Well…I have had a lot of emails and calls lately for inquires on wedding photography. Thank you to all!!!! Whether I turn out to be the right person or not…I appreciate your consideration.
I just thought I would provide some honest advice or thoughts here for everyone that is getting married and trying to think this stuff out. Here it goes….
First …you can not look at hiring a photographer in a “quantitative” way. It’s not about how many hours, how many prints, how many albums. Yes….they do come into play, but the way you really should be thinking about it …You are not just “buying a book of photos”, you are asking someone to document one of the most important days of your life. What goes in that book is what is important. It is like choosing your gown or tux. You wouldn’t do that over the phone, right? It has to feel right, look right, fit right.
Another thought….everyone now a days thinks that getting a CD of the images is the way to go. I get it ….Digital technology has completely changed the photographic industry. But…really stop to think about it. A study was done that showed that 85% or so of couples surveyed did nothing with the CD a year after their wedding. And a high percentenge of those couples could not think of where the CD even was! So….maybe at the start of things it seemed like a great idea, but in the end, many couples end up with no wedding photos a year later. Let me ask you this…would you ask the florist to drop off a bunch of flowers at the house so that you could arrange them in vases, assemble the bouquets, and then drop them off at the churches and reception venue? Would you ask the caterer to get all the food cooked and then you will serve the meals yourself??? Than why ask a photographer to do half the job??? I am not trying to be a smart guy here, I am just trying to make a point. I think it is very important to have this day documented and preserved by a person with experience, and knowledge.
Lastly…I will say this, have fun. Don’t let anyone get in the way of that. The ultimate decision is yours as to how your day should or will go. Do your best to politely accept suggestions but make all the final decisions with your happiness in mind. Focus on what is really important….you are committing your lives together. Enjoy the day and trust your vendors. You are paying them for providing a service as well as for peace of mind. If you trust in them and feel comfortable with them, than you should just be able to let them do their job so that you can have one of the greatest days of your life.
Well said Michael!!! Thanks for this – I’m going to refer brides to this article.