A guide to help you choose the perfect wedding photographer.
Choosing your wedding photographer can be a daunting task. I’ll help you ask the right questions when interviewing them. There’s a lot of Colorado wedding photographers out there. Choices are great but I’ll make the process of choosing the right one for you a lot easier with this guide.
How do I choose my wedding photographer?
Let me ask you this? How important is photography to you? You could have your uncle or friend photograph your entire day and maybe end up with some nice looking photos. You’ll also receive a lot of blurry images and miss a lot of important moments because the photographer/ iPhone operator wasn’t trained to photograph weddings. Is that wort saving a couple of thousand dollars?
Wedding photographers vary in skill and experience. If wedding photography is important to you, I suggest researching a bunch of different photographers by looking at their portfolios and asking to see a complete wedding that was captured from beginning to end. (not just the highlights)
I’ve been a wedding photographer for 15 years and counting. (8 of those years have been in Denver) I’ve seen it all from sudden bad weather to a groomsman forgetting to have the rings during the ring exchange ceremony. Yes, I had the couple re-enact their ring exchange after the ceremony just to get those photos. I’ve also had my share of miscues early on in my wedding photography career. I’ve dropped lenses at critical moments, lost an SD card, taken family photos in very low light without using a flash, etc. I’ve learned how to overcome those miscues at this stage in my career beginning with staying calm and not getting flustered. My point is that you don’t want to risk losing any critical photo moments by hiring an in-experienced wedding photographer.
When you think you’ve chosen the perfect wedding photographer, make sure you meet with them or interview them on Zoom or FaceTime. It’s important to really get to know them and be assured they are the right fit for you.
How many hours do I need?
Most wedding photographers charge by the hour so they have packages that include 4, 6, and 8 hours of coverage. These hours vary and some photographers decide to just include one package that gives you a full day of wedding photography coverage. Let’s break down what these hours generally cover.
4 Hours – This is perfect for elopements or micro weddings where you don’t have many guests. Let’s say that you’re getting married at a courthouse or having a simple ceremony with just 10 of your closest friends and family members. (micro wedding) The getting ready stuff isn’t important to you and you’re not having a big party after your ceremony. Unless you want your whole day documented (something I specialize in) then 4 hours of photo coverage is the right fit for you.
8 Hours – The most common and possibly the best bang for your buck is 8 hours of wedding photography coverage. It’s ideal for brides who only want the major events photographed like the ceremony, toasts, and first dances along with plenty of portraits of the wedding party and the bride and groom together.
What are the possible downsides?
This amount of coverage may not leave much room for exploring multiple locations for portraits. (If that’s important to you) Also, there’s less time for capturing smaller but impactful moments that aren’t listed on your timeline. (My bread and butter) I’ve found that the best moments are unplanned. Moments like when a hug between the bride and a family member brings tears and laughter. Or when the bride and bridesmaids share a cry together. These kinds of beautiful moments are why I’m still a Denver wedding photographer after 15 years.
10-12 Hours– Great for brides who don’t want to stress about missing any impactful moments. (planned or unplanned) This includes everything on the timeline that includes portraits of both wedding parties, first looks, ceremony, family portraits, toasts, first dances, and general reception coverage. This also includes time for those unplanned moments that aren’t on the timeline like I talked about earlier. The moments full of raw emotion that perfectly capture the relationships with your loved ones. This amount of photo coverage is the most popular package that clients choose when booking me for their wedding. It allows more flexibility for me to do what I do best (capture authentic emotional moments) and it gives my couples confidence that the’ll receive a complete story of their day that includes portraits their families want along with those powerful moments that my couples desire.
What about having a second photographer?
The benefits of having a second photographer are huge. It’s like the old saying; Two is always better than one!
A second pair of eyes is never a bad idea, especially with larger weddings with over 100 guests. Simply put, they offer another perspective and presence that one photographer can’t do by him/herself.
Let’s say you have the groomsmen getting ready in a separate location from the bridal party. I’ll have my second shooter get photo coverage of the guys while I focus on the girls. This is especially great when the bride and groom aren’t seeing each other before the ceremony. (usually what I get)
Having another wedding photographer helps take the load off my shoulders. I can relax a bit more and focus on getting more creative angles and experiment with different techniques because I have a trusted second shooter that is capturing the must have photos and safe angles. For example, while they’re standing in the middle of the aisle photographing the kiss, I might sneak behind the couple to capture a different perspective.
Another benefit of having a second wedding photographer is to get more variety in those emotional moments. While I’m focused on the bride and groom laughing together, my second shooter might capture a wider perspective that includes the kids next to them sticking their tongues out or acting in some other bold manner. (as kids do) A second photographer might even capture moments that I missed entirely because I was in another location.
What deliverables should I consider?
A wedding photographer should always give you the option to include more than just your digital photos. Many photographers have a base package that only includes your digital photos but offer second photographers, engagement sessions, albums and prints in their higher tier packages.
I have a base package that allows me enough money to earn a living and also give you the essentials. (your photos) My most popular choice includes 10 hours of photo coverage which comes with an engagement session. Have a look at my pricing here.
How long will it take to receive my photos?
This varies a lot from what I’ve seen and heard from other wedding photographers. I’ve heard that some are quick with a 2 week turnaround while others take as long as 6 months. I hand select and edit every single photo with some light editing. I crop, adjust skin colors, (for a natural look) brightness and contrast but refrain from any skin retouching. My turnaround policy includes your personal photo gallery that ‘s received within 3-5 weeks after your wedding.
Other things to consider:
- I’l share an entire gallery from a previous wedding that shows what you can expect from a full day, not just highlights.
- As I mentioned above, I’ve photographed for 15 years and counting and have shot over 300 weddings.
- I carry liability insurance that’s required in some venues here in Colorado. It insures you and your guests if anyone gets injured at your wedding from my equipment.
- My equipment includes two camera bodies, multiple lenses and flashes along with plenty of batteries and SD cards.
