Did you know not all photographers can shoot in low light?
Perhaps one of the most daunting tasks of planning a wedding (sometimes even more than picking your partner!) is choosing a finest wedding photographer. That single-most-important person will capture the madness, joy, and thrill of one of the most important days of your life. This blog will guide you to choose The Best and Finest Wedding Photographer In India in 2022.
So, considering the overwhelming number of options, how will you select the right photographer to capture your special moments effectively? How do you trust him or her to crystallize these precious moments of your life? And how do you manage to procure these perfect frames without being broke for the rest of the year?
As your wedding approaches, we understand the dilemmas that may trouble you when it comes to wedding photography in India. It’s a common experience to become overwhelmed and hurriedly make decisions just to manage your ever-expanding wedding to-do list.
The good news is that you don’t have to.
Here at Weddings by Lifeworks, we decided to give you an insider’s guide to choosing the perfect & finest wedding photographer – without losing your mind. These 10 easy actionable steps which have been compiled after arduous discussions with our in-house team and top experts from the industry is all you need to drive those photography blues away.
So scroll down to find your ‘soul-photographer’ (yes, that’s a thing!) so that you can look forward to being clicked on your big day!
1. Your Day, Your Style
While it’s easy to pick the photographer who did a fabulous job for your best friend’s wedding, it can also prove as a complete disaster for you. That’s because your best friend’s wedding was captured in the style they wanted which can be completely different from your aesthetic sensibilities. Most wedding photographers have a niche styles in which they best capture a wedding. Believing that they can recreate the same magic for any style will most likely result in some unpleasant surprises.
Assume you are a newbie to the world of wedding photography some of the popular styles today are photojournalism, contemporary wedding photography, and old-school studio photography. If you are still feeling quite lost begin with picking wedding photographs you really love and getting to know which styles they were shot in.
Pro Tip: Your monetary budget finds its base in the style you choose.
2. Putting Down The Big-Bucks
When considering leather boots, it’s evident that their craftsmanship warrants a higher budget compared to regular canvas shoes.
Similarly, the budget for your finest wedding photographer in India will depend on the skill and resources required for the photography style you prefer.
So start by scanning the market prices for the style of wedding photography you and your partner have finalized on. Also, keep an eye out for the range of quality provided in each style – this will depend on the time a photographer invests in his work (pre & post-shoot), the inventory of his equipment, and his experience in the field. These become the markers of different rates within a particular style of photography. Once you have completed your style-specific research you are ready to put down a budget that suits you best and it even realistic for your potential photographers!
Pro Tip: There is no point in spending time and energy on photographers that you won’t be able to afford.
3. Photographs v/s Albums
It’s easy to lure clients with a compilation of your best photographs taken from different weddings. Though if you really want to know the true worth of your photographer request at least two-three of his or her complete albums. This way you can analyze whether or not the photographer is genuinely good at telling long visual narratives or can only manage a few great Facebook display pictures.
Going through albums can also help you determine the strength and weaknesses of your photographer. For example, a photographer might bring out stunning pictures when working with natural light. However, if you are getting married in a dimly lit hall and he has nothing to show for that, he’s definitely not your guy.
Pro Tip: Yes, your eyes might go numb from looking at album after album but trust us, it’s worth the ordeal.
4. Befriending Your Photographer
It is absolutely fine to just want a professional relationship with your photographer but it helps to know him or her personally too. Why? You will be spending most of your time with him on your BIG day, so it’s good to have someone who won’t make you want to disappear or better still you actually like having around.
So have an in-person meeting with your photographer before you decide to hire them. This can also become a space for you to have all your unanswered queries regarding his services (don’t forget to make that list of questions) and also put forward your own aesthetic expectations. Unlike virtual correspondences, this not only saves time but also keeps you away from being disappointed with your photographs at a later stage.
Pro Tip: Don’t panic if your photographer doesn’t watch the same Netflix series as you do excessively. He doesn’t have to be your BFF. Just someone who gains your trust with their work and personality.
5. So, Who Is Shooting Anyway?
As Murphy’s law – “whatever can go wrong, will go wrong” proves to be painfully true in most situations, don’t think it will make an exception for your big day. Just be prepared. Not only make sure that the photographer you interviewed will be the one taking the bride and groom’s photographs but also that your contract mentions a backup shooter, in case something were to happen to your main photographer.
Also, even if you are subject to obtuse reasoning by family, do not hire separate teams, i.e. – one for the bride and one for a groom. Use those resources to hire one exceptional photography team. Unless you want to end up with mediocre photographs where each team gets in each other’s way and even your frame!
Pro Tip: If you are confused about the ideal strength of your wedding photography team, contact Lifeworks Studios for a free consultation!
6. Beware Of The ‘Weekend Photographer’
Photography can be a tricky terrain to manage when you are earning a living out of it and so many turn to weddings when the cash flow is running dry. Though these “weekend photographers” might have delivered some great work in the past, seasoned photographers still have an edge over them. For example, in dire situations, they have better backup equipment and storage solutions which might become a crisis situation for photographers who occasionally venture into the wedding field. Also, full-time wedding photographers are more likely to offer you a far wider range of additional services and diverse package choices as compared to a weekend photographer.
Pro Tip: Seasoned and full-time wedding photographers are less likely to be solely driven by monetary gains and thus are more dedicated to their art.
7. Bringing Home The Best Package
Along with shooting time, a photographer offers various other services in his packages like albums, special effects, retouching options, and additional shooting of your engagement, after-party, or even your pre-wedding shoot. Get the final quotes for an all-inclusive package that suits you best and compare it to the packages of the other photographers you have shortlisted.
Pro Tip: Make sure you double-check the coverage time mentioned in your package. You want those photographs right from the time when you begin to get ready for the big day until your final exit from the ceremony!
8. Post-Production Meets Patience
Yes, we understand your excitement for wedding photos, but it usually takes about a month to receive the final photographs. This is because your photographer is shooting enormous raw files far bigger than a typical JPG. While this allows for better photo correction, it also leads to slower uploading, processing, and editing of the images.
Each photographer will also have his or her own post-production style of working. When finalizing arrangements, inquire about the file resolution and expected image count. In addition, ask about their process for retouching images.
Pro Tip: Do not ask your photographer for RAW images. Unless you want to burden yourself with gigabytes you could do without and spend eons trying to edit the photos.
9. Reviews And Recommendations To The Rescue
Still, feeling indecisive after following all the above-mentioned tips,? don’t fret. We understand it’s your big day and you are aiming for nothing less than perfection. So let reviews, recommendations, and testimonials by ex-clients help you pick the photographers you have shortlisted.
Pro Tip: Past clients can offer insights you overlooked from working with a photographer in the past.
