How to Find the Best Fit Videographer & Photographer
How to find the best fit videographer and photographer for you
On your wedding day, besides your soon-to-be spouse, the people you'll spend the most time with are your media team—comprising your photographers and videographers.
While you carefully select your partner and wedding party, choosing your media team is the next most intimate decision you’ll make.
Additionally, the significance of your photographer and videographer choice is underscored by the fact that their work will be among the few tangible memories of your wedding day. These images and videos will be cherished not only by your friends and family but also by your children and grandchildren for generations to come.
Therefore, it's perfectly acceptable to take your time in evaluating your media team options—we encourage it!
If all goes as planned, this will be your only engagement, so savor this fleeting moment in your life, keeping in mind the ultimate goal of a lifelong commitment to each other.
Here are a few key points to kick off your journey.
Alright, take a deep breath – we’re here to assist you, and even if you haven’t had much experience in this field, luckily for you, we certainly have!
Here are several choices you and your partner need to consider:
Budget:
What portion of your budget have you set aside for photography and videography?
This largely relies on the priorities you and your partner share. Some couples allocate around 10% of their wedding budget to photography, whereas others may invest as much as 50%. It's a personal choice that you'll need to navigate together.
As we noted earlier...
Your videos and photos will be cherished keepsakes that you'll hold onto long after your wedding day.
While cruising in a stretched hummer on your wedding day may be entertaining, without a dedicated media team to document the experience, you might be left with only your bridal party’s tipsy snapshots from their phones and Uncle Joe's unsteady VCR footage! That said, if you're not particularly passionate about photography and videography, you don’t need to shell out tens of thousands to secure a decent photographer for something meaningful to reminisce about.
Style:
You might not be aware that you already have a preference for a specific photographic style. Explore the portfolios of various photographers on their websites. Save your favorites on a digital board, and then use the options below to identify the styles you enjoy.
Journalistic, documentary approach?
Ideal, "picturesque" aesthetic?
Light and ethereal?
Subdued hues?
Dim and dramatic?
Vibrant and high-contrast?
Filter palettes – warmer shades, cooler tones, or true-to-life colours?
Availability:
Do you have a specific date in mind? If so, it's essential to find a photographer who meets the criteria mentioned above and is also available on that date. This can certainly be accomplished, but securing your booking early is recommended for the best results.
Certain photographers and videographers find themselves booked 2-3 years ahead of time.
If you and your partner haven't chosen a specific date yet, it's generally possible to find a date within a one-month window, even if your wedding is six months away. That said, booking your media team within a timeframe of 12 to 18 months is more typical.
Wedding Location:
Will your chosen location necessitate significant travel for your photographer and videographer? Some photographers may have limitations on their travel distance due to prior commitments and bookings surrounding your wedding date.
Additionally, will the media team be required to travel on the day of the wedding? If you have several venues for the ceremony, reception, and other events, they will need to accompany you from place to place throughout the day.
It's important to consider that multiple locations will result in increased travel, which means you are paying your vendors for the time spent in transit rather than capturing moments. This also leads to potential delays in your wedding schedule—check out this blog for more insights on this topic.
What to ask a potential photographer/videographer?
Experience an entire wedding at the venue where you’ll be tying the knot (or one that resembles it), ideally during the season of your own wedding. Although every photographer and videographer showcases highlights on their websites, you’ll ultimately receive only a single day’s worth of photo and video content. Viewing their complete work from an entire wedding can provide insight into the quality and style they will deliver for you. You might appreciate one standout image from a photographer, only to discover that the remainder of their portfolio doesn’t align with your vision. It's definitely worthwhile to invest the time in reviewing their work to gauge the caliber of what you can expect.
For studios that employ several photographers and videographers, take the time to find out who will be capturing moments at the wedding. In certain studios, a studio manager oversees all the meetings, which means that the couple might not meet the photographer until the wedding day itself. Matthew Eastgate Photography.
Regarding "who will be present on the day" – if the photographer is unable to attend, what is the backup plan? Regrettably, we find ourselves in an era marked by sudden lockdowns and isolation measures (along with unforeseen events like flash flooding that disrupt road access!), which increases the chances of requiring a “substitute.” One of the advantages of a studio with an array of photographers and videographers is the assurance that there's always someone on the team who can step in. Inquire about their backup options in case the unexpected occurs and someone is unable to attend on the scheduled day.
What’s the strategy if the weather doesn’t match your expectations? Where will you head?
Are they able to adjust lighting when conditions turn foggy or dimmer than normal? Some photographers rely solely on natural light, which works wonderfully as long as there is sunshine or ample ambient light at the location.
What is included in your photography package? Are you solely covering the photographer’s time on the event day without any included elements such as HiRes and LoRes files, black and white and color images, or albums? Who retains ownership of the images, and are you permitted to share them on online platforms like social media?
How effectively do you collaborate?
As mentioned earlier, besides your future spouse, you'll spend the most significant amount of time with your media team on your wedding day. This underscores the importance of ensuring you and your partner have a good rapport with them.
Take the time to connect with your photographer and videographer. Familiarizing yourself with their personalities in advance can contribute significantly to the success of your day. If conflicts arise with these professionals (or any of your vendors, for that matter), you might end up with stunning images overshadowed by the stress of managing a challenging personality.
While online reviews are a useful starting point, nothing compares to conversations with couples who have recently worked with your chosen photographer or videographer. They can provide firsthand insights about their experiences—who better to offer advice than those who’ve been in your shoes? Venue managers and other vendors can also provide valuable feedback, utilizing their experiences to help you avoid unnecessary stresses!
Although capturing videos and photos is essential, it's not the sole focus of the day. For many couples, the priority is enjoying the occasion and having fun. It's not solely about your photographer and videographer. Finding the right balance is crucial; sometimes, having a great time takes precedence over securing that perfect shot.
Something we frequently hear from couples after their weddings is their desire to have spent more time savoring the day. Ultimately, your enjoyment and the memories of those cherished moments may hold more value than any artistically crafted photographs.
Keep your composure… and always remember the purpose behind this!
We understand that there are numerous decisions to make at this point. By now, we hope you and your fiancé have developed enough familiarity with each other to tackle most of these choices efficiently, but we recognize that planning a wedding isn't something you do on a daily basis. Choosing to get married at Preston Peak ensures that our couples benefit from extensive support in their wedding planning courtesy of our dedicated team. If you've selected a reputable wedding venue, you can expect the same level of assistance.
Have questions or interested in scheduling a tour? Reach out to us, and we’ll gladly assist you!
