Choosing a Photographer and Videographer

As your wedding day draws closer, you will have spent tireless hours on the finer details of your special day. Now, you need someone to help capture the people and things that make your wedding day unique.

• Where do you start looking?
• Do you really need a professional?
• Why do prices vary so much?

The Search
There are a lot of great photographers and videographers in the Central Minnesota area. Each company has its own style and unique way of doing things. Ask to look at examples from past weddings they have shot. Pay attention to the style and quality of the images. Can you picture yourself in the photos or video? Would you be happy with their final product?

Narrow your search based on research in magazines, Web sites and bridal fairs. Contact a few different companies to set-up meetings. You will want to make sure your photographer and videographer are people you can get along with. Remember, you will be spending a large portion of your wedding day with these people!

Be sure to ask questions about their experience level, delivery timelines, payments & contracts and the final product. Do you have rights to the final images or raw video? Who will be the actual people shooting your wedding?

Hiring Professionals
Aunt Sally just bought her own digital camera and really wants to save you some money and shoot your wedding for free. While this may sound appealing, it may end up costing you more in the long-run.

Professional photographers and videographers shoot weddings for a living. They have experience in getting unique angles and know how to anticipate shots that Aunt Sally couldn’t dream of. Professionals know how to work with wedding parties and properly pose and frame shots. They also carry an arsenal of professional lights, filters, microphones and tripods to obtain the best possible images and sound from your wedding.

Friends and family may have good intentions of saving you money, remember this is your wedding day. You will only walk down the aisle once with this person- and you don’t want to look back and remember your wedding day as being unfocused and out-of-frame.

Investment
It is important to frame the purchase of your photographer or videographer as an investment. Remember, these are the images you will hold onto for the rest of your life. The cost of this investment varies quite a bit; depending on a variety of factors.

This investment can vary depending on experience level of the photographer/videographer, equipment used, location of the company and coverage options. Some companies charge by the hour- and others may charge by the day. Compare all of the factors that matter most to you- and determine who you can trust and who can provide you the best value.

Remember, not all photo and video packages are created equally. Be sure to ask questions and see what is included- and what is extra. Some companies may throw in “extras” that other companies charge for. Ask to see a copy of their contract and read all of the fine-print before making your decision.