As the holiday season quickly comes upon us & wedding planning season begins, we know that a lot of brides are anxious to start cake tasting, picking out flowers, touring venues and attending bridal shows later this winter. On the list of things to do – book a photographer!
But what should you really look for when booking someone to take your wedding photos? After the cake is eaten, the flowers have wilted, and the music is gone – the only things you’ll have left from your special day are the photographs. These are truly valuable mementos that will be viewed and passed down for generations to come! It is imperative to make sure that you hire someone that is fully capable of capturing the day.

There are many, many talented photographers in the Bend area and selecting the one that is a perfect fit for you and your future spouse is a must. Here are a few tips from us on what to expect and look for.

Consultation
Your wedding photographer should offer a consultation – a meet & greet. You wouldn’t buy a car before you test-drive it, right? Don’t book your photographer until you meet them personally. It is imperative that you are a good fit and that you have ample time to go over samples of their work, ask questions and get to know each other. You should feel comfortable with the photographer- after all, he or she will be a highly involved guest at your most important event.
Experience & Equipment
While equipment isn’t EVERYTHING there is to capturing a beautiful photo, it does play a big role in the end product. A wedding photographer should have invested in full frame cameras, off camera lighting and be generally prepared for any type of ceremony/reception scene. Ask about their experience – how many weddings have they done? What was their most challenging reception to shoot, why & how did they handle it? Are you able to have contact information of past brides to use as references?
Insurance
A wedding photographer should be fully insured. This shows not only responsibility and pride in their business, but it protects you, the venue and themselves from the not-so-common mishap of broken equipment, accidents, etc. Your venue may even ask for an insurance certificate from your photographer.
Style
With the Pinterest App on every bride-to-be’s phone, it is easy to get caught up in the amazing variety of shots that are trending every day. However, make sure that you like YOUR photographer’s primary style. While he or she may be able to replicate a certain pose or image that you request, they won’t be able to identically recreate your entire wedding from a stack of Pinterest photos. Make sure that when you choose to book them to capture your day, you like their general style – the way they crop & compose, the vibrancy of the photos, editing, etc.
Inclusions
Having the print rights to your wedding photos is a must for most brides. However, having your photographer include an album, prints or studio credit in your package can greatly benefit you as well. Professional photographers work with professional print labs – creating a much better print or product than what you would get at certain popular online printing companies. While it may seem like the “quality” of the print may not be a big concern, these photos are investments and the art will be on display for all to see. Take pride in all the hard work you put into your wedding planning & book a photographer that has knowledge of professional printing.
These are just a few of the many things to consider when shopping around for someone to capture your special day! Happy Planning!

Stay Warm! XO

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