Common Mistakes Most Couples Make While Hiring A Wedding Photographer

Every couple aspires for their wedding to be a picture-perfect affair. And, they leave no stone unturned to turn this dream into a reality. They look for the most exotic venue, hire the best vendors, select the most beautiful outfits, and everything else, which helps them to make their wedding truly memorable. However, when it comes to hiring a wedding photographer, not every couple might end up making the best decision because of their lack of knowledge about this art. In fact, there are a few mistakes, which most couples usually make while hiring their photographer.

Well, this can be a real spoiler in any couple’s dreams of having a perfect wedding, since, only the wedding pictures preserve the memories of this beautiful day. So, here are some common mistakes you must avoid, which most couples make while hiring a wedding photographer.

1. Prioritizing products (Albums) over the quality of the photography

You might have a limited budget, and there is nothing wrong with that. This still does not mean you need to compromise on the quality of the pictures. There are ways to work around a small budget. For one, I believe it is better to have a bunch of great pictures in the drawer than an album of mediocre images. Skip the album for now. Get the pictures and make an album later. Even if you make it a year later it is still fine. Relax and look at what is important. Focus on the quality of the photography rather than the products you get right now

2. Not Sticking to the Finalized Schedule

Pay attention and respect the schedule you and your photographer discuss prior to your wedding. Being an hour late can make or break your images. Don’t just assume it only takes 10 minutes!

3. Don’t Make the Mistake of Overlooking the Photographer’s Personality

The number one mistake to avoid when hiring a wedding photographer is to listen to everyone else. Your best friend might have loved her photographer, and your cousin probably swears by hers. So you met with both of them and their pictures seem good enough. But did you like them? Your photographer will be with you all day, so it’s important you get along with them and enjoy their company. Your instincts will tell you a whole lot!

4. Interfering in his work

Many couples tend to give their suggestions to the photographer while getting themselves shot. What’s worse? They even reject the photographer’s ideas at times, and compel them to do the things the way they feel is right. You have to understand that your photographer is a pro in his work, and hence, is well aware of how to give you the best wedding photographs. By dictating your own terms, you might just end up irking him; the result of which, can lead to you getting the mediocre quality pictures.

5. Letting Relatives Get in the Way

We have a name in the industry for a guest who shows up with pro photo equipment and takes ‘unofficial wedding photos’—we call him Uncle Bob. Uncle Bob may think he’s doing you a favor by taking more shots for the couple, but usually he just gets in the way and makes us miss our shots. Tell Bob to leave the camera at home and just enjoy his time at the wedding without working.

6. Last Minute Bookings & Disappointment

You have set your budget for your photography, you have maximized it the best you can so you can afford the best photographer you can get. All ticks so far, however you leave it, you don’t make a decision and then when you realize you still need to hire someone, you can be left disappointed when the wedding photographers you wished you had hired are fully booked on your day.

As with your wedding venue, as soon as the wedding venue and the date is confirmed, you should be booking your wedding photographer. No matter what your budget the best wedding photographers will be taking bookings up to 2 years in advance, so don’t wait a couple of months before your big day and be surprised they are booked up.

Our advice is as soon as you have your date and venue, find your perfect wedding photographer and get them booked.

7. Not signing a legal contract

This is yet another mistake that many couples often make while hiring a wedding photographer- not signing a legal contract. Remember, whatever you decide and agree on with your wedding photographer should be put down in writing in a legal contract. This will save a lot of misunderstandings and help sort out issues that could potentially arise at a later stage. The agreement should mention the agreed number of days/hours of work, the number of edited/unedited images, the maximum delivery time, liability, ownership of the images, usage rights, payment terms, etc.

8. Put your phone away

Always an interesting topic but we feel wedding photos can easily be ruined by shots of the bride and groom walking down the isle to a sea of camera phones being held up too. Weather you ask your guests not to do it or not, perhaps ask them to have a cut off point, you can take photos if you wish up to this time, then please put your phone and camera away and enjoy the rest of the day with us. Have you considered an unplugged wedding?