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Shopping for a
photographer isn’t like selecting outfits and bridal bouquets
for one simple reason: you can’t see the pictures you’re buying until
after you’ve made your decision. In the end, your decision will be
largely a matter of faith. For many, price ends up being the primary
determining factor, which doesn’t make much sense when you consider that
there are no second chances.
We've compiled
some general guidelines to help you select the photographer that’s right
for you. We’re happy to share the lessons of our experience with you
here.
Personal
referrals
Start by building a list of several photographers who shoot the
kind of photography you want. Asking
friends and relatives for recommendations is a great way to begin. People
who’ve had positive experiences with photographers are always happy to
share their photographers’ names with you, and when you meet with the
photographer, you’ll both have an immediate frame of reference from
which to proceed.
Phone
interview
Next, call each photographer on your list. A quick phone call
will give you a number of key pieces of information, such as the
photographer’s availability on your wedding day, techniques, specialties
(e.g., candid, traditional, photojournalism, combination, etc.), and a
rough idea as to how much they’ll charge you and what you’ll receive
for that fee. It will also tell you a bit about the photographer’s
personality. Remember, this person will be an integral part of your day,
often the most
important day of your life, so be sure you choose someone you feel good
about.
Know what to ask, and know you what you get with Coolwater Studios...
The more questions you ask up front, the more confident and relaxed
you’ll feel on your day. If in doubt, ask! And remember,
there is no such thing as a dumb question.
Here are some questions you may not have considered, but that could be
very important later:
- Are the gallery picture
examples by the same photographer who'll be your photographer?
Yes, all our all pictures in our gallery are
by Stephen Eis.
- How many pictures should I look at to determine consistency?
You should
see at least three, start to finish, picture compilations.
- How will you show
me pictures for selection (e.g., electronic, proofs, contact sheets,
etc.)?
We post all proofs on a private web location. Printed proofs are available
upon request.
- Will you help me
choose the final pictures?
We offer our opinions on specific images you have chosen. Please feel free
to ask.
- How will you make
it easy for friends and family to order reprints?
We hand out information cards to your guests at your reception telling
them when and where to see and get prints.
- Are there
different degrees of coverage? What's included in each?
We offer one and two photographer coverage. Two is better than one for
larger, more complex events.
- How much for the
extras? Duplicates? (Ask to see the specific style of album you will
be receiving.) Are alternate choices available? Do they cost extra?
Our packages are pretty comprehensive and any extras would be very small
in price.
- What’s your
time frame for preparing the pictures for my selection? How long do I
have to make up my mind as to which pictures I want and how many?
I usually get your images on-line within a week however, busy season can
push this out two or three more weeks.
- How much money am
I likely to spend eventually before you think I’ll be happy with my
coverage?
This is such a subjective thing. A very picky or particular client could
push up costs with many changes. The "standard" client who gets
prints and an album usually spends around $2,200.
- How much money
will I need to spend to make it worthwhile for you to give me your
best work on my day?
I always give my best. It's in my nature. I'm always looking to capture
the best of any situation, location or person.
- What’s your
philosophy to photographing weddings?
HAVE FUN!!! I give 110%, make my client happy and at ease. This makes
better pictures and creates a positive experience for my client.
- What do you plan
to do at my wedding to make my photographs unique and personal
to me? Can I tell you who I want in my pictures? How will you find
them?
My favorite clients are those that have ideas and ask for what they want.
This not only tells me they value what I'm doing for them but
gives me great feedback that I'm going to get images that are
uniquely meaningful to them.
- Who will I be
dealing with after the event?
Most of the time you will be dealing directly with me after the wedding
however, I do have an assistant that might be contacting you with
important information.
- What's your
payment policy? Do you give any guarantees on your services and
photographs?
My payment policy is 30% down to hold the date, 30% due before the wedding
day, and the remainder due after we figure out if you added
anything to the package later. I guarantee you will get an average
of 100 usable pictures for every hour of coverage.
- What is the
possibility of the pictures fading? What if they fade?
I use a photo lab to do all my final prints that caters only to
professional photographers. Their prints are guaranteed to remain
stable for over 200 years. (Beat that with an inkjet print)
- What is the best "style"?
We offer the best style for the kind of photography you you want,
be it traditional, photojournalism or artistic styles. We shoot
what you need and when you need it. With any style, you can have
any pictures in B&W, Sepia, and B&W/color mix.
- The packages are great but I want to change or add something.
Our packages are totally flexible and customizable to your preference.
- What if your equipment fails during the day?
We use state-of-the art digital
cameras with a full standby rig.
- At my sister's wedding the photographer dressed
inappropriately, sat around a lot, was rude and was late on top of
it all.
Our photographer, Steve Eis, is friendly, dresses appropriately and
arrives early to make sure all is well.
- My sister's photography package price was really cheap but
she spent thousands more on contingencies and hidden costs.
Our packages and price
ranges are posted on our web site. We clearly
outline what is included and what is extra. A photographers cost can add up if you are not careful. Know
what you have to pay for up front. Get a total package cost quote
for everything you can think of and know what comes with your
package. We send custom quotes that outline every detail of your
package and send another quote listing other options and their
costs. You'll find our packages are very inclusive and a great
bargain when you add it all up.
Make
appointments
Make appointments with the photographers who sound promising so
you can view their portfolios and discuss details. These meetings should
include both the bride and groom as well as the bride's parents, and
anyone else who will either be paying for the work or working closely with
the photographer. Write down all your questions before you meet, and take
plenty of notes during the meetings.
You should always interview the actual photographer who is going to
shoot your wedding and get it in writing that that photographer is
going to be the one shooting yours. Some studios switch out
photographers on their clients and you will get inferior work.
Be sure the photos and albums you are shown are all done by the
photographer who is going to shoot your wedding. Many studios only
show you their better photographers work and your photos will not be
as good.
Narrow you
search
When you’ve narrowed your list to one or two photographers, ask
each of them to show you complete coverage of at least three weddings.
This will give you a much better idea as to what you can expect than a
collection of the best shots from several different weddings. Consider
whether the photographer successfully captures individual characteristics
and personalities. Do the pictures capture people’s feelings, or are
they just pictures of people standing around looking self-conscious. Do
they look natural?
Prepare to
make a commitment
At this stage, if you've taken the time to ask good questions, you’ll
know whether this photographer is for you. By now you've probably spent a
good deal of time with the photographer. Keep in mind that photographers
are trained professionals and that they deserve to be treated as such. Go
to your meeting prepared to leave a deposit to reserve the date. Before
you do, however, you may want to assure yourself of a few more last-minute
details. Ask about the photographer's policy for wedding-date changes and
what happens if he/she is not available on the alternate date. Ask about
their policy for an unforeseen cancellation. If the photographer is right
for you, if the photographer is available, and if you're convinced that
it's worth the price, then make the commitment and relax; this is
undoubtedly one of the best and most intelligent decisions you've made in
planning your wedding.
Be sure to see at least three full weddings by the same
photographer. Consistency throughout each wedding and from one wedding to
the next is important.
How much
should pictures cost?
Price is often the one obstacle that prevents wedding clients
from selecting the photographer who can give them the best value. Problems
usually arise when the phrase “within the budget” is misunderstood.
It's tempting to keep spending “a little more here and a little more
there.” But somewhere along the line, financial limits must be imposed.
Still, within the framework of the entire wedding day, it makes good sense
to evaluate the money spent on photographs in relation to what's being
spent on flowers, food, and music, keeping in mind that pictures are the
only thing you’ll have after the moment has passed.
Rates vary significantly according to experience, talent and technique.
Generally, fees for competent photography will begin at around a thousand
dollars. Spending less than this is a huge gamble. A true specialist, one with
a reputation for consistently delivering the best, might begin at two to
three times that amount.
Packages vs
fixed prices
Some photographers offer basic packages consisting of a specified number
of photographs for a set dollar amount, while other studios might have a
fixed charge for shooting the wedding and charge for each prints you
order. Other photographers give you all the pictures that are taken,
charging a set fee for everything.
You should realize
when you're preparing your budget that you’ll probably want additional
portraits for both families. In any case, you're probably going to spend
more than you originally planned, but you'll be doing it because you like
the pictures so much; you’ll want to buy the extras.
Be careful about what the studio says and what you sign. Read your
agreement thoroughly and have them explain it to you. A verbal
agreement holds no value compared to the agreement you sign.
• • Be aware of “hidden” costs. Some studios offer prices that
don’t include anything but shooting time. Later on they charge
thousands of extra dollars for prints and albums. • Be aware of
“conditions”. Some studios advertise a great price but you get it only
if you purchase thousands of dollars more from them. For example: some
other studios offer 8 hours of coverage for only $900. The condition
is that you buy their $1,800 album and $1,000 worth of prints.
Bottom line:
years from now, the money you spent on your wedding photos will be
irrelevant; what’s important now is getting great photographs that
capture the joy of your wedding day.
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