The most important thing to consider when choosing a Wedding Photographer NYC is to choose someone whom you like and with whom you are comfortable. You will spend the entire day with your photographer. You must not feel hurried, controlled or uncomfortable with your photographer. Even though you are a nice and considerate person, you are not there to please your photographer. He is there to please you by getting the best photographs possible of you on your wedding day. Please don’t take this the wrong way. A pushy bride is as bad as a pushy photographer. If the two of you work together from your pre-wedding consultation to you departing on your honeymoon you will receive beautiful photographs from your day.
After you have chosen the style photography you like, you must find a photographer who photographs well in that style. Most people call a photographer and ask “How much do you charge?”. People ask this because they don’t know what else to ask. While that is a perfectly reasonable thing to want to know, it tells you nothing about your wedding photography. A better question to ask is “Can you tell me how you photograph a wedding?” You need to review the photographer’s portfolio of past work and ask questions. You have never done this before. You should not be expected to know all the answers. As in all things, do not assume.
You need to discuss what your plans are for your wedding. Talk about the details of your day and ask questions about how your photographer will handle them. Some brides are extremely organized and others are “free spirits”. Regardless of your personality or your life’s philosophy you really do need to make all the important decisions about your photography well in advance of your arrival at your wedding site. Why waste time on one of the most important days of your life trying to decide who should be in the group photographs? Did you forget to tell the photographer that there will be a Unity Candle, etc?
You need to have a face to face meeting, or phone to phone discussion if there is a distance consideration, with your photographer. An experienced photographer should be able to talk with you and guide you through the process of deciding things. There is a general sequence to most weddings and your photographer usually approaches these events in a given way. You need to go over things so that you both understand if you have made any changes or added any special events such as a special speaker or presenting flowers to the bride’s and groom’s mothers, etc. The photographer can then plan for anything he needs to be ready for.
You need to discuss even the most mundane, common sense things about how your day will go. When do you want your photographer to start? Do you want photographs of you and your bridesmaid at the stylist while you get your hair done? Do you want photographs of your departure after the reception? Are there restrictions set by the church as from where the photographer may photograph? Ask the minister and tell the photographer. Most non-religious venues have no restrictions since you are renting the space but churches vary widely.
What “must have” people or groups need to be photographed at your wedding? Special aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. Was your veil worn by your mother at her wedding? Your photographer does not know the people who are most special to you so be sure to assign a trusted friend to carry a list of the groups you wanted photographed and be in charge of gathering them together before the ceremony, after the ceremony or at the reception. Make sure that you alert those people that you want them to be in photographs and when and where to be.
