Choosing Your Photographer

Every time I am chosen to be the photographer at a wedding, I feel increadably honoured as there really isn’t a bigger compliment! It is a sacred moment in two people’s lives –that very moment that a girl has been dreaming about for years... the start of a brand new family and life.

Choosing a wedding photographer may seem a daunting task to someone who is getting married and who is challenged by this brand new and totally addicting world of wedding planning, but from where I am standing – this task is quite easy. The points to follow would be from most important to least.

Get along gang

You have been waiting to meet your life partner for years... your Mom has prayed for Mr Right from when you were still in nappies, and Dad is trying to be the brave Man his little girl see through her eyes, while trying to swallow the (very unfamiliar) lump in his throat. This truly is the day that you’ve both been waiting for and have been planning for months. The very last thing you want is someone hanging around your entire day who is unpleasant or making you feel uncomfortable in any way! The number one aspect when choosing a photographer, by far, is to choose someone you get along with!

I have booked loads of couples that could not meet me before the booking, but via email and questions you can get to know someone without meeting them in person. This will be the most important aspect when choosing your photographer.

Experience

You have to like the photographer’s style of photos. Look at an extensive portfolio. You need to see at least 20 photos from 4 weddings with a range of different aspects of the day – make-up/getting dressed photos, ceremony, creative photos and reception photographs. I am sure that your cousin’s brother sister’s boyfriend who has been studying photography for 5 months can really take a nice photo of fruit in a basket and a hippo splashing through the water during the December holiday...but shooting an entire WEDDING is a completely different ballgame. And so is the responsibly attached to getting it right. Not all great photographers can cope with the responsibility of creating the memories that should last you a lifetime. Get someone with enough experience of taking photos at weddings.

Originality and Passion

Look at the originality of each wedding photographed. Normally this will indicate to you whether the photographer is doing this just to make a bit of money, or whether he/she is really passionate about his/her job.

Money Talk

Most couples work to a budget when planning their wedding. If the photographer you really want is a bit over your budget, it’s far better to take a smaller package than choose a cheaper photographer solely because he/she fits the budget. It is exactly here that your cousin’s brother sister’s boyfriend who has been studying photography for 5 months will come in handy. Let him cover the additional hours that you cannot afford the professional photographer for.

Tick all the right boxes

You can also download one of the thousands of checklists of ‘questions to ask your photographer’ from wedding websites... but if you have covered the above 4 points, you’ll be sure to end up with someone that is serious about being a wedding photographer. Someone that WILL have back-up equipment just in case, that will NOT get drunk with the guests and flirt with grooms Dad… and someone who will dedicate himself/herself to giving you awesome memories of your day as fast and efficient as he/she possibly can.

Ingrid Marais, Ingrid Marais Photography