What Every Photographer Wishes You Knew...

Ever wonder what a photographer would tell you after three glasses of wine? Well, here it is – WM’s uncut and uncensored conversation with some of the area’s best wedding photographers. Read on to learn how you’ll get the best service, why their services cost what they do, and how you can make their job easier and your photos the best that they can be!

Common myths about wedding photographers
You hire them for just a few hours, right? At $2,000 to $8,000 per event, they are the best-paid hourly professionals you’ve met. In reality, photographers put in many more hours than you see on the event day. “A wedding photographer works extremely hard to document your wedding thoroughly. Besides the actual time photographing the wedding day, a photographer also spends another 20 to 30 hours working on the wedding,” says Gary Allen. “Whether its organizing negatives, handling reprints, assembling/designing albums, or meeting with clients. When a photographer sets a fee, it includes all of these other duties and tasks too.”

According to many photographers, many brides are afraid that photographers are trying to take advantage of them. “They are afraid that photographers will try to screw them over – to be really frank. I think they come to us thinking they should be skeptical,” said one Triangle photographer who did not want to be quoted.

When photographers meet with brides they are often frustrated by the assumption that photographing a wedding takes little time and talent. Many report being frustrated by the numerous magazine articles and Internet articles that convince brides that wedding vendors are out to scam them. “By and large, most wedding photographers are hard working, honest professionals. And they are working very hard on behalf of their clients,” says Julie Berry, wedding photographer in Raleigh. So how should you approach a photographer? “Interview him or her with an open mind, and then be thorough about checking references,” says Berry.

Many photographers also find that brides misunderstand the true differences between professional quality digital photography and film photography. “The most common misunderstanding we see is a bride's fear of digital photography. The digital field has come so far; it provides beautiful images for the bride, and so many more options than film. And yes, you can print large images that look as good, if not better than film!” says Scott Faber of Scott Faber Photography.

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