Wedding Geek question about photographers

[MonkeyPie]

Ladies, for those of you that were recently married/about to be married, what did you look for when you chose your photog? Was it his style? His post-editing? His personality? Or is it all about price and what you get for it?

Someday, I want to be a wedding photographer

 

[neatfreak]

All of it. Style attracted me first, then price, then personality. But I emailed with quite a few people that I didn't click with and it was VERY obvious we would have creative differences, so thus I didn't hire them.

But I wouldn't hire a photog with pictures I hated no matter how much I loved them personally or how cheap they were. After all the entire point of hiring a photog is their skill with the camera to capture your day.

That being said, aside from pictures I have of my day which I LOVE, one of the biggest reasons I recommend my photog to everyone was because of how fabulous it was working with her. So I think for referrals that is VERY important.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Thanks, neatfreak! I was hoping it was a package deal What style was your photog? Traditional, photojournalistic (is that a word?), edgy?

Off-topic - I have been searching for your e-ring thread for ages! Do you have a link? I think I may want to contact whoever made your ring.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 10/16/2008 12:36:25 PM
Author: MonkeyPie
Thanks, neatfreak! I was hoping it was a package deal What style was your photog? Traditional, photojournalistic (is that a word?), edgy?


Off-topic - I have been searching for your e-ring thread for ages! Do you have a link? I think I may want to contact whoever made your ring.

Let's see...she's fairly photojournalistic and her editing style is somewhat antique, but we actually didn't have her edit because I liked the raw images better and we were her first real clients. This my wedding pics thread:

https://www.pricescope.com/forum/op-requested/back-from-my-wedding-in-san-francisco-with-pics-t70808.html

Oh and her website is: http://www.elleyphotography.com

Mark @ ERD made my ring from my design. Here is the thread:

https://www.pricescope.com/forum/show-me-the-ring/my-new-bezeled-cushion-from-erd-t83187.html

 

[AllieLuv83]

All of the above. Pictures is what I looked at first, then narrowed those people down to the price that I could see myself spending on a photographer, then I spoke to them on the phone. I ended up going with someone whose pictures I loved, her personality is down to earth but fun, her style is photojournalistic, she is new to the scene and very fresh, she was open to me bringing my own ideas of what I wanted to see and very eager to please.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Thanks neatfreak!

Date: 10/16/2008 12:46:50 PM
Author: AllieLuv83
All of the above. Pictures is what I looked at first, then narrowed those people down to the price that I could see myself spending on a photographer, then I spoke to them on the phone. I ended up going with someone whose pictures I loved, her personality is down to earth but fun, her style is photojournalistic, she is new to the scene and very fresh, she was open to me bringing my own ideas of what I wanted to see and very eager to please.

Is this something you researched to find poses/settings, etc. that you really wanted to reproduce?

 

[ladyciel]

First, we checked out their online portfolios and decided if we liked their style. We wanted someone who could capture emotion with an artistic eye, as well as get beautiful posed shots. That meant both capture and post-edit work to our liking. All the photographers we liked were bookmarked to our favorites, and then we started looking into availability and cost. Some we liked but just couldn''t in any way afford. One requirement for "what we got" was we wanted the full-res digital negatives. I know that''s something photographers seem to go one way or the other on, but we lucked out that most of our top picks offered negatives in their standard packages or as add-ons.

Our top two choices were Anne Ruthmann (she has since moved from our region and wasn''t available for our date anyway) and Dionne Haglund. We also met with Abby Rose. When we met with Abby, we weren''t as impressed with her full portfolio, and there just wasn''t as much spark compared to when I met with Dionne. Not only did I like the larger volume of Dionne''s work that I got to see, but we just really clicked personally and I found it so easy to be around her. That was REALLY important to me - I needed somebody I could be myself around. For her work, we thought Dionne''s prices were right. She customized a package for us to suit our needs, since we were between two of her standard options. We couldn''t be happier with her work for our engagement and wedding photos.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Ohhh thanks for the links! That''s really helpful.

 

[AllieLuv83]

Yes it was something that I researched. I looked online for inspiration pictures and then she suggested the location. I simply said I would like to try pose xyz and she said if it would work or not.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

My first priority was NOT to order a wedding photographer (or one who did weddings solely, anyway). I wanted somebody who specialized in something else, specifically landscape photography because our ceremony/reception was in an outdoorsy setting on the ocean. When he told me that he only did wedding photography because he made the most money doing it, I liked him.

What sealed the deal for me was that was already extremely familiar with the beach (turns out he was related to the owners of the estate, so he'd spent a lot of time there) and I loved that he already had his favorite places on the estate to photograph.

ETA: I would say that personality/technique/price were all pretty equal. I wanted somebody who was laid back and didn't try to make every single picture perfect. I also liked that he was willing to do the post-editing work as a part of the up-front price...too often photographers tack it on at the end and it's insanely expensive. The more honest and up-front the vendor, the more I like him/her.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

The first three, then price! Style, personality, editing, then price for us.

 

[gtn]

I looked at style first, then personality and price. The best advice is to look at lots of photographers sites to see what you like and don''t like. Next talk to them. Also, don''t be afraid to ask them to show you more example of their work and testimonials. Their websites and books will only highlight their best work. Also, you should also find out if your photographer could handle different aspects unique to your wedding, eg if you plan a twilight wedding, you want a photographer that is experienced in low light.

 

[allycat0303]

It was the online portfolio. Love the pictures, photojournalist style. I ONLY looked online, then sent 3-4 emails to photographers I liked. Priced to see if I could get a better deal for what I wanted and in the end got my first choice for the best price. I didn`t even go see other photographers. What really bothers me are amateurish websites. I see it as advertising. If you have a stylish, easy to maneuver website I am already sold.Oh, and the longer it took to respond via email, (or a snippity email response) annoyed me. I am in hospital all the time and can`t do personal phone calls. And if they didn`t respond via email, I was annoyed. Why put an email contact if you don`t intend to correspond by email?

Those were my pet peeves and must haves during the process. As for the personality, I am not that difficult. I picked someone because I trust his artistic vision. I want nothing to do with the album, etc. He''s picking the pictures, doing montage and video. I do not want to sort though pictures or choose anything. I want him to present it to me done. He was pretty happy with that, and I am happy with that.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 10/17/2008 6:31:03 AM
Author: allycat0303
It was the online portfolio. Love the pictures, photojournalist style. I ONLY looked online, then sent 3-4 emails to photographers I liked. Priced to see if I could get a better deal for what I wanted and in the end got my first choice for the best price. I didn`t even go see other photographers. What really bothers me are amateurish websites. I see it as advertising. If you have a stylish, easy to maneuver website I am already sold.Oh, and the longer it took to respond via email, (or a snippity email response) annoyed me. I am in hospital all the time and can`t do personal phone calls. And if they didn`t respond via email, I was annoyed. Why put an email contact if you don`t intend to correspond by email?

Those were my pet peeves and must haves during the process. As for the personality, I am not that difficult. I picked someone because I trust his artistic vision. I want nothing to do with the album, etc. He''s picking the pictures, doing montage and video. I do not want to sort though pictures or choose anything. I want him to present it to me done. He was pretty happy with that, and I am happy with that.

This is really helpful!

So for easy websites...do you like the ones that have flash, or would you prefer stuff that''s quicker to load, like html? Lots of "back" buttons and everything plainly labeled but not super flashy? Not sparkly and doing animations and all that?

I''m in the process of making my online portfolio, and I really want my site to stand out without being crazy flashy. It would be nice to know what real people see when they look at a website, and what they prefer as far as accessibility.

 

[AllieLuv83]

Here is my favorite photographer of all time. I aspire to be like her!!
jasmine star

and here is her blog which she updates extensively another big PLUS

Jasmine Star Blog

I hope this helps!

 

[pjean]

Jasmine Star''s website is pretty, but as a bride who browses extensively while on breaks at work, I''m anti-soundtrack!