Selecting your wedding vendors can be a daunting task, and though I may be a little biased, selecting your photographer is sort-of a big deal… After all, the photos are the only thing you will have to remember and cherish your special day! Of course it doesn’t help that there are TONS (literally TONS) of photographers out there. So as you start the process of hiring your wedding photographer you’re probably asking yourself questions like, “Where do we begin looking?”… “How do I know who to pick?”… “What questions should I ask them?”

You will likely start your search online and ultimately end up interviewing your top favorites. There are several articles from magazines like The Knot that give you a list of questions to ask, and while those are fine and dandy, they don’t address the things that can really cause issues for you. So here are some insider thoughts and tips as you begin your search!

Full Time vs Part Time

Is this a “pro-hobby” for them, or is this there full time career? I am blessed and thrilled to be able to call this my full-time job. I’m able to give my clients the attention they need and deserve because I’m not burdened by a 9-to-5 job. This is my passion and my career and my clients are my focus.

Digital Files

Not all photographers include the files in their sticker price. It is my goal to leave my clients with amazing images and give them an awesome experience throughout the entire process. I always include two copies of the digital files with my wedding collections; one set in a gallery and a second set on a USB.

Engagement Sessions

Not all wedding photographers include engagement sessions with their wedding collections; sometimes this is an additional fee. It’s a really good idea to do an engagement shoot with your photographer prior to the wedding. If not to get some great casual photos, but it also to fosters a great working relationship with your photographer prior to the wedding; a huge stress savor! I include engagement sessions in all of my complete wedding collections for this very reason!

Budget

I can’t stress this enough. A lot of couples put photography low on their list of wedding investment priorities. You can pay top dollar for an amazing venue, a gorgeous cake, and swoon-worthy details, but if you hire a crummy photographer the photos won’t do your wedding justice. Conversely, you may not have spent ten thousand dollars on your wedding gown, but a skilled photographer should be able to make any wedding dress look couture!

Personality

It’s a great idea to set up a consult with your top choice photographers. It’s the best if you can do the consult in person (ask them to bring sample albums, prints, etc). But if meeting in person isn’t possible, ask to have a Skype or phone consult. This will allow you to see if your personalities mesh and it just one more way to guard yourself against scams. Your photographer will be ever-present on your wedding day and you want someone you like on a personal level just as much as you like their work!

Licensed & Insured

Just because a photographer looks legit (has a nice website, a great portfolio, reviews on wedding wire, etc) doesn’t necessarily mean they are! I am a licensed and insured professional photographer. However, having a business license & insurance is not what makes me a skilled photographer; that comes through practice and experience. But having insurance and a business license ensures that I am a law & tax abiding, insured, legitimate business… not a hobbyist. Buyer beware! I’ve heard stories of couples loosing their photography deposits with an uninsured photographer because they found out later that their venue requires proof of liability insurance from all outside vendors. I’ve also read lots of stories on private photography FB groups where photographers loose all of their gear (stole, damaged, etc) and they don’t have insurance to replace it. Yes, this does happen and I know of “professional” photographers who have gorgeous portfolios, professional looking websites, all of the pro gear, but they do not invest in crucial things that protect themselves and their clients. So don’t be afraid to ask for proof of liability and equipment insurance!

Bring Back Ups

Having back up photographers and back up gear is something any seasoned wedding photographer should have lined up. All of my complete wedding collections include a second photographer and a photographer’s assistant. My second photographer shoots digital as a back-up while I primarily shoot film. I like to be prepared for anything so I also bring back-up gear in case a camera or piece of equipment decides to fail during an event. At every wedding I have 5 cameras, 2 light meters, 3 flashes, at least 6 lenses, and batteries, memory cards, and film galore! I also go the extra mile to have an “emergency folder” in my filing cabinet at home. It contains all of the contact info and details from the wedding that I’m shooting that week along with a list of trusted photographers that can step in for me. In the event that something happens to me, my family knows exactly where this folder is located and what to do! Hopefully we’ll never need it, but there it is just in case!

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If you’d like information about my wedding and portrait photography offerings, please contact me by filling out a contact form here; or send an email to kristen@kristenlynne.com! I look forward to chatting with you! Warmly, Kristen