10 Tips and Ideas - Choosing Your Wedding Photographer

Jeff Lite is the owner of DayjaLite Photo Productions, an award winning and published professional photography company that has photographed 100’s of weddings and events over the 18 years they have been in business in Las Vegas and Laughlin, NV, Bullhead City, Kingman and Lake Havasu, AZ.

Number 10 - Venue:   Let's start with the location you chose for your wedding. It makes our top 10 because it is very important to be aware that more often than not, an on-site venue coordinator has a photographer friend or someone they might receive a money kickback from. And this photographer will be on the top of their "preferred vendor" list and the coordinator will suggest or recommend that you book their friend. Also, many venues have a photographer built in their package and/or may charge you a fee to bring in an outside photographer. If so, make sure you meet with their photographer BEFORE you book the venue, and make sure you can confidently check off each item on this list. Think twice and choose wisely, Interview 3-5 photographers that you may like from your googling and make an educated decision from there.

 

Number 9 - Credibility:   Look closely, does the photographer or photography company have a good website?, business email address? (not gmail / yahoo, etc ), do they have current activity on their social media accounts?, are they knowledgeable of your venue?, do they know other wedding professionals that you may have already booked??? (notice I didn't say "vendor". You aren't buying a hotdog from a cart at the fair, LOL).  Make sure your photographer is credible! "Photographers" pop up everyday and disappear everyday. Do some homework to make sure they will be in business when your wedding happens?

 

 

Number 8 - Reputation: Remember what I just mentioned above, will the photographer be in business when you're wedding happens?  Make sure your photographer or photography company has a positive reputation and history of years in business, interaction with many venues and other wedding professionals and their clients. There is no guarantee and any business could close at anytime, but the chance of that happening is slim when you hire an established reputable company and/or photographer.  Again, do some googling, add your photographer as a FB friend and keep an eye on their IG feed. It will be worth a few minutes of your time.

 

 

Number 7 - Reviews:   Believe it or not way too many reviews is as fishy as too few.  Look for reviews that are clearly written by the actual client, you can tell...  Does the review just gush over the person and tell you what you must do? Or is it a heartfelt comment on their experience?

 

 

 

Number 6 - Experience:   Although this is #6, the photographer's experience is vital to the quality of YOUR overall experience. An experienced photographer's images will be near great without "photoshop".  An inexperienced photographer will rely heavily on "editing" and/or charge for editing to fix their finished product. The experience of the photographer also goes way beyond the quality of the images, experience includes how that photographer adapts to potential changing circumstance during your wedding or reception. Experience also means an eye for style, seeing what others don't see, maturity, what's behind you, etc. Experience is acquired, not everyone has it.

 

 

The Top 5 starts with Price :   Do not hire the cheapest or most expensive.  Let's be realistic, "$299" to photograph your entire wedding and reception... And the most expensive isn't always the best... for you.  Pricing is tricky, because some photographers bundle services into an all-inclusive package.  While others will price everything a la-carte.  So make sure to agree on a final price, what that includes and what the pricing is if you want the photographer to stay a couple hours longer or arrive a couple hours earlier.  Also, make sure your photographer will take care of you...  If you book them until 9:00pm and your cake cutting gets pushed to 9:05pm are they gonna be happy to stay and capture your cake cutting or are they going to stand there looking at their watch and asking for more money???  Also, if that photographer goes above and beyond expectations, offer him or her a tip or gratuity.  Any amount is much appreciated.

 

 

Number 4 - What's included/expected:   I hinted a bit about this topic, what's included in the price? Make 100% sure you are clear on your expectations of the photographer and the photographer's expectations of you, and vice-versa... if that's a thing.  Do you expect the photographer to dress appropriately? Don't assume they will, make sure you know what they will wear on your wedding day. Some photographers show up with carts full of gear and those carts, containers and gear are usually in the way and/or appear in your pictures...  Also, does your photographer expect you to provide a list of poses or do they know what to do. This may sound simple enough, but I've heard story after story of, I wish the photographer took this or that picture. Is the photographer pro-active and will make things happen during formals and your reception or will they stand around and wait for something to do?  Just make sure you have a clear understanding of expectations before it's too late.

 

 

Number 3 - Comfort:   HUH?  What does comfort have to do with anything??? A ton, that's why it's in the top 3...  Your photographer, male or female, will potentially be with you when you're getting ready, (BTW-does that photographer have an assistant of the opposite gender?), when you are sharing your vows with your husband, with your family during formals and probably there the entire night during your reception.  Are you comfortable with your photographer or is he or she a bit shady or boring???  You must be comfortable with your photographer as he/she must be comfortable with you.

 

 

Number 2 - Personality/Trust:  I don't think I need to say much about the trust factor, I think you can take it from here with that one...  BUT, personality is one of the most important things to consider when hiring a photographer. This person(s) will be with you and your closest friends and family for many hours on the biggest day of your life, your wedding.  Your photographer will be interacting with everyone at your reception and will be one of only a few up near the alter during your ceremony, so choose wisely.  Is the photographer you like full of personality, sense of humor, style and someone you'd invite to your wedding? Yes?, then hire them.

 

 

Number 1 - Have FUN:   This is your wedding day!  It's not about the party favors, the ribbon on the cake or the freshness of the flowers...  It's about you, your Fiancé and your forever commitment to each other. Everyone else is there to witness your bond and have a free dinner... HaHaHa!!!  Things will be hectic at the beginning and a blur in the morning, so breathe deep and take it all in with a huge smile on your face. Enjoy your wedding day and have fun!!!  Who really cares if the center pieces are the wrong color???  And let the sensational photographer and other wedding professionals you hired do their job. They will be there the entire way capturing your precious moments for you to cherish for a lifetime.  Congratulations!!!

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DayjaLite Photo Productions -  we are an award winning and published professional photography company, and have photographed 100’s of weddings and events over the 18 years we have been in business in Las Vegas and Laughlin, NV and Bullhead City, Kingman and Lake Havasu, AZ. So you and your guests can feel confident we will be there for you now and in the future. Our dedicated team of professionals are not the typical or mainstream type of photographers, our team's work ethic, eye for style, fun personalities and our relentless commitment to our clients is far from typical or mainstream. Rest assured, with 9 consecutive years of Wedding Wire industry awards and multiple awards from The Knot, along with the countless 5 Star reviews and 100’s of thank you letters and referrals we’ve received, we are on the top shelf of quality, value and personal attention to our clients, all at a fair price.

Jeff Lite, Owner

702-301-5555  |  jeff@dayjalitephoto.com

Website ~ dayjalitephoto.com

Facebook ~ @dayjalitephoto   my personal FB page ~ @jefflite

Twitter ~ @dayjalitephoto

Instagram ~ @dayjalitephoto

60+ 5 Star Reviews on Wedding Wire ~ DayjaLite Photo Productions-Las Vegas

#dayjalitephoto

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