Tips on Hiring a Photographer

Tips on Hiring a Photographer for your Weddings or any event/function.

Most couples don’t really care about the photography part in their special wedding event. Some usually book the photographers at last minutes. Which they in the end found out that their photographers is already being booked. As a photographer, I would like to share some tips on choosing and hiring a photographer.

1. Know what your expectations are.

You must know ahead what you want to photograph during the wedding. Don’t expect the photographer to know it all. There might be something different in your wedding which you think you want them to be photographed. Most wedding photographers know what to capture, but a bit of debriefing on what you want is important.

2. Get a list of photographers that you are interested at.

There must be a few photographers in the area you are staying, get to know their contact information. Of the best is you can just search in the net. Keying in “wedding photographer + (area you’re staying)” will surely provide you a list of your local.

3. Set Your Budget

A good photographer deserves a fair amount of pay too. Some set their price for as high as RM10 000 and some as low as RM300 per day. Whatever the price, it is you who decide according to your budget. Some wedding planner specialist suggests 10% of your wedding budget on the Photo and Videographer, others say more. Why so expensive? Well, your wedding is only held once in a life, a photograph can give sad-happy-nostalgic memories which will impact your future. There are couple who were able to save their marriage from tearing apart just because of a photo of their precious wedding day. Either way, make sure you get good photographs by a good photographer, and make sure you pay them accordingly too!

4. Compare their works

Every photographer has their own style of expressing their art. Although you may notice that all of them have something in common, but every photographer “ALWAYS” practice the same technique they are used at. Thus you will notice the photographer is able to get almost the same picture. Even if this depends on the occasion, but normally, you can see that each photographer has their own NOTICABLE photojournalistic style. So identify which suits you best.

5. Book ahead.

Some photographers require a 50% deposit to secure your reservation. A good/professional/ethical photographer will not reject your bookings just because there is another couple with a better offer.

6. Documentation

Require a receipt from the photographer, if possible, make a written agreement/ contract with the photographer. There is surely no need to go through legal process in a law firm. This contract will be a guarantee on the photographers’ service on your wedding day, including some terms and conditions, copyrights and royalty issues that might arise one day.

7. Keep in touch and make good/close contact with your photographer.

A photographer can be a close friend because of your wedding. They might be able to give advice for you just in case you have problems and needs assistance in planning. Due to attending lots of events, a photographer has their own point of view on their rightly side. All you need is just ask, inquire. A photographer may be one of the friendly people on your wedding… and could be the most hardworking on your wedding day… so appreciate them…