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Choosing the perfect wedding photographer and videographer is essential for preserving the magic and memories of your special day. After all, the purpose of hiring a professional wedding photographer and videographer is to ensure every amazing moment lasts forever. That’s why we’ve outlined these key steps to guide you through the selection process.
Define Your Style
Before you begin your search, determine the photography and videography style that resonates most with you. Different styles evoke different emotions and aesthetics, and will ultimately determine the final look of your wedding photos and wedding video. Here are some popular styles to consider:
Traditional/Classic: Posed portraits and timeless compositions, focusing on elegance and formality.
Photojournalistic/Documentary Style: Focused on capturing your day as it unfolds. Raw, candid moments that retell your wedding day in full.
Cinematic Style: A movie-like approach to capturing your wedding; Dramatic music, dynamic footage, high-contrast lighting, strategic poses, and more.
Vintage Style: A nostalgic aesthetic achieved through filters, film-style editing, and muted tones.
Fine Art Style: Inspired by magazine shoots, emphasizing glamour, dramatic poses, and stylish settings, often captured with a light and airy style.
There are a lot more styles than the ones listed above, as well as subcategories for each of these. However, these are typically the five most common choices for brides and grooms.
Identifying your preferred style will help narrow your search and ensure you’re seeking the right photographer and videographer to capture your wedding day.
Research and Shortlist
You should also start your search by seeking recommendations from friends, family, or wedding planners. Using those recommendations, you can then browse online portfolios and social media profiles to assess the quality and style of your potential wedding photographers and videographers.
When shortlisting candidates:
Look for professionals whose work resonates with your style and vision.
Read testimonials and reviews to get insights into their past clients’ experiences.
Check if they offer discounts for referrals. Some professionals may provide special rates if you were referred by a previous client or a specific wedding planner, which can help save money on your wedding package.
Request to See Additional Work
Highlight reels and portfolio showcases are great starting points. After all, every photographer and videographer wants to show off their best work. However, they don’t always provide you with the full picture. You should ask photographers and videographers to share additional work examples that may not be displayed on their website. These could include a variety of weddings or projects showcasing:
Different lighting conditions (e.g., outdoor vs. indoor settings).
Their ability to capture cultural or unique ceremonies.
Examples of candid moments alongside posed shots.
Remember, professionals may not be able to share entire galleries or films due to privacy agreements with previous clients, but they should be able to provide you with additional examples of their work - even if it’s just single images or short video segments.
4. Assess Experience and Expertise
Experience matters, especially when you’re hiring someone to capture the magic of your wedding day. Ask your photography and videography candidates about the number of weddings they’ve covered and their familiarity with your venue, or venues similar to yours.
An experienced wedding professional can handle various lighting conditions, adapt to unforeseen challenges, and has developed a refined workflow that ensures efficiency and high-quality results.
While experienced professionals may charge higher rates for their services, investing in a seasoned photographer or videographer is much safer than hiring someone with a lack of experience. There is no second take when it comes to capturing your wedding day.
5. Evaluate Packages and Pricing
Understanding what’s included in a wedding photography and videography package helps you plan your budget effectively. At 4EverScope, we offer packages tailored to suit your needs - Whether it’s just capturing your wedding ceremony or spending the whole day with you.
You can visit our wedding page to learn more.
Knowing what your package options are also grants you the opportunity to ask about additional features, such as second shooters, aerial drone footage, and same-day edits. These customizations give you more control over how your special day will be captured.
6. Schedule a Zoom Call or Google Meet
Meeting your photographer or videographer virtually allows you to put a face to the name and establish a stronger connection. You’re going to be spending a lot of time with your wedding photographer and videographer, so the last thing you want to do is hire vendors you’re not going to get along with. After your first meeting, you should feel like you’ve reconnected with a long-lost friend you never knew you had.
An introductory Zoom call, or Google Meet, is also the perfect time to ask questions, get a sense of their working style, and share your vision for your wedding day. Be sure to write down your questions so you don’t forget to ask something.
Lastly, these introductory meetings should feel like a “get to know you” session rather than a formal sales pitch. You should never feel pressured into working with someone you don’t want to. Professional wedding photographers and videographers understand this is a highly competitive industry, and a true professional will always be kind and respectful of your choices; They should never act like a pushy car salesman.
7. Discuss Your Vision
Communicating your expectations is key to a successful partnership. Share as many specific details as possible. These can include things like:
A shot list of must-have moments (e.g., the first look, vows, or a family group photo).
A list of must-capture people (e.g., distant relatives, grandparents, old friends, etc).
Unique cultural or family traditions you’d like captured.
Inspiration from other weddings or films you’ve seen.
A great photographer and/or videographer will not only listen but also offer creative suggestions to enhance your vision. The more details you provide, the more solutions your visual vendors will find. Never be afraid to share your vision.
8. Check References and Reviews
When you are researching experienced wedding photographers and videographers it’s always a good idea to check their reviews. The number of reviews can certainly be a sign that the photographer and/or videographer you’re researching is popular, but the quality of their reviews will give you insight into their process and professionalism.
When you’re looking through reviews, keep an eye open for the following:
The positive attributes of a past client’s overall experience, including professionalism and punctuality.
How well the photographer or videographer captured a past client’s vision.
Whether they delivered on time and met their past client’s expectations.
If you’re planning on working with a photographer or videographer a friend or relative has worked with in the past, be sure to gauge their own experiences in addition to the vendor’s reviews. The combination of these elements will give you valuable insight and help you determine whether or not the photographer/videographer is the right fit for you.
9. Review Contracts Thoroughly
You should always ensure all details are outlined properly in your wedding contract. There should never be any unwanted surprises during your wedding day, or after. Any photography or videography contract you read should include information about:
Hours of coverage and number of deliverables.
Turnaround time on deliverables.
Payment schedules and cancellation policies.
Rights to the images and footage.
You should also check to see if your visual vendor has a backup policy. A professional should have a backup photographer or videographer in case of emergencies - even if it’s an outside photographer or videographer they’ve worked with in the past - to ensure your day is covered no matter what.
10. Trust Your Instincts
When all is said and done, you should always trust your gut feeling. Don’t ignore your instincts. Choose professionals who align with your style and vision, make you feel at ease and confident in their abilities, and who are easy to get along with; The long-lost friend you never knew you had. Never pick a photographer or videographer just because you think their pictures are pretty and stylish.
Please remember that you should never feel pressured into working with someone you don’t want to. A true industry professional understands that their services may not be the perfect fit for every couple, and that’s okay! It’s your day, and your comfort and satisfaction should always come first.
ABOUT 4EVERSCOPE MEDIA
Michigan Wedding Photographers & videographers
At 4Everccope Media, we’re passionate about preserving the magic of your wedding day forever but we’re more than just a wedding photography and videography company. We strive to provide valuable information to brides and grooms everywhere to make their wedding planning experience as simple and fun as possible. If you’re interested in learning more about our services, visit us at 4EverScope Media and let us help make your wedding memories timeless.
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