What to look for in wedding photographer/videographer

ringo747

ringo747

ringo747

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As title suggests really. We recently got engaged and are trying to sort out photographer + videographer but with so much choice its really hard to narrow it down.

Do you go by the number of awards they have won, best looking album samples, lowest cost? So many things to consider!

For a video guy I'd prefer having two cameramen I guess - always good incase one takes ill. I guess it would be good to get a blu-ray version instead of the usual down-converted to SD disks?

Any tips would be welcome. I'm sure there are some knowledgeable folks in here who know their stuff.

Thanks
 
Look at work they've produced and if you like it then get in touch and get some prices.

If they are too high then move onto the next one.

Awards don't mean squat. There's a guy round my area who churns out literally hundreds of images (landscapes) but they are pretty average and he's got a few awards.

Most (or all of them should) will meet you face to face and then you can see if you like them and want them to do your wedding. That's the point where the trust is built.

If you don't trust them then don't go with them.
 
As Pete said :)

If it helps I went with the guy I'm assisting on Sunday to a client venue visit and they specifically said one of the reasons they went with Mark was due to his portfolio and they found it very impressive and got on with him well.

Go find some photographers work you like, if their price is good for you then get in touch :) - Most photographers will travel any distance for work too, so don't think distance will be an issue either.

Do not rush into picking either, you have time, your wedding photos should hopefully be a once lifetime thing, you want them to be awesome :)

Personally from this forum alone I'd recommend rg-tom and/or Raymond Lin in no particular order as both their works are fantastic and I know Tom personally to and know how much of a passion Photography is for him and the results he always gets :). EDIT: I'm sure if I had met RL I'd say the same about him too :p
 
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Thanks guys - Im based in NI so I doubt the recommendations will work but thanks anyway.

Most of the packages we are looking at are around £1500 on average. I take it this is fairly normal? Money doesn't bother me - quality does though.

We have arranged some visits to meet some guys and I guess it all comes down to who we like best. All the online portfolios seem pretty similar with most of them offering very well presented albums with storyboard layouts, protective presentation cases, high res copies on DVD and the option of some parents albums.

So much choice! Is there any specific questions we should be asking to do with the printing of the actual album? I don't want things to go fadey after 5 years! Any fine details like this could be well worth finding out about although I'm not sure what the difference really is between a decent wedding photographer and an outstanding one.
 
On a serious note mate give rg-tom and Raymond Lin a shout. I know Tom has possibly signed a deal for a wedding in Pakistani so NI isn't exactly far to go :)

If I think of any questions off the top of my head I'll note them down :) What you want basically is to find a photographer whos style you and your other half really like. And by really like you want to open their website and go "Wow!" :)
 
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Ask to see a set of photos from the last year's wedding. See the entire set from the whole wedding, not the best of from a selection.

Anyone can pick 20 great photos from 200 weddings they've shot.

Not everyone can deliver 200 great photos from 1 wedding.

edit- thanks Phate & Pete :)
 
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Excellent - sounds good guys. Its amazing how many websites I have been on already and they have put me off purely by their web presence. Absolutely shocking flash based sites which look so 90's. It does make a difference!
 
I would base this on 3 key elements
1, look at their portfolio and look for creative, fun and well captured moments. Look for a guy who captures candid romance with creative flair.
2, The portfolio ranges all kinds of scenes, super bright, dark n dingy, rain, sunshine, snow?
Look for his multipue applications of exposure, flash and assisted lighting. You want someone who knows how to handle any and all situations.
3, The guy behind the lens. You need to get on well with this person to bring out the happiness of the day.

Raymond Lin is without question an amazing wedding photographer. From his photographs and self portraits I see fun at every angle.
 
1) See an entire wedding from getting ready to first dance.
2) Ask if you get all the photos from the day, not just the first 200 and then you pay for extra. Some I've heard do this.
3) Does the price include an album?
4) Are they insured (both public liability and professional indemnity).
5) How are the photos presented (DVD or prints). If prints, do they charge for a DVD?

Just make sure you're comfortable with the person you're choosing and like their style and way of working.
 
ringo747 said:
Well we met this guy on saturday - absolutely awesome guy, great personality and the work on display was very high quality work.

He uses a crowd called GraphiStudio for getting the albums made. Has anyone heard of them? Think they are an Italian company.
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Graphi are great albums, they're popular with wedding photographers although not cheap. We use them ourselves and they are very nice. They're Italian and basically your photographer will most likely do the page layout/design and then send it to them to print, it's then shipped over from Italy. Congrats finding a tog!
 
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Just watched a video on youtube about them and how they produce the albums. Seems like they are a great outfit.

So having seen the quality of his work, the great albums, and the fact that he is a nice guy, it all seems pretty good.

We are going to see another local guy who is newer to the business (only 3 years) but seems to be good from reading reviews etc.

What kind of prices are the norm for graphi produced albums and a wedding package?
 
The best thing is to check an entire single wedding portfolio (preferably chosen at rnadom by you).

Check for a consitently high number of very good phtos through a whole wedding.

An untrained monkey could randomly get 20 good photos if they shoot 1-2 weddings a week for 5 years and machine gun away.

I've even heard of people using stock wedding photos from Alamy or microstock sites as advertisements with the claim that the images are representative.

You don't care what the wedding photographers best work is (unlike a landscape photographer or wildlife etc), you care about the average potential.This is very different.
 
This guy we were looking at has 20 years experience in the business so I think that is a fairly good basis also. Wedding photos are something I'd happily spend more money on knowing that we will be getting an extra special product at the end of it. Thats what puts me off about the 'newer' guy. Experience would count for a lot i'd imagine.
 
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