12 things wedding photographers want to tell you, but can’t!
Most wedding magazines and sites will give you a list of questions to ask a wedding photographer. Stuff like: “Can you describe your style? What equipment do you shoot with?” But let’s be real: Those questions are boring. And you probably don’t actually care about the answers anyway.
So I surveyed some wedding couples and photographers, and put together a list of all those questions you really want to ask with all those things we really want you to know below -
1. How do I pick a good photographer when there are hundreds out there?
First, check online. Obviously, if you’ve checked trippix, you’re in the right place. The photographers listed are initial partners and are accustomed to online inquiries and bookings.
Once you’ve got a few favorite photographers, narrow it down to a handful of favorites, and simple inquire online or possibly meeting in person. Remember to contact and meet with the actual wedding photographer, not a sales consultant or a studio administrator. You have to, like, trust and get along with your wedding photographer — that way you can leave the magic of photo making in the photographer’s hands. Not only should you like their images, you should also like them. You’ll be spending many hours with them during your wedding day.
2. How many photos do I get after the wedding?
Each wedding photographers typically deliver 50–100 photos for every hour of coverage. So, a couple of hundred photos may seem like a lot, but your wedding photographer is preserving all those little details and the moments you missed while you were mingling.
3. I love those photos with the blurry backgrounds. How do you get that look?
You’re talking about shallow depth of field. Photographers get that look by using professional lenses that are able to focus tightly on the subject. Choose your photographer wisely and the good ones automatically have this included.
4. I found one photographer whose images look soft and pastel, one whose images look clean, and one whose images look like they were shot on old film. What’s the deal?
Every wedding photographer has a different way of editing their wedding photos. This is part of their editing and post-processing. Most photographers do some basic lighting and color adjustments, but you can also use editing software to create a unique look. Three popular styles right now are:
- Clean: lightly processed to appear natural
- Matte: a low-contrast look with muted colors, similar to vintage film
- High Contrast: a vibrant look with rich colors that pop
It doesn’t matter which style you go with, as long as your photographer knows which style you love.
5. Why is wedding photography so expensive?
This is the question brides ask all the time. Wedding photography seems like easy money — work for one day and rake in the cash, right? But most full-time wedding photographers I know carry over $20,000 worth of wedding equipment and often work 60 hour weeks - remember those 800 images from question #2, they don’t edit themselves.
Add software, advertising, and general studio expenses, this actually result in many photographers making less than minimum wage for the first few years of their career.
6. How can I make sure I look good in my photos?
Relax. Trust your wedding photographer. If you’re relaxed, it’ll come through in your photos. Also, leave some breathing room in your schedule so you don’t feel rushed — I recommend a minimum 30 minutes for family photos, and an hour for the couple portraits.
More importantly, get plenty of sleep and drink lots of water the night before. Take it easy from any pre-wedding parties. Wedding-day hangovers are not fun.
7. I keep hearing about “shoot and burn” photography. Sounds painful. What is it?
Actually, yeah, it can be kind of painful. “Shoot and burn” is slang for photographing a wedding and going away with post-processing. It’s usually super cheap — for a reason. Bad lighting isn’t corrected, distracting elements aren’t removed, and zits remain proudly on display.
Digital files may be important to you, but find a full-service photographer who will edit the images and print reference proofs before handing over the digital photos.
And please, don’t let the digitals rot on your hard drive. If you love your photographer’s work, the best way to show your appreciation for their work is to proudly display your wedding photos online. Remember, don’t hide your wedding photos and maybe even print and hang them! As a standard, most wedding photographers suggest hanging up a large print or two — when you’re having a crappy day, it’s great to look up in your living room and see a photo of an awesome day.
8. Should we do a “first look”? And what the hell is a “first look”?
The first look is a chance for wedding couples to see each other privately before the ceremony. Two-thirds of couples opt to do a first look. It’s a great chance to get the wedding jitters out and spend a few minutes alone together. First look photos tend to be everyone’s favorite. It’s a real moment with real emotions.
Honestly, it’s also a great way to avoid stress on your wedding day. (Some of my couples even choose to get ready together!) And many couples get to enjoy their whole cocktail hour because they got all of the photos out of the way before the wedding.
9. Do I need a second photographer?
It typically depends on the size of the wedding. If your wedding has more than 100 guests a second photographer will be able to provide a lot more images and many more different perspectives. Many of the top photographers only work with assistants who carry gear and help with professional lighting. The best thing is to ask your wedding photographer to see how they prefer to work. You can get good results either way.
10. How far in advance should I book a wedding photographer?
Many in-demand wedding photographers book weddings over a year out. As it gets closer to your wedding date, it will be harder to book your first-choice photographer.
If your favorite photographer is unavailable on your date, don’t panic. Check out trippix — you may just find someone with a similar style and a lighter schedule.
11. You can Photoshop that, right?
It depends. As a photographer, everything that can be perfected via a natural camera shot is better. Posing, location scouting, and camera settings can “fix” most things before a click. But if your uncle photobombs you, you can’t photoshop this and it’ll require a retake. Remember, it’s much easier to get the photo right than to fix it with Photoshop.
12. Should I tip my photographer?
As something alot of photographers say, “Tips are never expected but are always appreciated.”
Hopefully this clears up some burning questions about wedding photography — and makes it a little bit easier to find the perfect photographer for your wedding day.
