want one?

Service

Will your photographer come to you - at a location that is convenient for you and at a time that suits your lifestyle?  Or do you have to go to the photographer every time you need to meet up (remember there may be many times you will see the photographer i.e. the inquiry, before the wedding, planning an album, picking up orders etc).  Would you rather the photographer coming to you for everything or go to the photographer’s place?

Will you be happy with the photographer’s service after the booking has been made?  A good indication of the service you can expect in the future can be based on how the photographer responded to your initial inquiry.  Was their response prompt?  Did they answer any questions you had in their response or was that left out?  Was the spelling of your names correct? Did their email response look professional and easy to understand?  Has it been easy to contact your photographer i.e. do they promptly reply to any voice messages you leave and do they have a mobile you can contact them after hours? 

Does the photographer offer you time just before the wedding to discuss your wedding photography?  Will everything you discuss at this time be written down on a planning sheet e.g. timing, what you want photographed etc.  Will you get a copy of this planning sheet?

How long has the photographer been photographing weddings?  The longer the time means the more likely the photographer has experience all lighting conditions and problems that may occur on a wedding day.  When things don’t go to plan it is nice to know that your photographer won’t panic but offer you the help and assistance that you need.

Does the photographer offer their time and knowledge with any other of your wedding day needs?  After 17 years of being a photographer you will be surprised with what a wedding photographer will know.

Is the photographer a part or full time photographer? 

Guarantee

What guarantee if any does the photographer have?

Sarhn McArthur Photography
PO Box 355 Seaforth 2092 AUSTRALIA
Ph + 61 2 9948 9421
info@sarhn.com
www.sarhn.com