Booking a Wedding Photographer or Videographer is very easy but booking the Right Photographer can be daunting. Mostly, it starts with checking out the photographer’s work on his/her website or other online portals. Do not just book straight away without checking a few things with the photographer.
Here are the Five most important questions you must ask before you book your wedding photographer/videographer :
1. How many weddings have you shot?
I don’t mean to say that photographers with less experience are incompetent but the ones with more experience surely will have better command over their craft. Wedding photography is not only about taking photographs but its more about planning, preparation, having contingency plans, having back-ups, being unobtrusive and well mannered and so much more. Remember, there are no retakes in a wedding and you would always be much safer with someone with experience.
2. Do you have back-up equipment, back-up photographer(s) and how do you back-up data?
Like I said, there are no second takes in a wedding! Even the most expensive gear can fail. After all, its electronics and can malfunction anytime.
Incase, the photographer falls ill someone (A second photographer or an associate) must be there to cover for him.
Backing up the data is the most important thing. We, at Multipixelz, make at least 03 copies stored at 03 different locations. Imagine, the photographer loosing all the data because his drive failed and he had made no back-ups.
3. Who will have the rights to use the photographs?
Its important to sign a contract with the photographer. The contract helps in removing ambiguity. Please ensure that it is mentioned in the contract that you will have the right to use the photographs on social media. Moreover, a professional photographer would never hesitate in signing a contract with terms and conditions clearly listed.
4. Will you meet in person before we book you?
Meeting in person is the most important thing to do. The process becomes non-mechanical and you get a chance to find out so much more about the photographer that you wouldn’t otherwise. The photographer must ask you the details about what you are wearing, what time of the day are the ceremonies and the location. Remember, only an experienced and a skilled photographer would ask these questions. These details help the photographer to plan the shoot.
5. Will you be covering my wedding or will it be one of your associates?
Its very important to ask this question. Sometimes, we collaborate with one of our associates to cover a wedding. That doesn’t mean that they are subpar. But its still important to check their work in order to make an informed decision.
These are the 05 most important questions that you must ask the photographer you plan to hire.
Good luck with your search!
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