Do you need a wedding photographer?

So, you’re planning your wedding and going through the list of what you need and what it’s going to cost you.  You wonder what to do about a photographer and if one is really necessary.  The truth of the matter is that the value and importance of an investment in professional wedding photography varies case by case.  Every couple’s specific needs are very different.  Some may need a photographer and some may not.

Photographic technology has come a LONG way in the past 10 years…even in the past 5 years!  When I went to school professionals were still shooting film, and that wasn’t so long ago.  Entry-level single-lens-reflex (SLR) cameras that you can pick up for a few hundred dollars are capable of much more than they used to be.  For some, having a relative or friend who has a “nice camera” shoot their wedding is an attractive option, but is it what you want?

As I see it there are two different categories of images; I call them pictures and photographs.  Pictures are in effect snapshots.  They don’t have a great deal to offer in the way of artistry or capturing emotions, but they do a good job of recording the day and most of the important events.  If this is what you want or can afford then by all means skip the photographer and save yourself some money.  This is becoming a more viable option for many.

On the other hand there are photographs; images taken by an experienced photographer (amateur or professional) that are more than just snapshots of the day.  The difference is sometimes hard to describe, but it’s not too difficult to tell the difference.  Photographs have balanced exposure and sharpness.  They aren’t too light, too dark or blurry (unless it’s for effect).  They record not only a moment in time, but ideally the feelings present in that moment.  A good photograph becomes an heirloom or centrepiece in a home that a snapshot does not.  This is the realm of the professional photographer (or advanced amateur).  If this is what you want you may be in the market for one!

Many people are unclear of the role of a professional wedding photographer or just what they’re paying for when they hire one.  This is kind of a separate issue and will be discussed in my next post.  However, suffice it to say that hiring a good photographer can bring a lot of peace of mind.  You know that your images will be great.  Digital photography has helped this a great deal as photographers can see their images as they take them and know if they need to re-shoot.  In the “old days” we didn’t know until the film came back how things turned out! 

So, do you need a photographer?  Maybe.  Decide what you need and expect from your wedding images, research wedding photographers in your area and make an informed decision.

Visit my website at: www.brentlaverphotography.com

So what am I paying you for?

I get this question all of the time, mostly from friends who have no need of a wedding photographer and are trying to give me a hard time, but sometimes from clients:  “So what am I paying you for?”  Potential clients who look at the price lists of wedding photographers are sometimes surprised at what it costs to hire one (a good one anyway).  A wedding photographer’s price point can be anywhere from free (yes, even I shot weddings for free back in the day to create a portfolio) to upwards of $10,000.  I have found that most photographers in my area (Southern Ontario) seem to run anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000.

The problem arises when clients don’t understand exactly what a photographer does.  They see the price and think “this person wants me to pay the $X,XXX for ONE DAY of work!?”  I have this problem too.  I have no idea what my accountant/lawyer/mechanic/Member of Parliament or whatever does with the time I’m paying them for, and I sometimes question what I’m paying them for how much work they do. 

Here’s the thing that most people don’t realize.  The actual taking of photographs on the day of the wedding is probably the smallest part of my job.  This sucks because it’s the best part, but you do what you have to.  In case you’re interested here is how a typical job goes from start to finish:

1. Consultations: I meet with my clients a minimum of two times, but more if they want.  The first is where I present my work, tell them how great I am and they hire me.  The second (or more) is where I get the logistical info of the day itself as well as an idea of what kind of style the bride and groom are looking for.  Say this takes 4 hours.

2. The Wedding Day:  The actual best part of the deal, usually takes about 10 hours.

3. Editing: The longest and dullest part of the job is going through all of the images, culling the ones I don’t like and editing all of the rest.  I usually take around 1,000 shots so it takes some time…like 20-30 hours.

4. Presentation:  After the editing is done the DVD is delivered, album/print options are discussed and the couple leaves to look things over and get any orders into me at a later date.  This usually only takes an hour.

5. Finally there is all of the miscellaneous stuff: advertising, equipment maintenance, professional reading and practice which is hard to measure.

So from start to finish I figure that the average wedding involves anywhere from 40-50 hours of work.  On top of that I have fairly constant equipment updates to keep current with technology and the usual costs of running a business.  So the next time you look at wedding photography prices and wonder why you’re paying a certain amount of money for one day’s shooting…now you know!

Visit my website at: www.brentlaverphotography.com