By Imelda Reid
Choosing a good wedding photographer is one of the most important decisions you will be expected to make when planning your wedding ceremony. Apart from the bridal videos, the only other things that can tell the story of your big day are the pictures. However, if you want your nuptial pictures to be good, you must invest time in the choice of photographer. A good choice of cameraman will result in images that you will cherish for your entire life. Below are tips to help you choose the best Raleigh wedding photographer.
You should start your search by shortlist after browsing online portfolios and seeking for referrals. Just like photojournalists or nature cameramen, each nuptial photographer has their unique styles. So, no matter how good a cameraman may be, if his style is not your cup of tea, his photos will not be either.
In this day and age when almost everything is posted over the internet, a simple online search can also be helpful. In fact, the fact that a cameraman has a website is somehow a show that he takes his business seriously. However, you also need to beware of con-men who pose as photographers over the internet. You must not make payments to any cameraman you meet over the internet until you have met with him on face to face basis.
You should also have a budget in mind before starting the search. The photographers labor charge plus prints and album usually costs around twelve percent of the total cost. Having a budget will help you discard those photographers whose charges you cannot afford. After all, even the most expensive cameraman cannot assure you of quality services.
You should also decide on the level of service you need from the cameraman. Perhaps you only need photos of the main ceremony. In such a case, there is no need of engaging the cameraman for long. Just two to three hours of photography will be enough. Other couples may also prefer full package from pre-engagement sessions all the way to newlywed photos.
Once you identify a good cameraman, the next step is to sign a contract with him. You should never allow any vendors including photographers to start working without contract. The contract must also state clearly responsibility of each of the parties as well as total compensation after the service.
The demand for good photographers is usually very high. In fact, most of them get booked several months even before the wedding day. As such, you should also follow suit by starting the search early enough if you want the very best.
The most important thing when choosing a wedding photographer is to look for someone who understands what you want without requiring too much direction. A good cameraman will be able to capture the story of your big day without distracting you from your guests. You should therefore put your best foot forward to ensure you find the very best.
You should start your search by shortlist after browsing online portfolios and seeking for referrals. Just like photojournalists or nature cameramen, each nuptial photographer has their unique styles. So, no matter how good a cameraman may be, if his style is not your cup of tea, his photos will not be either.
In this day and age when almost everything is posted over the internet, a simple online search can also be helpful. In fact, the fact that a cameraman has a website is somehow a show that he takes his business seriously. However, you also need to beware of con-men who pose as photographers over the internet. You must not make payments to any cameraman you meet over the internet until you have met with him on face to face basis.
You should also have a budget in mind before starting the search. The photographers labor charge plus prints and album usually costs around twelve percent of the total cost. Having a budget will help you discard those photographers whose charges you cannot afford. After all, even the most expensive cameraman cannot assure you of quality services.
You should also decide on the level of service you need from the cameraman. Perhaps you only need photos of the main ceremony. In such a case, there is no need of engaging the cameraman for long. Just two to three hours of photography will be enough. Other couples may also prefer full package from pre-engagement sessions all the way to newlywed photos.
Once you identify a good cameraman, the next step is to sign a contract with him. You should never allow any vendors including photographers to start working without contract. The contract must also state clearly responsibility of each of the parties as well as total compensation after the service.
The demand for good photographers is usually very high. In fact, most of them get booked several months even before the wedding day. As such, you should also follow suit by starting the search early enough if you want the very best.
The most important thing when choosing a wedding photographer is to look for someone who understands what you want without requiring too much direction. A good cameraman will be able to capture the story of your big day without distracting you from your guests. You should therefore put your best foot forward to ensure you find the very best.