At Thailand-Wedding-Planning we get a lot of call for wedding, honeymoon and event photographers, and as budding professional photographers ourselves, we know a good artist and a great shot when we see one.

Wedding photos can make or break your special day, and with all those picturesque memories, it’s important that your moments are captured beautifully.

The decision to choose your wedding photographer may seem a little overwhelming at first, and for those who have never hired a professional photographer, costs are often surprisingly high.

Nevertheless, there are certain steps you can take to make choosing your Wedding Photographer that little bit easier, hopefully leaving you little left to decide except who fits your budget.

Choosing The Perfect Wedding Photographer

How to choose the perfect Wedding Photographer

Request photos of entire wedding

While most photographers will present a wedding profile of their work, it’s a great idea to request photos of an entire wedding. That way you can judge how the photographer worked from start to finish.

Your wedding memories aren’t just confined to the ceremony; half the fun (and emotion!) is in the preparation. That’s why having great memories of the bride and groom getting ready, the reception, and all those moments in between is just as important.

Request original untouched images

Many photographers retouch their shots with photo editing software’s like Photoshop, some may even charge extra for this service. To ensure that your photographer is up to the task, ask to see a profile of untouched pictures. And make sure any additional photo editing is included in the quote.

Request references

If possible, ask to talk to two or three former bride and grooms. Try not to prompt them into answering Yes or No questions, instead try to ask questions like:

Would you recommend the photographer to your best friends, and why? Was the photographer on time? How was he or she dressed? Was he or she professional to work with throughout the entire process? Did the guests have any comments?

Who will be the photographer on the day

Some wedding studios use a team of photographers, and since experienced artists have their own style and technique you’ll want to be sure that the photos you preview were taken by the person who will be shooting on the day of your wedding.

If the studio can’t guarantee who will be your photographer, it’s a good sign that they might not have the time to dedicate to your wedding.

Ask how many pictures will be taken

Some photographers will have no limit on the amount of pictures they take; others may sift through the photos to give you the best 500 or so.

Either way you’ll want to ask how many photos’ you get to take home. How many you have to choose from.

Ask about online proofs .raw files, or negatives

There are several advantages to receiving your proofs online. Sending the images online usually results in a quicker turn around, and many companies offer online wedding galleries where guests can go to view slide shows.

Be sure to ask if your proofs will be posted online, or sent to you as negatives. If you do receive them online, be sure to ask how long they will stay there. If there’s a time limit, be sure to backup your online images asap.

If you’re a budding digital photographer yourself, you’ll want to request the original raw image files. These files are best for working in Photoshop and other editing softwares, and are extremely huge compared to .jpegs. So be prepared to burn a few CD/DVDs, or use a large external hard drive/flash drive, to store the information.

Specify style and type of the picture

You’ll have to option to enhance your photos in some ways. This may be during the shoot, or done later as an after effect or touch up in photo editing software.

If your photographer uses film, they’ll need to know if the picture should be black and white, sepia tone, wide angle, etc. If the photographer is shooting in digital, many of these effects can be added later, however it’s still good practice to make sure you’re photographer is working with your requirements in mind.

Make a backup plan

The wedding photographer will be an integral part of the wedding day therefore it’s imperative that they show up on time as requested. However, no amount of preparation can prevent certain circumstances, so you’ll need to work out a contingency plan should the worst happen.

First, ask about backup equipment should anything fail.

Then figure out an alternative option with your photographer. It is likely that they already have a backup staff and should be able to provide you with an emergency number for another photographer.

Ask about liability insurance

Most wedding studios will be covered by their own insurance. It’s important to ask this because if a guest trips over the photographer’s equipment and hurts themselves, you may be held liable since you hired that person.

Some venues will request that all your professionals be insured, so be sure to ask in advance.

Ask about overtime

Everyone from the wedding planner to the guests will want the wedding to run in a timely manner. But when everyone’s having so much fun, it can be hard to stop the celebrations from continuing.

Be sure to ask how many hours your photographer will be present, and if they charge over time, how much it costs. The last thing you’ll want is the photographer to pack up and go home when everyone’s just starting to let loose at the party!

Review the contract

Your wedding photographer will supply you with a contract. It is important that you review the document in detail before signing. Make sure there are no hidden policies that work against your expectations. If something is not clear, seek legal advice from a professional who will be able to explain any legal terms you might not understand.

Thailand Wedding Photographer

When it comes to choosing a wedding photographer for your wedding in Thailand, we at Thailand-Wedding-Planning have partnered with a wide range of wedding studios and professional wedding photographers. If you would like to find out more about our wedding photographers, please contact us at: contact@thailand-wedding-planning.com