Hiring the photographer and videographer is one of the first tasks you want to accomplish during the wedding planning. Sometimes, the better ones can be booked up to a year in advance, especially during the most popular wedding months. If you only have a year to plan, it’s best that you start scheduling appointments as soon as possible. Meet with at least 3-5 different photographers and ask to see sample work of a few different events. Flip through bridal magazines and mark pages of photography styles that you like. Figuring out what you favor will really help you to narrow down the selection of photographers you have to choose from.
A good way to really feel out a photographer you think you like is by letting him/her create a pre-wedding montage of you and the groom-to-be. These photographs can be used to tell the story of the engagement by way of powerful lighting techniques and romantic scenes. You can then send these pictures out along with the wedding invitation as well as use a few of your favorite photos as decorations at the reception venue. If you’re taking the cheaper route by creating a wedding webpage, the pictures can be used in the design to make it more personal and colorful.
After the engagement photo session is over, you’ll be able to determine whether or not the photographer is a right fit for you. Remember, it’s not just about skill with a camera – a good wedding photographer is also creative and must have an artistic eye. You may decide that you want to show a video montage at the reception which displays pictures of you and the groom when you were kids all the way to the wedding day. This will require super-human organizational skills on your photographer’s end. It’s important that you find someone who is very detailed and takes pride in his/her work.
Whoever you end up interviewing for either the photographer or videographer position, make sure that you show them some examples of what you’re looking for. There are multiple ways in which a photographer can approach the festivities, such as in a documentary or journalistic fashion. If you’re uncertain about what you like, picking the right photographer may prove to be extremely difficult. Take your time, and do your research.
Above all else, it’s critical that you are comfortable with your photographer and videographer you choose. While you want them to feel as though they can take creative liberties, you also want to ensure that your needs are being met. You should never feel as though you’re trying to accommodate the person taking your pictures – this is your big day and you are paying for it! So pick someone who is respectful, attentive, and eager to please. While this may take months of soul-searching in the photography department, in the end, you’ll be glad you did! After the festivities are over, the photos will be the only thing that you’ll have to remember the wedding by.