When it comes to preparing for your wedding, few things feel as essential to nail as the wedding photography. Though you want your day to be beautiful, you want your memories of it to be beautiful as well. Photography is also important for connecting to friends and family that aren?t able to make your celebration. On average, couples will budget about $2,320 on a wedding day photographer, though the exact number is going to vary widely.
How can you get the wedding photography of your dreams? Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Start Your Research Well in Advance
Booking a great photographer isn?t a task to leave off, because the best photographers are going to be reserved months ahead of time. This is especially important if you?re having a wedding during a very popular month, such as June or July. Ideally you want to have a contract written up eight to nine months before the actual wedding date.
What Does a Professional Photographer Need?
For many people planning their wedding, this is the first time they?ve had to deal with hiring a professional photographer, and they might be unsure of what to look for. Basically, you want someone with experience, whose shooting style reflects what you?re looking for, and someone who believes in ?insurance.? In other words, make sure they have a portfolio of past work for you to peruse.
If you are looking for a more contemporary approach, then don?t opt for the photographer whose style is largely about traditional posing. Lastly, a professional photographer comes prepared for eventualities. Relying on just one camera can be a problem if something goes wrong — you?ll never have pictures of this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Look for a Photographer Who Employs Digital Photo Retouching Services
Although photoshop has a bad rep in pop culture, it?s actually an essential tool of most photographers. Photo correction services aren?t there to give you a nose job or cut inches off your waist — instead, this process is about removing small blemishes from photos (such as loose hair or a red spot on one?s face) and ensuring that the color, contrast and white balance of the photograph are correct. Professional photo retouching is a must-request for modern day wedding photography.
Long story short: know what to look for in a professional wedding photographer. Do your research ahead of time, and invest in digital photo retouching services.