Make your wedding picture perfect
Wed, September 10 2008
Congratulations! You’re engaged and now involved in the exciting process of planning a wedding. Let’s talk about how to choose the right wedding photographer.
1. Research. Browse local wedding photographers on the web and visit their websites; ask for referrals from your friends and family.
2. Set your budget. According to Wedding Bells magazine, the average wedding in 2007 in Canada costs $28,500. You can find a photographer to fit your budget, but remember you usually get what you pay for!
3. Set your priorities. As a couple, determine what portion of the wedding is the most important to you — dress, rings, flowers, cake, the reception? Regardless of what your priorities are, the only thing that will truly last from your wedding day are the photos, so getting the best photographer you can afford should be top priority.
4. Decide what photo products you want. Engagement photos, bridal sessions, boudoir photos, ceremony and formals only, or full day coverage? Online proofing, printed 4x6 proofs, albums, CD or a DVD of high-resolution files? The hottest trends in wedding photography are beautiful print-and-bind or flush-mount albums Traditional matted or slip-in albums are the way of the past.
5. Determine your style. Comparing one photographer to the next is like comparing apples and oranges, both in terms of style and in terms of price. Find a photographer whose style and price you like.
6. Ask the right questions. Ask about their experience. Also ask about their equipment — a professional photographer should have a back up for each piece of equipment. Most professional photographers use professional digital equipment from Canon or Nikon; film is an almost-dead technology. The industry standard for photo editing is Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Adobe Lightroom; anything less is unacceptable. The digital renaissance is here!
7. Once you’ve booked your photographer, stay in touch. Ask questions and tell him or her about important details. If great aunt Mildred is flying in from England for your wedding and you want to be sure to get lots of photos — tell your photographer !
8. Relax and enjoy your wedding, knowing a professional is handling the photos.
1. Research. Browse local wedding photographers on the web and visit their websites; ask for referrals from your friends and family.
2. Set your budget. According to Wedding Bells magazine, the average wedding in 2007 in Canada costs $28,500. You can find a photographer to fit your budget, but remember you usually get what you pay for!
3. Set your priorities. As a couple, determine what portion of the wedding is the most important to you — dress, rings, flowers, cake, the reception? Regardless of what your priorities are, the only thing that will truly last from your wedding day are the photos, so getting the best photographer you can afford should be top priority.
4. Decide what photo products you want. Engagement photos, bridal sessions, boudoir photos, ceremony and formals only, or full day coverage? Online proofing, printed 4x6 proofs, albums, CD or a DVD of high-resolution files? The hottest trends in wedding photography are beautiful print-and-bind or flush-mount albums Traditional matted or slip-in albums are the way of the past.
5. Determine your style. Comparing one photographer to the next is like comparing apples and oranges, both in terms of style and in terms of price. Find a photographer whose style and price you like.
6. Ask the right questions. Ask about their experience. Also ask about their equipment — a professional photographer should have a back up for each piece of equipment. Most professional photographers use professional digital equipment from Canon or Nikon; film is an almost-dead technology. The industry standard for photo editing is Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Adobe Lightroom; anything less is unacceptable. The digital renaissance is here!
7. Once you’ve booked your photographer, stay in touch. Ask questions and tell him or her about important details. If great aunt Mildred is flying in from England for your wedding and you want to be sure to get lots of photos — tell your photographer !
8. Relax and enjoy your wedding, knowing a professional is handling the photos.
