Understanding a little bit about photography equipment, styles of shooting, and how Palm Springs photographers charge will pay big dividends during negotiations.
It may not be immediately obvious that there’s a lot riding on the line when it comes to your wedding photography, but think about it. Five, ten, or fifty years from now, the only lasting piece of your wedding that you will possess will be the photographs taken and given to you by your photog.
Choosing the ideal Palm Springs wedding photographer isn’t easy because the photographic style (e.g., traditional, photojournalist, natural, or artistically retouched) that appeals to one bride may not appeal to another. That means that there is no perfect formula you can follow to find a gay wedding photographer you’ll love.
Photography is unlike any other service provided by wedding vendors because it is an art form and not a science, and there are so many different ways to produce beautiful wedding photographs. For example, film photography and digital photography both have their charms. Traditionally posed wedding photos are stunning when framed, but the photojournalist pics of the reception will be so much more compelling in a few years.
That said, no matter what style of wedding photography matches your matrimonial personality, you have the right to expect certain things from your wedding photographer. Barring unforeseen emergencies, they need to show up – or an agreed-upon substitute needs to show up – on time, with equipment and back-up equipment, and often at least one assistant. Your wedding photographer needs to deliver proofs within an agreed upon period of weeks and then deliver your prints and albums within an agreed upon period of months. And that means proofs, prints, and albums that look like what you asked for, whether that was heavily retouched artistic images or natural, gritty true-to-life ones.
This is one area where it is super important to get referrals – even satisfied clients may let slip that the photographer was in the way during the ceremony or stealthily sat down to a leisurely meal during the buffet reception. And look beyond the usual portfolio of perfect images filled with gorgeous brides and grooms. Many wedding photographers will let you look at the online albums of previous clients (which are often public anyway) so you can see what a real wedding, with real people, looks like as shot by them. These will give you a much better idea of what your wedding photos will ultimately look like.
Remember, that no amount of talent can compensate for a photographer who disregards your list of must-have shots, is distracted during important moments like the first dance and cake cutting, or worse, simply ignores the fact that they are shooting what is one of the most important events in the lives of multiple people and instead treats your wedding like a personal art project.