With the dawn of the digital age, websites like Facebook and Instagram have definitely played a major role in our loving relationship with images. Be it still or moving, we are always attracted to the beauty and story behind every picture.
As soon as your significant other finally popped the question, most of the time, the first question would be “Who will be our Photographer / Videographer?” I guess there will always be a sudden gush of excitement once you know that it will be your turn to be in front of that camera doing the things that you’ve always imagined as you scroll through your newsfeed and stalking the wall of your friends who recently got married.
Choosing a photo and video team is not an easy task I know. Because choosing your suppliers is like selecting a partner that you are confident will never fail you and that is why every detail is crucial. And as soon as you decide to book that Wedding Photographer and Videographer, you are not just giving them your time and money but most importantly you are entrusting them with documenting one of the greatest days of your lives.
As soon as you open your Facebook, you might feel overwhelmed with the thousands of photographers and videographers to choose from. And to somehow help you with your decision, I have compiled 5 things that you should consider in choosing your wedding photographer and videographer.
1. Style
I tried to google “wedding photographer Philippines” and got about 13.5 Million results! Imagine going through those leads one by one, you’ll be spending a lifetime before you can find your perfect photographer. So instead of searching for a general type of photographer why not choose them by style?
Every studio has their own style to offer which they’ve mastered for years. This is what separates them from every other studio so it’s best to start from here.
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY STYLES:
- Traditional / Classic Wedding Photography
- Fine Art / Light and Bright
- Artistic / Dark and Moody
- Photojournalistic / Documentary
- Lifestyle
- Fashion / Editorial
WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHY STYLES:
- Cinematic
- Storytelling
- Journalistic
- Artistic
- Fashion / Editorial
I’ll dive into this further on my next blog so don’t forget to sign up! 😉
2. Quality of Work
As soon as you’ve determined what style you want, it’s time to do a little more digging and check the studio’s quality of work. You can visit their websites or pages for samples or even drop by during Bridal fairs to get a glimpse of the wedding albums that they offer.
This way you can see if they have executed their style well and if the quality of pictures and videos meets your standard. You can also ask if they have already been to one of the places/ churches that you’re eyeing to see better samples of how they documented the wedding in that place.
3. Attention to Details
Another great thing to review is the studio’s attention to small details. Check out their detail shots of the rings, the gown, suit, flowers, table set up etc. if they are styled and well presented – as my brides would call “pinterest-ready.”
You’ve allocated your time, money and effort in preparing and choosing your wedding details so it’s just about right that they also get their own spotlight during your wedding day. This is also perfect for DIY couples, make sure that the PV team that you will choose can do your crafts some justice.
Â
4. Budget
You might be wondering why I placed this important detail second to the last and I will tell you why.
The moment you set your budget is the moment that you are closing your doors to options. So before you have a firm discussion of how much your budget for Photo and Video services is, it’s best to know the price of your “ideal photo and video team.”
Unfortunately, some people still undervalue the role that we play at weddings. They forget to allocate enough in order to secure a trustworthy team which then later leads to regrets. This is the reason why doing steps one to three is essential so you can learn more about what you really like and know more about the industry prices in order to prepare the right budget that wouldn’t break your bank.
5. Recommendations / Feedbacks
I asked my husband what he can add to my list and this one made me giggle – feedbacks. His analogy is whenever we shop in Lazada / Shopee the first thing that we always check is feedbacks.
Is it a good product? Is the quality nice? Is it worth the price? Etc.
Almost all of those questions are answered in the feedback/recommendations section. These are all raw and unbiased comments from previous clients who gave us a peak of what we can expect working with these suppliers. You can check their recommendations / feedbacks on their websites or facebook pages.
Another great place to see client comments are inside groups like Weddings@Work (W@W) and other Wedding Supplier Forums. Here you can join a community of soon-to-be’s who might share the same worries as yours. They will help you feel empowered as you go through your whole wedding preparations.
I know, choosing your Wedding Photographer / Videographer can be nerve-racking but don’t put too much pressure on it! Imagine, with billions and billions of people in the world, still you were able to find your soulmate – decisions like these should be easy-peasy!
Whenever my clients approach me feeling torn about supplier what I always tell them is to view pictures and watch Same – Day – Edits with a fresh eye and just be in the moment. By the time they feel like they are watching themselves in that screen, picturing their own take on their own engagement or wedding pictures that is the time that they’ll know they found the one.
“You’ll know when you know.”
Congratulations once again on your engagement and may you find the perfect photographer/videographer for your wedding!
