5 USEFUL TIPS FOR HIRING A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
By Gulshan Naagar
1. TAKE PERSONAL INTEREST
Yes, planning a wedding is a tedious affair and as much as we want to control everything all by ourselves, its never under control. As a result we tend to share a lot of responsibilities amongst family and friends.
Wedding is a once in a lifetime affair (well for most of us, yes). Moments once lost will never repeat. Delegating this may not be the best thing to do, hence, taking personal interest will ensure that you get what you and your partner desire. This is something you will cherish for the rest of your lives. There is a high possibility that you will never wear your Wedding outfit ever in your life again. But you certainly will watch your wedding album over and over again.
Yes, planning a wedding is a tedious affair and as much as we want to control everything all by ourselves, its never under control. As a result we tend to share a lot of responsibilities amongst family and friends.
Wedding is a once in a lifetime affair (well for most of us, yes). Moments once lost will never repeat. Delegating this may not be the best thing to do, hence, taking personal interest will ensure that you get what you and your partner desire. This is something you will cherish for the rest of your lives. There is a high possibility that you will never wear your Wedding outfit ever in your life again. But you certainly will watch your wedding album over and over again.
2. MAKE THE MOST OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Gone are the days where you would have to struggle to find the right Photographer for your wedding. Thanks to Social Media, you can now do that with a lot of ease and save a lot of time of other preparations. Whilst you can search wedding portals online, you can also join FB groups with keys words like ‘Wedding Photography/Photographers City name”. You will be amazed to see the listings in and around your vicinity.
Beware of agents OR wedding planners. They have their own cut in each deal. You may end up paying more than what you suppose to.
Gone are the days where you would have to struggle to find the right Photographer for your wedding. Thanks to Social Media, you can now do that with a lot of ease and save a lot of time of other preparations. Whilst you can search wedding portals online, you can also join FB groups with keys words like ‘Wedding Photography/Photographers City name”. You will be amazed to see the listings in and around your vicinity.
Beware of agents OR wedding planners. They have their own cut in each deal. You may end up paying more than what you suppose to.
3. FILTER WISELY
Filter your options carefully. Few basic criteria will help you shortlist your options:
1: Particular type of Wedding – If your wedding is going to be a typical Hindu/Marwadi/Muslim/etc, then it will be a good idea to see how many such weddings have they covered. Its not necessary if a wedding photographer hasn’t covered a particular type of wedding then they may not, they still may. Its just an indicator. Its not a thumb rule, you can start with point # 2 directly.
2: Style – Every wedding photographer has a style that you will see in most of their pictures. Some are very colourful, some are fun, some like to cover a lot of people in their pictures, some focus on the special moments very sensitively. Its the style that captures our attention. Try to find the one that matches your style.
3: Experience – This is one area where you can safely give experience a back seat. There are 100s of experienced photographers with no elegance or flair. On the other hand there are talented photographers with only a few portfolios in their kitty. Probably coz they are new. It can be vice-versa too. The point is don’t use Experience as one your filter criteria.
4 : Testimonials: Feedback is a strong indicator of identifying the satisfaction level of people who have availed the service before. I’m not referring to the ones thats up on their website or page. Most of those written by their friends and family. Look out for those mutual friends of the existing clients. Try to use your network and see if you can speak to a few of those clients directly. This could turn out be one of the most important filter point of your decision.
Filter your options carefully. Few basic criteria will help you shortlist your options:
1: Particular type of Wedding – If your wedding is going to be a typical Hindu/Marwadi/Muslim/etc, then it will be a good idea to see how many such weddings have they covered. Its not necessary if a wedding photographer hasn’t covered a particular type of wedding then they may not, they still may. Its just an indicator. Its not a thumb rule, you can start with point # 2 directly.
2: Style – Every wedding photographer has a style that you will see in most of their pictures. Some are very colourful, some are fun, some like to cover a lot of people in their pictures, some focus on the special moments very sensitively. Its the style that captures our attention. Try to find the one that matches your style.
3: Experience – This is one area where you can safely give experience a back seat. There are 100s of experienced photographers with no elegance or flair. On the other hand there are talented photographers with only a few portfolios in their kitty. Probably coz they are new. It can be vice-versa too. The point is don’t use Experience as one your filter criteria.
4 : Testimonials: Feedback is a strong indicator of identifying the satisfaction level of people who have availed the service before. I’m not referring to the ones thats up on their website or page. Most of those written by their friends and family. Look out for those mutual friends of the existing clients. Try to use your network and see if you can speak to a few of those clients directly. This could turn out be one of the most important filter point of your decision.
4. BUDGET WIDGET
This is one field where you will find a wide range right from 10K – 10L. And thats why choosing the right photographer for your wedding can a be a little tricky. This can be your 2nd last criteria to select the right one. Call for a quote and see who fits in your bill. Try to negotiate. High possibility you will get a 2nd quote.
At this level you will be compelled to think if you may want to raise your budget because by now you may have liked a few profiles already that you might want to consider. Take your call wisely here. Quality comes with a price but YOU know best what is value for your hard earned money.
This is one field where you will find a wide range right from 10K – 10L. And thats why choosing the right photographer for your wedding can a be a little tricky. This can be your 2nd last criteria to select the right one. Call for a quote and see who fits in your bill. Try to negotiate. High possibility you will get a 2nd quote.
At this level you will be compelled to think if you may want to raise your budget because by now you may have liked a few profiles already that you might want to consider. Take your call wisely here. Quality comes with a price but YOU know best what is value for your hard earned money.
5. MEET THEM
This can be last level of your decision. It should be very important for you to know who will be with your family and friends on the main events while you will be busy with other important things. Its difficult to understand all this over a phone call. Meeting them will help you understand their specific requirements they may have to make it a smooth process.
Working with like minded people will always yield better results :)
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Doing this exercise with your to be partner will be great fun and will add to your awesome memories for the rest of your life :)
If you found this article helpful, do follow us for more tips on wedding photography.
From writers mouth-
Writing is not my thing. Photography is. Two things happened very recently in my life. My marriage and my new venture in Professional Photography and guess thats what motivated me to write this Blog. Hope you guys like it and if you do, show me some love so that I'll give another shot at it soon :)
Gulshan Naagar is Photographer and Partner @Two Cups Coffee & A Camera
This can be last level of your decision. It should be very important for you to know who will be with your family and friends on the main events while you will be busy with other important things. Its difficult to understand all this over a phone call. Meeting them will help you understand their specific requirements they may have to make it a smooth process.
Working with like minded people will always yield better results :)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Doing this exercise with your to be partner will be great fun and will add to your awesome memories for the rest of your life :)
If you found this article helpful, do follow us for more tips on wedding photography.
From writers mouth-
Writing is not my thing. Photography is. Two things happened very recently in my life. My marriage and my new venture in Professional Photography and guess thats what motivated me to write this Blog. Hope you guys like it and if you do, show me some love so that I'll give another shot at it soon :)
Gulshan Naagar is Photographer and Partner @Two Cups Coffee & A Camera