All your Wedding needs
Choosing the right photographer for your wedding is a difficult assignment. You need to know how much you plan on budgeting for your wedding photographer, prices do vary according to the skill and experience of the photographer.
When visiting a photographer’s studio, you will no doubt be shown a stunning presentation of wedding photographs.
Be sure to ask if the person who took those photos will be the person that is taking your wedding photos at your wedding.
It’s an advantage to meet with the actual photographer that will be taking your wedding photos at this meeting and not just the "salesperson" at the studio. When you meet with your photographer, you can share some tips and ideas like taking photos from of your "good side". Organising this kind of thing before hand can save time and avoid potential embarrassing situations on the day. Every photographer will have their own ideas to make your wedding photos magical, but this is your chance to tell them if you want specific photos or to certain types of shots.
It's not uncommon for wedding photographers to receive photo requests such as:
Some requests will require additional organisation, different venues, creativity and handling, which of course will probably mean more cost. Make sure you discuss all of your requirements in detail so no unexpected costs will blow your budget.
Also, studios may have more than one photographer working for them and they may even hire freelance photographers to send to your wedding. If you are paying high prices for photographs from an "award winning" studio, make sure that you are going to be getting the award winning photographer or try and negotiate a different rate.
Remember you can always shop around and ask your friends and family for a referral if they have had any good experiences.
A starting package for a photographer to attend your wedding will be in the $1500-$2000 price range. Be sure to budget for extra photos. The starters package most photographers offer is an album of between 20-40 photographs.
That’s not really enough when you consider the amount of shots that will be taken on the day. From photos taken at your home before you leave, to the actual ceremony. Then there might be some group shots taken at the gardens and finishing with a few more during the reception.
Negotiate with your photographer what is included in the package. Some basic packages will only include the actual ceremony and some shots after. An "all day" job, including preparation and reception will cost substantially more.
However think about what is important to you, what photos do you really need taken professionally? For most newlyweds, it's satisfactory to have a friend or family member take photos and video of the preparation and reception.
How do you choose a wedding photographer for your special day? You will need to do some research. If you have any friends that have been married recently, you can ask them if you can view their wedding photos and video if they had one taken.
You will soon know if your friends are happy with their wedding photos. If they are happy with the price they paid and if they are happy with the overall service that the wedding photographer provided.
You will need to book an appointment with your photographer to see them in person. Ask them questions in person, not just over the phone before making a decision on who you are going to pay to take your wedding photos.
Wedding photographers are not always qualified photographers. This is one industry that is unregulated in many part of the world, not just Australia and therefore you can find yourself with poor quality photographs if you don’t do your research.
If you are looking for a local wedding photographer, then you can find one using our directory listings of wedding photographers.
Once you have chosen your photographer you will have to be prepared to pay a deposit of around 50% of what the total fee will be for your wedding photos.
This may sound expensive but you are booking your wedding photographer to work exclusively for you on your wedding day.
Some couples do split up at the last minute before a wedding even takes place leaving the photographer with an open space on their calendar.
You should enquire with each photographer or studio and find out what payments are required, what component will be refunded if cancelled and what the payment options are. Some newlyweds will spend several thousand dollars on their album and often require a finance option or payment plan.
The remaining amount is usually paid by the wedding day.
If possible, you should sign a contract to ensure that your wedding photographer will be available for your wedding. Make sure you understand what is in the contract before signing it. If you are unsure about any aspects of the contract then don’t sign it. You can take it home with you and return it later.
