Selecting the appropriate wedding photographer is not just a tedious task but also involves a lot of homework that you as a client need to understand, study and analysis, after all this is one service that you can’t visualise, taste or smell. So it’s better to invest good time before you invest good money. Read below to understand and imbibe the rules that will help you in selecting the perfect lens man for your wedding day.

Rule 1: Select your style

Before you start your search for professional wedding photographer, you need to decide what type of photography and what style you want to cover your wedding day. In terms of style there are basically four types and that includes-Documentary, Portraiture, Creative Art and Bold. There are photographers who may provide you a blend of two but majority will provide you one specific style.

Rule 2: Research

Once you are clear about your taste and preferences, start researching about the photographers you deal with that particular genre. You can read and review newlyweds and study local directory of such professional wedding photography companies or freelancers. Once you trace, review their websites and blogs to check out photos of other weddings they’ve shot, which will give you an idea of their style. Another easy way to study is to check out their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages and read the testimonials.

Rule 3: Meetings and Vision Discussion

Social media can be deceptive, so it is always good to meet the photographer along with your partner to discuss the wedding and your expectations. IF the things work smooth, nothing is better than that. In case, the photographer is already booked on your date then better ask for suggestion of associates from them. It is good to fix in-person meetings with five to six potential photographers so that you don’t fall short of options and whoever is available fix them. Before heading for meeting prepare a check-list of things to be discussed like venue, wedding style and your vision.

Rule 4: Review in Detail

Once the meeting is over sit for detailed analysis of the photographer’s work. Study the lighting, moods and sensitivity in capturing people’s emotions. If anything is not up to your expectations clear it out in the next meeting so that both the parties are clear about the wedding day. And if you like anything very specific about the photographers do mention that, it will give them a boost to perform better at your wedding.

Rule 5: Confirm your lens man

With time wedding photography has become vast. So, if you are approaching a wedding photography company, make it clear that who will be capturing all the images. Generally such companies have dedicated photographers for every event. Try to meet them and discuss the detailing with them so that they are clear and this will also help in building a personal rapport for the D-Day. This will also help you to enlighten about how many people will be coming at the venue (including photographers and their assistants) so that you can arrange hospitality accordingly.

Rule 6: Discuss and compare price

You must have discussed the price in the very beginning, but make sure that you have discussed and compared the package deal before giving the advance. Nowadays all the clients have wedding photography price list, arrange that and compare the price with what competitors are charging and then fix your deal accordingly. Don’t forget to discuss the break detailing of the fees, so that you are aware about everything. It’s important to find out what’s included in the standard package, so that in case you need any extras you can see your budget and decide. Ask them to mentions the duration of services. Mostly it varies from 6 to 12 hours to coverage including everything, right from pre-ceremony events (getting ready with your bridesmaids or first-look photos) to the end of the reception.

Rule 7: Clear your stake

Before entering in the contract with the team, discuss the rights to all photos taken at the wedding. Make sure that you have rights to publish all the photos and even the ones the photographer is going to use for his/her website and social media promotion. Discuss about the soft copy and hard copy of images (if needed) and the watermark impression on the photographs.

Rule 8: Discuss post-production and delivery

Once the wedding is over and you are settled, you might be excited to see your pictures, so better discuss the delivery date and post-production duration beforehand so that you don’t panic. The post production varies from one photographer to other, so there is no need of comparison but make sure that you get it within six to eight weeks. Also discuss very specifically about the number of images being delivered (in total and per event too). Whether the images will be high resolution or low resolution? And whether you will be needed to filter the final collection of images, if needed, make yourself available so that the delivery is not delayed.