My List To Brides

Friends,

Well things have slowed a bit in terms of weddings but not in terms of other projects. Be that as it may I will not bore you too much on my solo stuff. What I will fill your brain with is a little checklist of need to know information for you brides out there. This is the time when I start getting calls for 2009 and if you are in the market for a wedding photographer keep these points in mind.

1. Make sure you meet your photographer and I mean physically

2. Do not do anything without a contract period!

3. Make sure you can laugh with your photographer cause if you can’t, it is likely that you will have an awkward moment or two on your wedding day. Want details? Email me…

4. ALWAYS ask your prospective wedding photographer if they carry back up equipment and I mean camera’s, flashes, lenses, etc. Too many are out there shooting with only one camera and if they drop it at your wedding and have no back up guess what? NO MORE PICTURES ON YOUR DAY!

5. Make sure your photographer knows EXACTLY where the event is. The last thing you want is to have your photographer at one place while you’re at another waiting for them to show up.

6. Ask them how many weddings they have shot (this is always a great question). Anything over 20 and usually you are at least dealing with a respectable shooter. If they are in fact new to weddings, ask them if they have shot alongside a more seasoned pro and then ask for a reference from that pro I mean we all have to start somewhere.

7. Though it is hard for you do this cause you don’t know cameras, keep in mind that if you are getting married at a place with low lighting and you hire a photographer with less than stellar cameras and lenses, expect some grainy photos though this happens sometimes even with the high end equipment just not as often.

8. Don’t get too tied up in the “style” terminology such as “photojournalistic” and what not. If you like the way the photographers portfolio speaks to you than most likely that is the “style” you should aim for.

9.DO NOT LET PRICE be the driving factor unless you are not that into pictures. i.e. There is a HUGE difference between a $1500 photographer and a $500 one.

10.Craigslist while cool, is most likely to NOT provide you with the best option for photography that is unless you are not wanting to put a whole lotta stock in your pictures.

11. Don’t micro-manage your photographer, let them be themselves you will find that they are most creative when they feel empowered and trusted.

12. Letting a family do your pictures is perfectly fine, just don’t expect much in the end and if they screw up the pictures, blame yourself for not grabbing an experienced professional.

13.Lastly, make sure your photographer knows of divorces, issues, problems, etc within the family. It makes the formals much less stressful that is for sure.

I could probably go on and on but I won’t. Just wanted to put the info out there from someone who does this for a living. While wedding sites will tell you to do this and that you are better off getting advice from those who actually do it, not those who only speak it. Oh and one last thing, AVOID at all cost the clearinghouse photography companies such as %*lla (omitted for legal reasons). Why? You never even meet your photographer until the day of your event and they pay the photographer so cruddy that they are less than motivated to give you their best.

The Constitution for All My Friends,

Lance

P.S. Wedding shots of Scot and Lindsey coming soon let me tell ya that was one hella cool wedding and may they all be like theirs!