Have always heard that saying...more often than not. So, let me ask you a question...this is going to be deep. What do you look for in a wedding photographer? Is it based on price? Or is it based on Experience? Ponder that for just a moment. Rebecca and I were married nearly 11 years ago and we had a wedding video, if you would call it that, and a couple of family members and friends who had camera's take our pictures. What we got was Crap with a capital "C"! Just ask us to take a look at our wedding album....such a big disappointment. Looking back I would have paid thousands to have an amazing wedding album! Fast forward to today....nearly 29 years after I first picked up a camera and that little "photography" bug bit me...big time, even though I didn't realize it back then as a 16 year old teenager. Now, after having so many experiences in life doing other things career wise, I find myself hot and heavy in photography...so much so, Rebecca began shooting with me two and a half years ago. Now she is in Art School for getting a teaching certificate to teach either art or photography at the elementary or secondary levels. We litteraly eat, sleep and breathe photography in our household and all of our boys have participated in capturing amazing images. When looking at a wedding photographer, by all means look at several. Pick their brains a bit. Ask for their life story...for after all, you are hiring one to document yours. Set price aside for in this life it's just money. When you compare a cheaper photographer and a more expensive one, they are like comparing an orange to an apple. Look at their work...their life experience, their images. Do they shoot your "style"? In other words, do they stand in the shadows and get these amazing shots as your day unfolds, blending in to the background? That's photojournalism at its best. Are they directing everything and everyone for each and every shot? That is traditional, such as posed shots for family groupings and getting ready. Are they a combination of both? I have the pleasure of doing a little bit of both since I was a award winning photojournalists for several years and am currently a television newscast director. That's a combination of 21+ years of both styles for me personally. I have 5 and a half years of retail experience, a year and a half of that as a 1-hours lab manager, trained by Fujifilm and the fine folks at special divisions at WalMart Inc. I started out as a film shooter in the 1980's and moved over to all digital ( we actually still shoot film upon request)....both formats offer stark differences, both good and the bad. Another question...does your list of photographers get annual continuing education through trade shows and seminars in their industry to stay up on the latest trends and techniques? All of that costs a lot of money. Rebecca and I invest thousands each year in continuing training and travel all over the country for our clients. Los Angeles is one of our markets. All of this counts...interview several photographers before coming to a decision. Just don't take too long to accomplish this task as most photographers, including ourselves, limit the number of events they do each year and usually book a year in advance or even more sometimes.
As you see, when price is the only factor in your search, you are playing russian roulette with your memories. Is it worth that kind of risk? Just ask myself or Rebecca. It's not! Pay for experience! And your personalities have to click too. You have to get along with the person who is going to document your new life's beginnings.
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