Maine Wedding Photographer – Blush Imagery » Maine Wedding Photographer

With Spring comes my future brides. I love it! Right now, I am happy and busy hosting 2011 couples in the studio. Couples come in excited! They also come in confused from all the price lists and brochures they’ve gathered. They bring their horror stories too. Tales of photographers of their past; the senior photographer who did them wrong in the 90′s, their sister’s wedding guy who never showed up, and then the replacement lady who did show up but took a smoke break during the couple’s first dance. You name it, I’ve heard it!

Digital cameras have made photography accessible to the masses and to many amateur photographers looking for a fast buck with wedding photography.  When shopping for a  professional you need to be a savvy consumer to find the real pros. Photography is a subjective art . It is not always  easy to tell true professionals. Below, I give you insider tips into the wedding photography industry so you can tell the difference — just by looking at their online portfolios. Some portfolios may look similar to you until you know a few tricks.

If you visit popular wedding sites like Wedding Wire or The Knot, you will find a typical list questions to ask your photography vendors. Use this list when actually meeting or interviewing your top photographer choices. Professional photographers know these answers by heart, they’ll expect you to ask them and be ready with that info in their presentations already.

First though, how do you pick from the hundreds of photographers online to interview?

Here’s a few insider tips to help you analyze online photography portfolios and find your best Maine wedding photographer:

1. Websites. In the wedding photography industry, it is affordable (as low as $100) and easy to get a nice looking website. Most photographers have something better on the web than say your dentist. In our industry, we are taught to market well. A snazzy website can easily distract from the photographer’s actual wedding images. Don’t let it. A photographer’s photo work should inspire you. If you like the design and style of their website too, that is icing on a cake.

2. Images. The photographer’s portfolio images may flip, spin, float or slide on his / her website. It doesn’t matter. Pictures should be technically fantastic and provoke emotion.  The first 15 pictures online may look amazing. How do images 15  – 40 look? Images 40-60? Still in love or did it go down hill after a few? You should also see over 20 modern and different brides within the portfolio. That tells you the photographer does a lot of great wedding work. If you see just one bride in the portfolio, that probably means it was a family member or friend. You found an amateur and you should probably should move on.

3. Bio Info. Photographer’s bio information is very telling. Often times, a photographer’s biography starts with how he / she has just loved taking photos since the age of 12. Architects probably loved to draw since they were 5 but they still need a degree and training. The same applies for photography. Make sure your photographer has a degree, trained as an assistant, worked at another studio, or took some form of workshop / professional training. Professional photography organizations are part of continuing education too in our industry. If your photographer is active in both wedding and photography organizations, that’s a great thing! Last, make sure their work is captured with only with professional cameras. He / she should have at least 3 pro cameras in case of emergency.

4. Blog. Does the photographer you are surfing have a blog that is current and active? This is a great indicator of a pro. Pros love to share their experiences and great images with their wedding couples. It will show you how consistent their photo work is outside of their portfolio. You will see their most current images too.

5. Social Media. Check out a photographer’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. Is the mood positive and professional? Be lenient. Keep in mind, people say funny things on social media. I Tweeted once that “I needed more cowbell!” — just an inside joke from a Saturday Night Live sketch. That’s fine and fun. No problem. Here’s my BIG concern. I have actually seen photographers complain about their clients, announce that they ruined a couple’s images and even went to a wedding job intoxicated. Wow, busted! That is not a professional.

6. Timely responses. Good business is good business. Make sure a photographer responds to your information requests in a timely manner before you hand them a retainer fee. Information packets should be organized and their should be contract clear. Emails and calls should be returned. Simple.

7. Pricing. A photographer may not allow you to see their price list until you request it. Don’t be shy. Fill out that contact form to receive their price list. It doesn’t mean you’re in for a big sales pitch. In fact, you’ll probably just get a price list emailed back to you instantly. Your interest is typically logged and checked back on — most likely just once and via email.

If the photographer you are contacting happens to be booked, he / she may suggest another similar-style photographer or an associate photographer of their studio that you didn’t know yet. All good things.

When you receive the price lists back from the photographers who are available for your wedding date, narrow the list down to the photographers who fit your budget. It is very true: you get what you pay for in wedding photography. Pro photographers who hire for $4000 + are typically pretty darn fabulous, educated, involved, active— the complete package. They have to be in order to fill their wedding season at that high of a rate. (Full disclosure: I charge this rate, but my very well qualified associates are in a mid price range.)

The middle-of-the-road-photographers become a little more confusing. Let’s say you like five photographers who are all charging a basic fee of say $2,000 – $3000 per a full 8 hour wedding. Review them each again. Follow the guidelines I set in steps 1 – 6. The hard facts will lead you to the best professional. You’ll find wonderful professional choices you can trust. More importantly, you will avoid the johnny-come-lately with no experience or training but still charges $3000! The nerve!

Finally, interview your top 2-3 on the phone or in person. Either way is fine. Consider their personality, communication skills and their package offerings like albums, negatives and services. You’re now on your way to securing a fine Maine photography professional for your wedding day!