“Clicking” With the Wedding Photographer

Posted by JedenTcloseAuthor: JedenT Name:
Email: TeamTerwilliger@gmail.com
Site: http://wereallfriendshere.blogspot.com/
About: JedenT lives in windy Beaumont, California and is the author of "Bombshell: A Novel." She works as a photographer, occasionally moonlighting as a nude and boudoir photographer, and is currently writing about her life with her ex and her boyfriend in her blog, "We're All Friends Here." (http://wereallfriendshere.blogspot.com)See Authors Posts (5)

Jan 18, 12

Having the Right Chemistry with the Vendor You’ll Be Around More Than Your Spouse On Your Special Day

The best friend you could ever have is your wedding photographer. No, really, I’m completely serious. Your wedding photographer records your day from start to finish, is crammed into small spaces with you, sees more behind the scenes bulge-tucking and repinning and hears every complaint you have about the flower vendor who has you in a rage on your wedding day.

Your photographer is not the person you want to be angry with.

After all, any scowling in the general direction of the photographer has the potential of being captured and becoming a part of your family history. And though there is no perfect photographer out there, regardless of who claims to be, every bride and every photographer is different, and therefore pairing together with a photographer you totally clash with can be a disaster just as it can be in dating.

Let’s put aside the technicalities and technologies that draw you in to your photographer. Forget that she has 12 years experience and gives you copyright, forget that he’s shooting with the biggest baddest camera in your area and has rubbed elbows with the guys who did the Kardashian wedding. None of that will matter if you can’t stand the person behind the lens.

Ask yourself whether you would be friends with this person if they were not your wedding photographer. As professional as they are in your business dealings, are they the type of person you can get along with on a totally unrelated to wedding photography level? Are you uncomfortable at all around your photographer, and when they crack a joke is it an uncomfortable smile or a genuinely happy and fun smile?

Take the time to read between the lines. A photographer who is nothing but business and has to ask you to smile every time is most likely going to produce flat staged photographs. Wedding photography is about your story. Is your story full of fake forced smiles? On the other hand, if their jokes are mildly offensive (not in a fun way) and you cringe when you think of what your mother might say, the level of professionalism is something to consider.

Perhaps the best photographer is a mixture of the starched business-all-the-way style and the wildly offensive show of silliness. Serious when it comes to signing paperwork and silly when it comes to getting those fresh genuine smiles out of you. So how do you find this person?

• Many photographers ask you out on a “coffee date” to plan your photography needs. This is a great opportunity to see what type of person they are without camera in hand. If your photographer books everything over the phone or internet, perhaps ask them if they would agree to a meet-and-greet.
• Engagement sessions are a fun way of taking your photographer out on a test drive. Perhaps if you’re not sure that this photographer will work well with you on your wedding day, schedule an e-shoot. The bonus is that you get photos that can be used on your Save The Dates and if you don’t end up liking the photographer, you’re not locked in to a contract for their services on your big day.
• Zodiac signs, if you’re into astrology, are something to look at. I personally cross check my brides for compatible zodiac signs to mine, and if I feel things aren’t going well or may not go well in the future, I will pass the job on to another photographer who might work out for them better. Remember that the Sagittarius photographer will be super creative and excited, but may wander away from finishing your final product (which is why I am thankful to be born on the Sagittarius/Capricorn cusp, so I stay creative yet focused enough to finish my job.)
• Consider whether the photographer is trying to be the boss of you, and whether that is a good thing. Remember that at the end of the day you’re the boss, but that the photographer has a job to do, and they (hopefully) know how to do it well. If you feel uncomfortable, this is a bad sign, but if your photographer is very reassuring they may just have a plan that will jump out later in the pictures and you’ll scream with joy.

A few tips you may want to consider for not bridezilla-ing your way into an unhappy photographer:

• Don’t micromanage the photographer’s work. There is a workflow, and there is a way things are done that have proven to be beneficial and produce the best results in their experience as a photographer. Let them handle it, and only step in if you feel that something is being truly mismanaged.
• Ask questions, but try to comprehend the answers and refer to your photographer’s website or the paperwork you signed. Every minute spent answering the phone to answer a question you went over at contract signing is another minute the photographer isn’t working on someone’s photos. This may mean very little to you, except that when the time comes to edit yours they still may be on that job.
• Realize that your photographer probably has other clients. You are most likely not the only paying job the photographer has at the moment, so stalking their Facebook and asking why another client’s pictures went up before yours isn’t going to get anything done any faster.

Most importantly, hire the professional that is right for YOU. Not your friend Jenny. Not who your mother would like. And not your cousin with a pretty good camera. Hire the one who you feel would be best for the task of recording your story into the family history books.