Ask
to see a PROOF PORTFOLIO album from the
photographer.
This will show you every photo taken during a normal
photo session.
Many photographers will only show you their best, giving
you a false impression of the type of photos you will actually
receive.
Some even use professional models for their display albums.
Make sure you are HAPPY
with the photographer. Always ask the studio to see a sample of the
photographer’s work who would be allocated to cover your
event. Beware - some studios use sub-contractors and therefore will be
unable to show you photographs taken by that contractor or even give
you their name.
Make sure you are ON
TIME. The host should always have their make-up and hair done
first. If other guests have to miss photos it is not important as the
Host, and these can usually be caught up later without any problem. If
the Host is running too late, it may cause problems later in the day
and important photos can be missed.
Give
a lot of THOUGHT
to the type of photos you would like. A good photographer can adapt to
the style of photographs you prefer. One good way to do this is to have
a scrap book with photos cut out from magazines, and list the
ones you do & don’t like. Hand this scrap book to the
photographer at some time and fully discuss your
preferences & any special requirements.
ORGANISATION
is
the key to your
successful day. Sit down with your photographer at least 1 week prior
to your event and discuss everything. Make sure the photographer writes
it all down, and that sufficient time is allowed for at each location
throughout the day. Allow a little extra than you expect for travelling
time. A documented timing schedule is a good idea.
GET
everything confirmed
in writing, and make sure you fully understand exactly what you will
receive. Many problems arise with customers, as they do not have any
evidence of what was agreed to during discussions. This problem is
further magnified with time delays between the original booking, actual
event date & final completion as well as changes in staff.
Check
out the REPUTATION
& Experience of
the photographer. Talk to your friends & relatives, who may
have been used them recently, and find out their impression of the
photographer they used and what they did & didn’t
like. Ask the photographer how many years experience he or she has had,
and how many events they would photograph in a typical month.
Discuss an ALTERNATE
PLAN with the photographer. Even on the best of days in the
middle of Summer it can rain. Have an alternate plan organised
particularly if your evebt is outside in a garden. Less problems will
be caused if you already know what to do if the weather turns bad, as
your back-up plan has already been organised.
PRICE is one
of the most controversial issues when it comes to event photography.
Try to get firm pricing confirmed at time of booking, and watch out for
inflated enlargement & re-print prices. Also be aware of hidden
extras such as photographers fees. You should be able to get full
coverage of the day for somewhere between $1000-$4000. Sometimes you
can be paying for a photographers image and inflated overhead costs.
Ask what your total cost for the final album will be.
After
your event your
photographs are the only reminder you will HAVE for
the rest of your life. You will be spending many thousands of dollars
on the reception, dresses, flowers & cars, many relatives
& guest have come together, so you must make sure you have
professional coverage of the memories you will keep forever - a once in
a lifetime opportunity.
YOU are
the
customer and it is your event. You are paying a lot of money for
professional coverage so make sure that you get exactly what you want,
because you won’t get any second chances.