Deciding which photographer will be photographing your wedding is an important decision. Unlike many things in life, photographs are forever and will be cherished for generations. There are many photographers out there and the choices are vast. How do you know who to choose?

Here are some things to look for;

Light quality: when viewing a photographer’s portfolio, look for variety. Pay attention to the light. An inexperienced photographer will have hard time dealing with direct sunlight and this will result in harsh shadows and squinty eyes. Most often, new photographers will capture the images from the wrong direction. But the sun is not the only challenge, flash or spot lights can be challenging as well.

Social skills: I found a very talented photographer! Having a creative and talented photographer is what most couples look for when searching for a photographer. However, photographing a wedding is not that easy. In many instances, your photographer will have to take charge of different situations. Being friendly, funny, polite and assertive is a must in order to achieve the desired result. 

The right equipment: Having a good camera, lenses, and lights and knowing how to use them is a great start for any aspiring photographer. However, knowing when to use them is what makes the difference between the $1000 photographer and the $10,000 photographer. It is very easy to create a well exposed image but it takes experience and experiments to create a masterpiece.

Editing: Got Photoshop, will edit! While Photoshop and other editing software is an essential tool for today’s photographer, some are either trying too much or not trying at all. This is an art by itself and knowing how to work with a photograph and not making it look like a cartoon or a surreal painting (with some exceptions) is important. Removing blemishes from skin in photographs should be done gently and should not leave the skin with no texture or looking like rubber.

Professional associations: As a photographer, I know that being an active member of professional photographer association and communities is invaluable. There are many benefits for joining a pro association, here are 2: associations allow a photographer to network with other professionals and have a “back up” photographer in case of an emergency. In addition, being a part of a pro group will increase the creativity and knowledge of any photographer by sharing ideas and techniques with one another.

The 4 C’s (of wedding photography): As I am sure that at this point of your engagement, you heard of the 4 Cs of a diamond (Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat). Here is my translation of this guideline into wedding photography;

• Cut (crop and composition), this is one of the most important aspects of creating a truly beautiful image. Knowing how to frame a photograph could make a world of difference and there are too many things to consider. Background, light direction, camera angle and posture are just a few.
• Color (skin tone and temperature): In the past few years since the popularity of consumer digital cameras grew, we have seen the color orange way too much (and got used to it) and achieving a correct skin tone is somewhat of a lost art. The reason this evolution took place is due to the fact that there are too many new photographers with no formal education in photography that are lacking the basics of color temperature.
• Clarity (focus and sharpness): There is no greater proof of “being in the wrong place, at the wrong time” then a “soft” photograph. As you know, there are no retakes at a wedding and a photographer needs to know how to adjust his/her camera to a new light environment ASAP!
• Carat (cost): While searching for a wedding photographer, you will notice that there is large range in prices. Photographers can be found as low as $500 and as high as $30,000. The price of each photographer is determined by their experience, demand, creativity and many other aspects of their work. Try and get the best photographer for your money and prioritize your expenses. After all, the day after the wedding, all you will have left are the rings, the dress (???) and the photographs. Nobody ever said “I wish we took a cheaper photographer”.

In conclusion, there are many things to consider before picking the person in charge of your first family heirloom! Research carefully.

Hadar Goren