5 Things Your Wedding Photography MUST Have
5 things your wedding photographer MUST have
Maybe I’m biased, but I believe the single most important vendor you will hire for your wedding is the photographer – the person responsible for capturing all the details, the people, the fleeting moments and the emotion of what will be one of the biggest days of your life. That puts a lot of pressure on you to make the right choice!
So, where do you start? Below are five things that I believe are extremely important and should never be overlooked when making your final decision.
1. INSURANCE
This might be the most boring of details in a photographer, but it is by no means any less important. The average cost of a wedding today is over $25,000 – but, God forbid, what if something happens?! A wedding guest trips over the photographer’s light stand and breaks their arm. The photographer bumps a candle over and burns down the rustic barn venue. Sure, these aren’t your fault… but when the photographer is without insurance and has no means to pay for the damage, who else do you think is going to be named in litigation? (Yup, you’re the one on the contract with the venue!).
Now maybe that sounds far fetched, but how about this scenario: after a long 12-hour day photographing your wedding, the photographer gets home just after midnight, puts all the photo gear in their home office, and goes straight to bed. He wakes up the next morning and realizes he has to run a quick errand – jumps in the car and runs into town for a moment. Upon returning home he realizes something isn’t right… Someone has broken into the house and stolen the tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment… and, oh no… all those pictures from your wedding the night before were still on the memory cards in the cameras… they’re gone. This is based on a true story I read that was shared in a photography forum. Fortunately, the photographer had insurance. Yes, the pictures were gone. But the insurance paid for the couple to recreate the wedding day (rent the venue, fly in family, etc) to get the photos they were so excited for. Without insurance the couple would have been completely without photos. It may not be the same, but definitely better than nothing!
2. BACKUP GEAR
You’re probably not a photography gear expert. Most brides and grooms don’t know the difference between Canon and Nikon, what the little letter “f” means on a lens or why on earth a person would own eight different lenses. And you shouldn’t need to know – all you care about is getting those beautiful photos of your wedding day.
But, as any person who has used “technology” is aware, glitches happen and things malfunction. It’s not common, but it also happens in digital cameras. Your wedding photographer must have backup equipment, and that cannot be negotiable. Sadly, I know people who photograph weddings for pay, and they do so with one camera. What do you do if the one camera malfunctions and quits working? I doubt you’re going to put the wedding on pause while the photographer looks for a replacement. The reality is you’re out of luck; the camera malfunctions and the photography stops. Always make sure your photographer has backup equipment – cameras and lenses!
3. STYLE
Technically, I guess every photographer has a photography style (is a lack of style a form of style?). Your biggest concern is whether or not it is a style you like. What do you like about their photos? Is it consistent in their portfolio? There are a few things to watch out for:
First, look for a variety of photos in their portfolio from different parts of the wedding day – “getting ready” photos, bride and groom portraits, candid shots, details, the ceremony, reception, etc. Do you feel confident in their ability to cover an entire wedding day in a style that appeals to you? Some photographers overly pad their portfolios with “styled shoots” – that is setting up a photo session with a couple dressed in wedding clothes. The photos look like they were from an actual wedding, but everything is staged. Now, there is nothing wrong with styled shoots and using these in a portfolio, just make sure it’s not the bulk of what they’re showing you.
Second, I don’t recommend a photographer that claims they can do any style you like. Maybe some can do that and can do it well. But for most of us photographers, there is a unique creative expression and personality that naturally shapes the way we shoot. I once met with a bride about her wedding and need for a photographer. Everything about the wedding sounded great, I could tell she would be fun to work with, and was getting excited about potentially photographing the wedding. But then she made a comment that revealed I was not the right photographer. She wanted vintage style photos – the kind with muted colors, less focused and with a retro feel. I could have taken the job and figured out how to edit in that style, but it’s more than just the money. I suggested to her to relook at my portfolio and admitted that I didn’t think I was the right choice for her. She found a wonderful photographer that took beautiful, vintage style photos for her wedding day.
4. PERSONALITY
Never overlook a photographer’s personality! How many hours do you think you’ll be around this person (and on the biggest day of your life!)? For weddings I photograph I am around the wedding couple for easily eight or more hours. That’s a long time to be around someone… A photographer’s personality also plays a role in their ability to control the situation, to get the right people where they need to be for photos. There’s a balance of being fun and being stern, and always being professional.
5. LIGHTING
I wasn’t originally going to include this fifth must have, but it came up recently. I have a friend who hired a photographer that did not know how to use lighting equipment (e.g. flash). They had a darker reception and, unfortunately, without flash the reception photos did not turn out so well.
First, be aware of photographers that brag about only using “natural light.” There’s a difference between having a strong preference for natural light, and those that refuse to learn flash and thus label themselves as natural light photographers. Personally, I use natural light for 90% of my photos. But, there are times where the quantity or the quality of natural light is not going to make my clients look their absolute best. And that is my ultimate goal – you’re already beautiful and my job is to exemplify your natural beauty. If that means using an added light source, then great!
Second, some indoor wedding receptions can get very dark. A wedding I photographed recently had some bright overhead lights that lit the dance floor quite well. The couple wanted to turn off those lights to set a more intimate mood, and asked if that was okay with me. Okay with me?! It’s your wedding! It would have been extremely selfish to say no when I clearly knew what they wanted. I smiled and said “of course it’s okay!” I then pulled out my flash and continued taking photos (and they came out beautifully!).
DON’T COMPROMISE
Insurance, backup equipment, a compatible style, personality and knowledge of lighting – those are my five must haves in any wedding photographer. I would highly encourage you to not compromise on any of these five things. If you find yourself stuck, unable to find a photographer that matches these must haves do two things: 1) check your budget – maybe it’s too low for a truly professional wedding photographer? And 2) keep looking.
And feel free to email me if you have any questions or concerns. I am more than happy to do whatever I can to help you find the right photographer for one of the most beautiful days in your life.
Quinn Burke Photography is based in Salem, Oregon and specializes in wedding photography. Quinn primarily serves Oregon and Washington (Portland, Salem, Eugene, Ashland, Bend, Lincoln City and Seattle), but can travel to nearly any destination. Contact Quinn to see if he is available for your wedding day!