From time to time I am asked for helpful advice and tips on how to choose a wedding photographer, so below I have compiled a list of what I would look for if I were hiring one:
- Do you shoot RAW or Jpeg? Deep down EVERY photographer knows RAW yields the best results and if they could they would shoot everything in RAW. As its your wedding day you want the best results so DEMAND they shoot in RAW. JPEG is Satan’s format. It is unforgiving to exposure and colour balance issues which are constantly changing at a wedding. Unfortunately most part-time wedding photographers do NOT shoot in RAW. They do this to save time, NOT to give you better photos. If I was spending a fair chunk of money on photography I would expect my photographer NOT to cut corners. That’s why your first question should be, “Do you shoot RAW or Jpeg?” If they fluff about this question, or tell you jpeg is just as good as RAW, they are either lying or ignorant. They are not worth your investment. I put this first as if I were hiring a photographer and they did not shoot in this format I would cross them off my list immediately.
- Do you have a Contract?: They should have a clear written quotation and contract outlining hours, additional fees, number of photographers, meals, deliverables, warranties, conditions of refunds etc. If your agreement is merely a word of mouth agreement you could be in for serious issues later. It is indicative you are dealing with an inexperienced photographer or hobbyist and if there are problems on the wedding day such as “no show” you can be left with no legal recourse. I am hearing more and more horror stories of photographers not showing up and not delivering and have been faced with extremely skittish brides whose friends horror stories with amateurs makes them nearly impossible to come to a working agreement with 🙁 Every reputable wedding photographer has a contract.
- Will you be the photographer on the wedding day or will you send someone else?
Some wedding photography studios still use the bait and switch tactic. You can be shown the work of one photographer who has either left the studio or never worked with them. I know one well known studio in KL that started out by using one of the founders own wedding photos even though the photographer has never worked with them. So, ASK who the photographer was and whether they will personally be shooting. This is important. Ask to have this listed in the contract. - Do they have back up photography gear? If a camera or lens breaks on the day they need a back up as you cannot stop the wedding while they go out shopping for a new one. We bring professional equipment which is very robust yet make sure we have back up gear at all times.
- Do they bring assistant photographers and what is their experience? If you want photographers in several places at the same time on your wedding day, you need to let the photographer know. Be up front when you meet the photographer about this as in the past I have had couples book me and then a couple of weeks before the wedding reveal a schedule I cannot cover alone merely on the logistics unless I get additional photographers. this means upping the price to cover these photographer’s fees. That can be awkward. The other question to ask is how many and how experience. I dare not post photos of some of the teams I have encountered but numbers do not necessarily equate to “value”. One wedding photo I regularly show to people was at a wedding I was attending and no one saw the vows, ring exchange, or kiss because both the video team and photographers blotted out the entire ceremony.
- What happens if you they are sick or can’t make it to your wedding? I receive a lot of enquiries for just one photographer. I explain to couples that just as it is important to have a back up camera, it is equally important to have a back up photographer. People get sick, cars break down, people have accidents. Life is what it is. Anyway, the contract should stipulate what happens. Make sure you ask your photographer what their policy is. My contract covers these details. More on this when we meet.
- What is the photographers shooting style? Photographers have differing styles. View their web site, make sure you like their photography style. ONLY once you have shortlisted them should you contact them. I focus on capturing EMOTION as for me, weddings are all about emotion. The laughter and the tears, the private looks shared only between the both of you…and the observant photographer. No matter how artsy an image is, if it is sterile and devoid of emotion it is a dud.
- Are you UNOBTRUSIVE? This is a rare trait amongst wedding photographers in Malaysia. Mostly because of ego, whereby they are going to get “their” shot at all costs forgetting the fundamentals that it is YOUR wedding and they are only one of a myriad of hired professionals to make sure YOUR day is great. Sadly, and I see this more and more rather than decreasing, many wedding photographers will be inconsiderate to your families and friends on the actual wedding day by blocking their view of the ceremony for extended periods of time. This behaviour shows either inexperience and thoughtlessness. There is nothing worse than relatives complaining that they did not see your ceremony. It’s obtrusive and not in the spirit of being a wedding photojournalist. A good photographer knows this.
There are THREE of us shooting this ceremony. Can you see us? - Are they courteous and friendly: On your wedding day you want the photographer to be a calming force, and if need be, able to make you laugh to lighten up tense situations. Read MY feedback. I fit in so well that many guests mistake me as a friend of the family. Cool! The ONLY way you can find this out before the day is to MEET them. This is one of the reasons I do not like replying to emails and calls that immediately ask me “Best Price” as without meeting a photographer you will never know this.
- Do they act normal: Please! NO Austin Powers impersonations. Many inexperienced photographers think body English will improve their photography. We have all seen them as they stand out. I don’t do it as it not only looks stupid, but it draws attention from you and onto the poseur. It’s YOUR day, not “the photographers shoot”.
- Do you use professional cameras and lenses? You deserve the best, so I bring the best. Lenses and cameras are professional. This means you receive sharp, bright and contrasty images. We usually bring well over RM100,000 worth of equipment to your wedding. A hobbyist will likely bring a budget camera and lens, probably having spent less than 1/10th of what we have.. This compromises quality, something you do not want to do on your “once-in-a-lifetime” wedding day. My main camera backs up ALL of your precious photos while I am shooting. That is how important your wedding is to me. NO COMPROMISE. Enough said.
- Do they give consistent quality: It’s your unrepeatable DAY OF DAYS so you need to be relaxed knowing your photography is in good hands. After all, your grand-children are going to see the photos 60 years from now! To give you this trust I have thousands of photos on line covering every aspect of the wedding day. A wee tip: when viewing portfolios that rely heavily on heavily photoshopped portraits (bridal studios usually) ask to see actual day images as it can hide poor actual day portfolios. As for printing, I use professional labs and the highest grade papers available. This gives stunning prints when compared to the labs you are likely used to using.
- How much experience in shooting weddings do you have? If you were going to hire a musician to play for you would you be looking at someone who has been playing for 2 years, or would you get someone who has been playing for more than 25 years? Considering your wedding is a once in a lifetime event, compromising on experience seems a little silly 🙂 A bit about me, I have been shooting for more than 25 years, I teach wedding photography, and I conduct work shops. Unlike amateurs and hobbyists who charge minimal fees as they are hoping to build a portfolio, I do not use your wedding day as a “practice”. If you are intending this wedding to be a practice wedding, then by all means hire an enthusiast, but when it counts you need a professional.
- Are they RELIABLE? Every now and again we hear about a bride who never heard back from her photographer after the wedding. In all cases I know of it has been a “weekend shooter” who has done a runner. With a full time professional it is extremely unlikely to occur as it is our career. That said IF YOU ARE HAVING A WEDDING IN LANGKAWI SPEAK TO YOUR RESORT BEFORE HIRING. There is a photographer up there who is not delivering for MANY overseas couples who are getting married there. I am hearing about him from resorts and people as far away as Australia and is known by the WPPM (Wedding and Portrait Photographers of Malaysia – of which I am a member).
- What is your turnaround Time? If they say next day they are likely a jpeg shooter. Run away from them. I shoot RAW, a laborious format to work with BUT it gives you the BEST photos in the end. As it’s your wedding you definitely want the best…yes? I usually process the photos and return them within 2 weeks, but often much faster. This is considered VERY fast turn around. I can do this as I am a full time photographer and know what I am doing.
- How long will they keep the photos? Accidents happen! Notebooks get stolen, DVDs break. I am an image bank: I retain your photos for years. I have couples approach me after theft, fire and accidental deletion. I still have the photos. they are happy and I am happy they are happy .
- How do I book you? Is a booking fee required? A booking fee protects YOU. Without an exchange of money there is no (or at best only a weak) legal agreement. If you have paid them nothing up front they have no obligation to show up on the day.
- What happens if we want to postpone or cancel your services? Life happens. Couples break up before their wedding, people get sick, weddings get delayed inadvertently, and occasionally people depart from the world of the living unexpectedly. It happens. My contract covers all of these things. In certain circumstances I give full refunds, in others partial refunds.
- What time will you arrive and how long will you stay? Communicate clearly with the photographer regarding your wedding day schedule. I have shot a 10 hour wedding that went for 18 hours! Just as time is important for you, it is to the photographer, so clearly discuss this.
- Do you have any guarantee? The photographer should guarantee that the photos you are viewing are taken by the photographers who will be present on the day. From my conversations with brides many of them have expressed concerns of “bait and switch” tactics, in which a photographer shows you their work, but does not personally attend your wedding. Make sure you get a guarantee that the photographer in attendance will be the same as the person whose work you are viewing. This is also a common issue with bridal studios who may have many photographers on staff, or have a high turnover of staff.
- How do you dress for a wedding? I prefer to dress up. Most people think I am a guest.
AVOID the following Questions
What’s your cheapest price? Did you choose your wedding gown because it was the cheapest? Did you search for the cheapest wedding venue? Did you make sure you got the cheapest wedding cake? Did you select the cheapest food package for the banquet? Did you get the cheapest wedding car? (Hint: its a Proton!) I do not want to shoot your wedding if your fiance looked for the cheapest bride and bought her the cheapest ring. I HOPE you bought none of these based on price, nor should you hire a professional wedding photographer based on cheapest price. Remember, the ONLY remembrance of your actual day (your photos) are PRICELESS. Therefore get it done properly. It is a unrepeatable event, you only live once and you deserve to treat yourself. I have “lost” wedding bids due to price, however once I see what they got for their day (Facebook is a priceless tool) I know that it was the couples who really lost 🙁
BUDGET: Set a realistic budget. When you buy a house or a car you have a realistic budget. Your wedding photos will be with you longer than both of these so it deserves the same attention. According to overseas wedding magazines a realistic budget is about 10% of your wedding figure. This is usually RM5,000-RM10,000. The larger the wedding the larger the budget as it is usually longer, and requires a larger team (there are few one-man-band shooters anymore) and usually requires many more albums. Do NOT set a crazy low final budget (RM2500 or below) unless you want an amateur or are hoping to pay for basic services with lots of mark ups and add ons. The photos will be “good enuf” for some but since you are here, I am 100% sure that “their” good-enuf is certainly not “good enough” for you. You want to avoid heartache so don’t go down that path!
Contact me. Let’s meet up and I will show you how you will get the quality you are looking for. Classy, International level Wedding photography.
