@2020 STUDIO KSD - Images by Studio KSD Photography & Films
We know that there is so much involved with planning your day, and it can be challenging to find the right photographer especially when there are so many factors to consider.
After photographing hundreds of weddings over the past 8 years, I feel that there are a few key factors you should consider when hiring your dream wedding photographer.
Below you will find the Top 5 Things To Consider When Hiring a Wedding Photographer.
1. How much do you value photography?
If you think about all the decisions you have to make for the wedding day, where does your photographer fall in comparison to the caterer, venue, decorator, DJ, etc? Is photography the most important to you?
If you prioritize photography, then you’ll want to reach out to photographers that are experts in their craft and can create beautiful, creative, artistic images for you, as well as having the eye to capturing amazing candid moments. Expertise in photography involves several different factors including creativity, training, experience, resources, their team, their process – and most importantly, their passion for what they do.
That being said, like anything, you get what you pay for, and different photographers simply value their services and work differently.
2. Light/Airy vs Bold/Dramatic
Many photographers that have a more “light and airy” style love taking photos outdoors and utilizing natural day light. Often time the photos are “softer” and have a more a natural feel to them.
Photographers that have a more “bold and dramatic” style have photos are full of rich colors. They may utilize more off camera lighting instead of natural light.
Please note styles are not necessarily exclusive of one another. However, a photographer’s portfolio will likely learn more towards one style than the other. At Studio KSD, we lean more towards bold/ dramatic in the evenings, but still love to utilize natural light during the day. For our couples, the know that rich, bold colors are important to them. And especially since we specialize in indian/ south asian weddings, the weddings are full of beautiful colors!
3. Do you personally like the photographer?
Your comfort level is especially important when it comes to hiring wedding photojournalists. Here at Studio KSD, our photojournalistic meaning we emphasize capturing “natural, candid” moments. In order for photojournalists to capture natural moments, you’ve got to be comfortable being yourself around them and just letting lose in front of them.
These days everyone has busy schedules, so ask to set up video chats or Skype meetings with your photographer so you can get to know them, and they get to know before the wedding day.
4. Ask to see a full gallery
Photographers typically showcase their best work on their websites and Instagram. If you ask to see a full wedding gallery, it will give you a better indicator to their approach to the full wedding day. Its best to ask for a gallery of a wedding that will be similar to yours so give you the best indiciation if the style is truly a match for you.
When reviewing a full gallery, please keep in mind that not every image is likely to be instagram worthy, but this should be a good indicator of what you can expect for your wedding day.
5. Delivery of images and the album
Once the wedding is over, you’ll want to see the photos ASAP. You’ll want to understand what your photographer’s timeline and process looks like after the wedding well in advance. If they take six months to complete their editing and post production process, can you be okay with that? Or, do you prefer a photographer that delivers in a couple of weeks even if not all the images are edited?
Sometimes faster isn’t always better. We recommend understanding what the process is after the wedding and ensuring you are comfortable with the timeline for delivery.