5 things to keep in mind before booking a wedding photographer - A photographer's perspective

Your big day is just around the corner and you have the final and most important thing to fix. Booking a wedding photographer, to capture the most special day of your life. You have seen the best of wedding photographs in the best of Instagram handles, have even pinned hundreds in your Pinterest account. Now it is time to choose the best for your wedding.

Finding a wedding photographer who matches your style and budget is high on everyone's list. Here are 5 things you should keep in mind before booking a photographer for your wedding.

1. Have your needs in mind

To make sure you reach out to the relevant photographers to enquire, you should be very clear about what your needs and expectations are. It is also important to have in mind your photography budget so that you filter the photographers based on that. The photography industry is pretty spread out and there is a range of photographers available for each budget. Make sure your needs, expectations, and budget fit the right set of photographers and you have a narrow list to choose from.

2. Research for the best fit

To ensure things go smoothly on your wedding day and you have the best photographer to back you up you should thoroughly research your wedding photographer. Read their articles, see their style of work, read the feedback they have received from previous clients, and take a look at their wedding galleries online. The photographs will show a consistent pattern and you can expect the same from your wedding too. There should not be a significant difference between their style work and your expectations. Maybe you have in mind a collection of group photographs and their style of work focuses more on portraits and details. These small details create a huge impact when the final set of work is delivered so it is important to do your homework beforehand.

3. Book a meeting

Once you have made up your mind over choosing your photographer to shoot your wedding, it is advised to have a meeting set up in person. Knowing the person before the big day will help you feel comfortable and much eased up. They may shoot amazing photographs but everything will feel in vain if you are not comfortable in front of the camera or sync with them. If it is not possible to fix up a physical meeting, remember you can always set up a Skype or a Zoom call to talk to the photographer. A meeting (whether online or physical) will help you better understand their personality which you may want to know as you will be spending most of your time around them. Being calm on the day will help a photographer produce gorgeous images and knowing the other person a little better will work well for you and the photographer.

4. Put your expectations upfront

You should put upfront on what expectations you have from the photographer. If you tell your expectations they will have a clear picture of what you want and it will help them deliver. That is why it is important to have a meeting beforehand so that you and the photographer can be on the same page. A professional photographer will always enquire whether you have any specific demand which can be considered. Clicking more group shots than close up shots can be one of those. Share with them any pinned ideas or work you have. This will help them get a better idea of what you have in mind. Be sure to connect with the photographer as much as you can before the big day, it will help put both you and the photographer at ease. Remember, it is your wedding day, invest some time and thoughts in choosing the best. It will all be worth it in the end.

5. Deliverables

The wedding is over and you are expecting to receive 600-700 photographs but only end up getting 200. Set clear expectations beforehand over how many photographs you will receive. Some photographers offer 250 photographs from a 12 hours wedding while others may provide a bit extra. Some photographers provide unedited photographs, a couple of frames containing the best moments, or even a printed album. It totally depends upon the package you agreed upon.

Also, confirm how you will be receiving the photographs. Some photographers prefer mailing the soft copies while others provide all the photographs in a flash drive. Though, it depends upon the ease of transfer.

So, once you have checked the above-mentioned points, it is time to book your photographer to shoot the most important day of your life. The photographs clicked today will be there on your coffee table forever and will spread happiness in the days to follow.

Pro Tip: Remember, it is not proved that a photographer who charges high has a high quality of work. Everyone has their own style. If you like their work and it meets your expectations, then Bingo! you have a match.

By Bhavesh Pandey, a professional wedding photographer from India currently living in Paris. He believes in creating the best memories so those can be cherished forever, for years and generations to come. Visit his website to see more of his work.

Instagram: Bhavesh Pandey

#weddingphotography #photography #candidwedding #weddingplanning