In-laws shopping for a DFW wedding photographer
My sister-in-law is getting married in Texas next year and is asking for my help as she shops for a wedding photographer. I know absolutely NOTHING about wedding photography, so I can't even tell them how to approach it or what questions they need to ask. What is standard for any wedding photography session, what should you expect, what's normal to be charged as an option, what do you avoid, what are the scams or pitfalls to watch out for, etc... The good thing is that they actually understand that they're receiving a valuable service, so they're not trying to skimp on cost and still get quality. I'd be very appreciative if you folks would point us in the right direction!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Shane E. on -
Rates vary by location because of local market conditions. Theoretically, higher skill means they charge more, but there are plenty of "high end" photographers who just decided to be "high end" and didn't really work their way there and their end product costs more but isn't necessarily better.
The first rule is find a photographer who has a style of photography that you love, and not just like. Shopping for style is more important than shopping for price. If you find a photographer who has a style that you love but they are too expensive or booked, they can probably suggest others you can try. It seems that photographers are drawn to other photographers with similar skill and/or style.
Check the reputation of the photographer you are considering. You want them to still be in business on your wedding day. You can ask other vendors if they have heard of them, you can try Google searches, you can ask the photographer for references so you can contact recent clients. You can ask to see full weddings, preferably not outdoor weddings (which tend to be much easier to shoot, since there is much more access than in a church and the lighting is usually much better.)
Make sure you are at ease around the photographer, since you (or your sister-in-law in this case) will spend a good portion of the wedding day around the photographer, taking direction and such. No creepy vibes or just genuine personality clashes.
Asking questions about whether they have backup equipment and stuff doesn't really get you anywhere because if they are shady they will just lie anyway.
Have to go to a wedding so I can't be more thorough. I hope your sister-in-law chooses a good photographer.
Make sure you have a contract at the beginning. A photographer who doesn't provide a contract at the time you decide to book is probably flaky and might be great at photography but terrible at business. And that isn't good for clients.
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