Congratulations on your engagement! This is a really exciting time in your life. It’s also probably going to be a bit stressful.
During this next year, I want to walk through this process with you. I’ll give you a 12 Month Guide to planning your wedding and explain things along the way. You can start from the beginning here (click). Come back to this blog each week for the next installment.
Week Eight – Photographers and Videographers
Hope you’re having a blast with the wedding dress hunt! This week we’ll be looking at photographers and videographers!
There are many lists available about what questions to ask your potential photographers and videographers. You’re welcome to use them, but consider the questions carefully before asking. There’s no point in asking about what equipment the photographer uses if you don’t know a Canon 50D from a Canon 5D or a 70-300mm f/4 from a 70-200mm f/2.8. It will seem like a foreign language and not get you any closer to a decision on who to hire.
Here are the top four things I recommend you look for in a photographer and videographer for your wedding:
1. Personality
Everybody has a different personality, and that’s okay. You may not hit it off with every wedding vendor you meet. Just be careful about who you select. The photographer/videographer will be with you multiple times before the wedding, during most of the wedding day and even after the wedding. Since you’ll be spending so much time with this person, you will want to find somebody who makes you feel comfortable. Find a photographer/videographer that you want to spend time with. They don’t have to be future friends, but you should happily want to talk with them.
2. Price
Budgets are important. Decide on a budget and then prioritize the top three areas of focus on your wedding day. You may want to spend more on photography and less on flowers, or perhaps videography is lower on your list than food options. If you place these items in order of importance, it will be easier to budget the wedding. Once you have an estimate on how much to spend on photographers/videographers and the importance on photography/videography in your wedding, you’ll know what type of photography package you can purchase. Don’t forget that you may want several extras like prints, albums and more.
3. Products
Photography – What do you want from your wedding photos? Do you just want a disk of images? Those often end up forgotten in a drawer. Do you want prints or even a canvas to display in your new home? It would be great for guests to sit in your living room and see an amazing image that captures the love and emotion of your wedding day. Wedding albums are another way to show off your love story. While you can probably find a special deal online for a do-it-yourself photo album, this is a once in a lifetime event that should be displayed in a way that shows its significance. Ask your photographer about custom, quality wedding albums with thick pages. These become a treasured heirloom that can be passed down as an inspiration of love to future generations.
Videography – What are you wanting from a wedding video? Do you just want a video of the ceremony, or are you wanting a full documentary of the day with a highlight reel? The price will be very different for the two. There are even videographers who will use 4k video cameras and drones to capture a high-end video. Ask videographers about what they can offer in packages.
4. Experience
While it’s good for the photographer/videographer to have experience, I mean that you need to have an amazing experience with your photographer/videographer. This is a special time in your life. The photographer/videographer will be with you multiple times before the wedding, during most of the wedding day and even after the wedding. You should try to find a photographer/videographer who will make you feel special and embrace your wedding so that it is a happy experience.
What style of photography do you love?
Next week we’ll look at how to select caterers and bakers!
Katelyn is a certified wedding planner. She is available for consultations.
She will even meet with you on Skype to help you work through part of your wedding planning.
Click here for more information.