How much does your packages (services) cost? This is the first and most asked question by Brides to all vendors. Most Photographer's reply is... what is your wedding date and ceremony time? These two questions start the search for the perfect Photographer and the perfect Bride for each involved.

Checking availability is the most logical thing to ask first...

Photography for weddings can be offered under many pricing systems. They vary from country to country and city to city. The most common way to offer photography services in the United States is package pricing, and A La Carte pricing. More photographers are offering Professional Fees and expenses.

The most common advice and the best idea... do some research. Are you experienced with the process of wedding photography, being a bridesmaid several times, actually experiencing what goes on with the photographer? If so you are lucky! You have some first hand experience that might prove invaluable. If not, not to worry, with a little perseverance you will soon be knowledgeable.

Read the Bride's Education under this site to understand styles of photography.

Deciding on the style of wedding photography and how it will impact your wedding day will narrow the choice of photographer's quickly.


Choose

• Traditional Posing Style - Most time away from actual wedding events
• Photojournalism Style - No or little posing, just do what you want
• Artistic Style - Can be handled different ways by different photographers
• Fashion Style - Mix of Fashion Idea Posing and Photojournalism
• Combination Of Above
  

You will mostly discover a few common threads.

    Lydia & Buck Kissing At Houston Mill House

Wedding Photography is much more expensive then you ever dreamed or budgeted, and it is often almost impossible to compare pricing between photographers because their price schedules offer such different albums and offerings. You begin to see that in the end it's mostly personality, reputation, quality of photography, quality of album or alternative presentation and pricing figures that determine who you book to photograph your wedding.

Some propose that 10-15% of the total budget be applied toward photography. If it is important to you, to have a permanent record perhaps more might be warranted. If on a tight budget perhaps better photography and fewer shots might be the answer. Do you need the best album?

Ask the Photographer what their wedding Photography Style is and what they underlying Wedding Philosophy is? The Photographer should be able to give you a concise statement regarding these two questions. The Photographer should be able to say they are known for..... "At Taylor Photography Group, Rick Taylor is known for a more creative style Photojournalism Style ( I call it Artsy Photojournalism ) with beautiful casual Portraits. Our Black and White is exceptional. We are the best at what we do. We offer unique coverage to the client offering multiple photography styles and unparalleled access. We want the photography to be integrated into the wedding day events to remain unobtrusive as possible while still accomplishing the clients personal desires."

Doesn't this help you decide to add/delete this Photographer to your list besides just pricing information? Your Photographer is one of the most important vendor's you will hire because they will be directly involved with you almost all day long. What if they are rude, ill tempered, or just plain uninteresting? Does that affect you and your family/guests? I would think it would... you will also be dealing with them after the wedding.

Ask "Why should I hire you and who are your clients? Most Bride's want the best they can afford. If price is why you should hire them, are they really good enough to photograph your wedding? Each studio has a certain Bride profile type. Our clients tend to be age 25-40 and are people who are mature, who desire great photography but don't want a controlling photographer. They want to really have fun at their wedding so they hire a fun photographer.

The best Photographers usually know each other either personally or seen each other work and business reputation. Often Photographer's can make recommendations if they are booked for your date. Most photographer's only recommend the other best Photographers. We are each other's best critics.

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Best Man Doing Handstand

How long do the After Ceremony Formal pictures take? A very important question for the reception events. The actual reception should start with the arrival of the Bride and Groom. Some Brides actually miss their receptions due to the Photographer taking too long for these pictures. The time will vary between Photography Styles and Photographer. Consider this carefully. We offer 10-30 minute group shots with longer times only if the family insist on it. Sometimes we skip these entirely at the request of our clients.

Venessa & Olie Casual Portrait With Sloppy Borders

Does the Photographer allow family and friends to shoot along side them or at the groups and reception activities? This can be a sticky question, but an important one.

I often hear how the Photographer was rude to family/guests because they did not want "their" poses copied. My reply to my clients and other Photographers is... yes, they are allowed to shoot groups/reception events and even posed pictures. I am only concerned if they interfere and distract the people in my shots to make my shots less then they could be. I like everyone looking in the lens for groups with no one looking off camera if possible. This can be accomplished easily by the photographer with a little thought. Action shots usually pose little problems.

Are paper proofs/previews or video proofs offered? Some clients prefer paper proofs for their ease of seeing, holding, sorting. We hear very often that the Bride and Groom were afraid to show their proof prints because family and friends might mix them up. Everyone thinks everyone gets to see the proofs. A lot of times this is not the case at all. With families living in different cities, more and more Photographer's are moving into digital on-line viewing of images and ordering, CD/DVD and video offerings.

We provide a variety of options for final viewing including:

• Online Viewing & Ordering
• CD's With Low Res Images For Image Selection For Albums
• Image Catalogs Option
• Custom Proof Prints Option

Do you need to use a local photographer because of budget or can the added expense of flying your photographer in to the event actually be money well spent? Comparing through the Internet will be most helpful.

Who keeps the negatives/digital files? Beginning photographers usually 'give' them away so they don't have to do reprints or keep organized records. Established Photographers usually keep them as a source of added income from reprints sales that occur after the initial orders. These are often infrequent and in reality are more a service than a large money maker for the Photographer. Most often Birthdays , Valentine Day, Anniversaries, and the Passing of a Loved One usually produce these orders. If the Photographer keeps them, for how long? If sold for how much and when?

If disposed of, are you notified? Can you be found by the photographer?
Have you written or E-mailed your photographer each year to give them your address, so that they can reach you if they want to get rid of the negatives? The sad reality is few Clients stay in touch with their Photographers with several moves after the wedding. It is easy to lose track of clients in the wedding business. Is this information in the contract? At Taylor Photography Group (TPG), our DVD Coverage are the final images color managed ready for printing that you receive.

USAGE RELEASE: With digital photography the digital image files are the "negatives". Some will sell you copies of their digital images others won't. Ask what are your options. If they are sold then be sure to get a written USAGE RELEASE permitting you to make personal prints and albums/books. This USAGE RELEASE comes with our DVD Coverage or if Digital Images Are Purchased with one of the Album Coverages.

Laurie Being Flipped at 103 West

The studio owner/photographer is booked for your wedding date or is too expensive. They offer another photographer. What is that all about? Associate Photographers are Photographers who shoot weddings for the studio that are in addition to the owner. The Traditional Studios may have any number of photographers to be able to shoot your wedding. You would seldom meet this type photographer before your wedding. They show up and shoot. You must completely trust the studio that you hire that this type photographer is qualified to do the job. Usually this is weddings on more of a budget. Some Photographers may actually assign you a Photographer specified in a contract and you could meet them. This is more ideal. The personality of the photographer will greatly affect your wedding day since they will be close to you all day long. At TPG you book a specific photographer.

Photojournalistic Photographers tend to retain other Photojournalistic Photographers as Photographers. Obviously each of the Photographers personal talent is most important here. Almost always you would book a certain Photographer and be able to meet them (at least on the telephone). There are a few studios in New York and Taylor Photography Group in Atlanta that are offering talented full time commercial photographers as wedding photographers. These individuals offer new ways for weddings to be photographed. Often they have different photography styles at different pricing. This trend will increase with time, offering clients great value and an alternative to the more non personal Traditional Studios methods.

I have noticed that more and more studios are following our model of business. While other studios are getting their "ducks in a row" we have an established group with experience behind us.

One last thing to realize.... when your wedding is over... who are you still dealing with months after the wedding? The correct choice in Photography Studio will give you both great images to relive your wedding day and trouble free flexiblity after the wedding.