Brides and grooms to be out there…. this one is for you.
I know when it comes to your wedding day, budgets are a HUGE factor that goes into picking your vendors. Even for myself…a second time bride as I prep for my vow renewal, a budget is there and there is NOT much wiggle room. But, as a second time bride and a professional in this industry, I figured I would share with you WHERE your money goes when you decide to invest in a TRUE PROFESSIONAL photographer and WHY it is a considerable investment THAT COMES BACK tenfold if invested intelligibly. Looking for professional photographers in NYC? Check out this site – www.olgatopchii.com.
Lets start with basics:
Education/Experience
Chances are that your photographer has invested in quite a few classes/lessons/conferences/workshops and more throughout their career. These are all methods of which we, as professionals, learn and perfect tricks of the trade. This is an ever changing industry. As more gear and more technology rolls out, we are constantly on a mission to learn and pick up the latest gear and LEARN it as fast as possible in hopes of KEEPING UP with the game…let alone surpassing it. We never stop learning and investing in our education so we can ALWAYS be our best versions of ourselves for your big day. (My example of this….my yearly 1 week long conference in CALI….UNITED….huge conference, workshop and mentoring all in one week with the industries leaders!!!)
I personally did NOT go to school with hopes of becoming a professional photographer. I went to school pre law. I always had a passion for photography…and with a father whom dabbles quite a bit as a photographer, I guess one would say “It’s in my genes”. So, with little experience/background in the industry, I took MANY classes…attended MANY workshops/conferences and invested a lot in coaching and mentoring sessions that got me to where I am today.
But lets get serious for a second…there a LOT of photographers that may SAY they are professionals, when truly they have not invested enough time into themselves or the industry to be classified as such. I am a firm believer that ANYONE can do what they set their heart and mind to. I am a firm believer that everyone has a shot at following their dreams and passions…I am firm believer however….that when someone buys a nice camera and lens, that DOES NOT make them “professional.”
Capturing candid moments, posing for the traditional formals….its all a part of it. But, true professionals are so much more. We are the time-keepers. We create the time lines that create the flow/feel of the day, we are stylists, life coaches, peace keepers, AND the “fix it felix” of the day. As professionals we UNDERSTAND and embrace that these are the many hats we must wear and we most importantly CHOOSE to wear. The wedding is not an event, its an overall experience. From start to finish…its all about the experience the bride and groom, the guests, and the vendors have with you and the day as a whole!
A lot of CURVE BALLS are thrown on a wedding day: Absent bridal party members, fights, bad weather, late arrivals/push backs. If you hired a true professional, they will be able to adapt to MOST changes and better yet, are ALREADY prepared with back up plans, gear, shooters and more to assist in any way possible should they be needed. A true professional will know a typical flow of a day, and how to get things back on track if derailed. They will be able to KNOW when the bride is stressed out and needs their help taking control of situations. A professional will know when and what time is best too shoot…where to shoot….and the formations needed to help speed the process along.
Experience and Education are two of the most IMPORTANT things when considering your photographer. They don’t have to shoot over 60 weddings a year or have been in business for 10+….but YOU do need to be able to make sure their work is consistent, their attitude is professional, their personality will fit you and your days needs, and most importantly….someone you trust without a DOUBT to capture the ONE DAY you can never get back! You need to make sure they are a real professional in their role, they should have the correct equipment, contracts written out, as well as Professional Indemnity Insurance in case they provide a poor service.
Getting Personal + Behind the Scenes Planning
When you think of your wedding day, do you want to be thought of as just a date? Just a bride/groom with “x amount” to spend? Do you want to be treated based on what you paid and talked to as if you are constantly speaking to a car salesman!? NO! Make sure your photographer TAKES THE TIME to get to know you. NOT just when they show up on wedding day….but from the first meeting….ON! You are not just another wedding couple on another weekend day…you are a couple with an amazing love story that deserves to be heard, shared, and loved on. You will be spending all day with them, during the MOST AMAZING day of YOUR life….you better think of them as a friend that you can trust and a friend that knows your mannerisms….what makes you smile and what a REAL smile is compared to a fake/forced on. Ultimately, you want to be comfortable with them!
True professionals help you brainstorm ideas of where and when you shoot…what to wear…what to bring….what pose is most flattering…fix a piece of hair, a wrinkle in your shirt, call you by your name, and can let you know what they need from you in a constructive and NOT critical way!
Business Protection: Insurance, Contracts and More….
This is for your protection and your photographers. MAKE SURE they have General Liability insurance and a protection/insurance plan that protects their gear from being stolen, lost, broken etc….insurance for the guests safety at the wedding (i.e. tripping on light stands, running into your photographer, spilling drinks on gear, breaking light stands, etc). Make sure they have a legitimate contract….this requires actually READING it. Fine print and all. Most venues ask the photographers to supply a copy of their certificate of insurance to be allowed to shoot there….if you want to see it, ask for it as well!
Best of the Best: In terms of Gear, Processing Software and Handling of Images
The last thing you want is to hire a “professional photographer” and have them show up with their pocket point and shoot….or a camera that is NOT CAPABLE of capturing your day. The photographer does NOT have to the latest model camera and lens with the insane price tag and hasn’t been released to general public yet….but THEY do need to have a camera and lens arsenal that one needs to capture the various parts of a wedding day. (i.e. back up gear if camera breaks, back up batteries, MORE than one lens, memory cards)
A professional set up usually looks like this: 2-3 photographers, 2-3 camera bodies, 3-6 lenses, 3-6 flashes, camera bags, light stands, diffusers, memory cards, transmitters/receivers for off camera flash (reception lighting), etc. With each camera body being between 3-6,000 dollars….each lens hovering around the 1500.00+ range, PLUS all the extras….its an EXPENSIVE and critical set up that TRUE professionals invest in to be able to handle all situations and aspects of a wedding day. Believe me, it adds up and is NOT a cheap industry…but when you as a consumer are investing thousands in someone…don’t you want to know you are in beyond competent human and technological hands!??!
As a consumer, it is NOT your job to know what the best of the best gear is….BUT it IS your right to do your research. It IS YOUR right to ask questions when you are concerned or would like to have more information. Photographers out their all have their own style…different equipment (film vs. digital)….and one of the best ways to do research is TAKE YOUR photographer up on their offer for a FREE engagement session if one is offered…its a great time to build your relationship, she them in action and ask those questions you are concerned about : )
In terms of editing and processing…this is the KEY factor that makes an image “that photographers” style. I could stand next to another photographer, using the same camera and lens, but when we go to edit separately….our pictures could look ENTIRELY different. Again, this is where research comes in. Look through their portfolios to make sure they are consistent. A TRUE professional IS! : P (Tip: Look to see how they handle shooting indoors, outdoors, sunny days, cloudy days, night shots and more…make sure they are confident in all areas/light situations)
Copious Time Invested
Your photographer is NOT just being paid to shoot your wedding day for 8 hours and then the job is done. Their time invested covers the consults, the walk throughs, the creative planning,contract drafting, marketing materials, client education materials, accounting, the engagement session, the processing and delivery of that session, the travel to each meeting/session, the uploading and backing up of your photos, creating photo gifts (canvases), the culling of images, editing the wedding, creating the album, ordering the album, AND EVERYTHING ELSE in between. NUMEROUS hours go into each perfectly crafted wedding with a true professional.
Being a professional photographer is by NO MEANS easy, cheap or carefree. It comes with great struggles, time, effort, dedication, financial investment and maintenance, responsibility, and more. BUT…being a photographer is also one of the BEST jobs in the world because it allows us to get to know some of the most amazing people…their love stories, their families etc. It allows us to be a part of their life FORRRR life. It allows us to capture moments that you will share and show off for a lifetime to come with and after you. Our “job” is one of the most important jobs on the earth in my opinion….because its a PRICELESS one. As a professional photographer, our goal is simply that at the end of the day….to deliver you a priceless gift of memories and a overall priceless experience from START to FINISH!
add a comment
+ COMMENTS