The Importance Of Hiring The Right Wedding Photographer or Videographer

Hey-Lo

I wanted to give a word of advice about choosing the right wedding photographer or videographer for your wedding.

You have heard the phrase a picture is worth 1000 words. Well when dealing with your wedding day, that statement holds up 1000 fold.

Everyday it seems like there is another person offering their services on sites like Craigslist, Yahoo, and even on cardboard on the side of the highway to film your wedding. Your wedding day should be unforgettable (pun intended) and that is why hiring the right person to film your wedding is paramount.

In regards to some of the "photographers" and "videographers" who advertise on free sites, such as Craigslist, some of them may be fantastic. In fact, one of my good friends in the business, Linda Wilson who owns Photos By Carolind has advertised on there a few times. I would have no issue hiring her to shoot my wedding, if I ever had to do that again. However, I have seen too many red flags on some of them.

For example, I have asked to see samples work from three different ones. Each one of them said that their clients will not allow them to show their wedding....or...their company policy forbids them from showing other people's wedding videos. These are the biggest red flags you should be aware of.

The next thing they will try to do is re-enforce the fact that their prices are way cheaper than everyone else. That may be but if you shoot the wedding with a dirty lens or with the lens cap still on, then 1.00 is too much to pay.

I have received one DVD from one company and the quality was cheap. What I mean is there was no real editing, you could not hear any vows, exchanging of rings, etc... The things you want to have from your wedding video.

So, with that being said, here are a few tips that you may of heard before when looking for a wedding photographer or videographer.

1. Interview the person who will be filming your wedding and see samples of photos/videos that they have PERSONALLY DONE. Most of your husband wife teams, such as Photography By Dennis and Yvette do all the work by themselves. There are some companies that are usually in the larger cities but are slowly moving into our area that are what I like to call Corporate Wedding Video/Photos. The quickest way to spot these companies are those who offer services that are not artistically related to each other such as Photo/Video/DJ/Florist/ These companies generally hire people with little to no experience and may not have them booked until the week before the wedding. There have been a few times where the DJ or photographer did not show because the company could not find someone to do it.
2. Some photographers use an assistant, as we do from time to time. If there will be an assistant used on your wedding, again be sure to ask to see work they have done.
3. Get references. Do not be afraid to ask for names and numbers of other brides and other professionals that they have worked with. An excellent source for information for a photographer or videographer is a DJ. Because the DJ is there all night, they would be a good source of info on how their work ethic was.
4. When looking at a videographer's sample, pay close attention to the lighting, color quality and the sound of the video. Also focus on their creative attention to detail. Does the wedding video tell a story or is it a bunch of randomvideo clips put together.

I hope this information was useful to you in your search of a wedding videographer or photographer. Keep in mind that each photographer is an artist. Although many styles may seem the similar, each one usually has their own little "something" that makes them unique.

While we are on that subject, please check out some of my favorite wedding photographers located here in the upstate. In fact, each of these artists work directly inspired me to learn photography.

Kismet

Mitchell

Cinematic Impressions

Photography By Dennis and Yvette

Jason Tensch Blue Mountain Photo Works

A Perfect Day Photography

Alison Haynes

Cox Photography

Storybook Day Photography

John Gillespie

Dream Images

And last but not least Michael Lamb. He took a picture outside the Westin Hotel of a bride looking back at him with a reflection on the stone. That picture is what made me go out and buy my first camera kit.

Mike