What You Need to Know to Get the Right Photographer - It's Not What You Think

You're looking for a photographer for your Big Day- you've seen lots of websites, priced a few of the ones you liked better, maybe got some quotes. But unless you have worked with a lot of photographers or have some background in art, you may be finding it pretty hard to compare the photographers and the different packages they offer you. 

Which is why the final decision often comes down to price.

Is low price a good way to choose the photographer who you will entrust with your most precious memories? Obviously not. So is the best way to choose to compare the portfolios of different wedding photographers? 

Not really...Nobody displays their poor work and failures, although some people who don't have enough work to show (or enough quality work) actually post other people's photos on their websites and claim it as their own. Some get caught, but a lot get away with it.

If  you can't go by samples on the web and if price is not the answer, how can you sift the good wedding photographers from the dross? What about positive reviews and recommendations? Trust them if you can view the originals or can talk to the people who are supposed to have supplied them, otherwise they are like photos on a website - and just as no one puts up their dud photos, nobody posts their BAD reviews. 

Qualifications? Experience? Professional equipment? It's not about any of those things. In reality, a positive wedding photography experience depends on a number of factors which have little to do with photography. One of these is a professional approach to the business of wedding photography -  diligence in ensuring their business can deliver what you ask includes things like paying appropriate taxes, and maintaining the right levels and kinds of insurance, and being prompt and reliable with appointments and communications. 

Hire a company or an individual nine months out from your wedding and you want to be sure they will still be in business when the time comes to take your photos. I know it costs 

me just under $1000 per wedding to pay the bills that keeps my business in business. Other photographers will have different cost structures, but I'd be wary of anyone who isn't charging enough. They may or may not be able to use a camera, but they aren't making enough to pay for repairs and maintenance or back-up equipment; and if something can possibly go wrong.... 

Once you are satisfied your potential photographer is professional in the business sense, you will probably want to know if they are professional in the other sense. That is hard, but they should at least be accredited by one of the major Photography bodies. For wedding photographers, that means  The Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP) or Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI). 

There are no licensing systems or laws that require a photographer to join these bodies, but anyone who wants you to take their claim of professionalism seriously should be a Member of one or other (better yet, a Licentiate of higher). Although not specifically a Wedding organisation, Membership of, the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers  also marks a committed professional photographer.

You can quiz photographers on all these things and they can show you evidence of their professionalism - their time in the business, their indemnity insurances, their Memberships. But even this doesn't cover the one thing that, more than any other, determines whether or not you will have a positive photography experience on your wedding day. That falls to you, because t

he most significant factor contributing to a great wedding photography result is the quality of the relationship between photographer and client. 

The photographer's technical and artistic technique contributes maybe 20% to the images you receive, and you probably contribute about the same in terms of your expectations and the clarity of the way you express what you want to your photographer. The other 60% comes down to the strength of the relationship between the wedding photographer and the wedding party, especially the bride. 

So how do you find that right photographer?

The simple answer is to find someone with whom you are comfortable. Photographers are not just technicians. Photography is a uniquely interpersonal process. You are the best judge of the quality of that relationship. Be choosey.

Give yourself enough time to see how you feel with them. Use the phone rather than less personal communications like email or texting. Meet them face to face only after you have a bit of a "feel" for who they are, and don't spend all your time with them talking about the mechanics of the job.

Your wedding is a life affirming, often life-changing event. Choose wisely and your wedding photographer will capture emotions and memories because they are empathically part of your wedding day - the best anyone else will do is just take pictures.

A Wedding Gown Trick You Should Know

 First, an Admission ~! I am NOT the sort of man who is into (big F) Fashion. I'm a bit blokey, really, and if you find a heap of dog-eared Vogue or Marie Claire mags on the back seat of my car, that's research.  Except when it comes to wedding and bridesmaid gowns.... I am constantly amazed by the gowns that brides choose, and the way they wear them; again and again, wedding after wedding, I see  brides turn these lifeless pieces of fabric into Works of Art by the simple process of draping themselves in them.

Of course, putting on wedding dresses is often more complex than "draping" yourself, and it's a wise bride who learns the process from her dressmaker or supplier, and makes sure that her Bridesmaids and her Mother learn how to fit and form the gown to her. Without some practice it takes a long time, and often several tries to get it right. Some brides have an experienced fitter attend their preparations just to ensure this goes without a hitch (so to speak) and it seems to me a good investment. Your seamstress, dress shop or wedding supplier may offer this service.

What has this to do with ruining your wedding day? Not so much - a bit of a delay in getting to the Ceremony is no disaster. The problem is that, simple gowns aside,  a wedding dress is unlike any other gown you are likely to wear.  It tends to be heavy, especially if it has petticoats and underskirts and hoops....Even more if it has a built-in foundation garment, or requires you to wear one. Add a train and you add to the effort of bearing up under the weight of it; not for just an hour or so - Even if your change into a "going away" outfit, you will be carrying that beautiful weight with you for perhaps 10 to 12 hours!


There will be consequences! Even on a cool day, you will feel the heat.  more than just feeling warm, you are likely to perspire;  what that does to your make-up is not the big thing. You can repair that; but the way a dress is draped and worn, the real problem is  going on ~ to be delicate - lower down.

My mother always insisted that animals sweat, men  perspire, but ladies only glow...well this is a case wherethe glow is intense! It takes place between your legs, and it can leave you  with a painful rash that might spoil your first dance and that you really don't want to take on your honeymoon!

So Do This: before  you put on the dress, apply a layer of anti-chafing gel - Lanacane, Monistat or the like - you can get them from most chemists and make-up outlets; if you can't get it  for some reason, talcum powder is a worthwhile substitute - a puff between your thighs will avoid chaffing, If it has an antiperspirant, that's good, too ~ and I promise not to photograph this particular part of your preparations!

When Should You Book Your Wedding Photographer?

I had a phone call this morning from a bride-to-be; she wanted a quote for her wedding photography. Nothing unusual in that; but her wedding day is in the first week of December, and that raises three problems.

First, it is just four months away, and if that seems a long way off, you have to realise that the majority of quality wedding photographers are booked as soon as the wedding day is set - most of my weddings are committed nine to eighteen months ahead, so three months is cutting it very fine;

The second problem is that people want to get married in the warmer months of the year - in Sydney (Australia), that's from September through until the end of March. March is the most popular single month for marriages in this country, but more than half of all marriages take place in the spring - the start of September to the early weeks of December-  so looking for a good photographer at this time of year means looking earlier, not later.

The hectic pace for a wedding photographer during those busy months leads to the last problem a couple might face if they choose to marry in December: many of us take a very-well-earned break in December. With a significant amount of post-processing, album design and other fulfillment tasks to complete from the dozen or so weddings we've just completed, the first weeks of  December are very hectic and we are not going to take on even more clients whose work we need to complete over the Christmas period. The rest of the month, with the holiday season upon us, we devote to family.

Does that mean you'll never get a photographer if you leave the booking this late? Not really - anybody with a half-way decent camera seems happy to call themselves a wedding photographer these days, so websites like Serviceseeking, Gumtree and Craiglist can provide quotes from $50 an hour "photographers" who will be more than happy to offer you their services. THere are some quality photographers booking through these sites too,  but the chance of finding one who is free at such short notice is remote.
Of course, there is always the possibility of finding a photographer with an opening due to a cancellation - they do come up. But really, if you know anyone getting married soon, you should be encouraging them to book their photographer as soon as they can. And if you are tying the knot next year, either choose a  less popular time (June or July) or book your photography now!

Top Wedding Photo Bargains for Brides and Grooms

Discounts are not a very good way to attract brides and grooms who want quality wedding photography. Cheap and good are not really compatible. But there are some complementary services we offer from time to time which add true value to your wedding day and can save you money. If you are impatient to know what we can do, our most popular special offers as chosen by our couples, are listed towards the end of this post...scroll down!


Why do we do this? Wedding Photography is probably the least expensive professional photography to buy - but when you look at a quote for upwards of $3000 it sure doesn't seem that way.
Most of us only ever hire a professional photographer once or twice in a lifetime, and don't have anything much to go by when it comes to choosing our wedding photographer, which makes price one of the few standards we can use to compare them. But it's not a very good way. Low quotes usually mean amateurs making a few bucks on the weekend, or new photographers trying to break into the business. Very high quotes  may mean "famous" photographers capitalising on the fact that they shot Mariah Carey's wedding, or that they advertise in Harpers Bazaar wedding issue, or even that they didn't know how to price their work, so just copied some high-flyer's price list. 
Of course, many photographers do not publish prices. Quite rightly, they want to personalise their quote to your needs, expectations and budget. If you phone up and ask a panel beater how much to fix your car you are not likely to get a price until the workshop gets a good look at your car; same with a wedding quote.
Maybe a better way to think about it to begin with the average costs of wedding photography to see how your photographer lines up then look at what each offers for the money. But only compare quotes of photographers whose work your REALLY like.
What is the average? In Australia last year it was just shy of $4,000. That's about 9% of the total  average wedding spend of $36,000. Remember though - average doesn not mean that's what most people pay!  Many of my clients opt to pay less than $2000, but it takes just one high-end client wanting the Black Label package at $4900 to push the average  well above what most people invest, which is a bit over $2400.
This is the way I would look for a photographer if I was getting married... 12 months in advance of getting married I'd start looking for wedding photographers who regularly work in the area where I want to get married (local knowledge is very valuable). I'd start my search with phone listings like True Local and the Yellow Pages, then add wedding directories like Wedding Wire, Wedding.com.au, Snapknot.
I'd look through the information published on line in these sources and go on to the photographer's web sites of those I liked the look of. Along the way I'd be getting some idea of what the better photographers are charging and I'd begin to work out how to budget to be able to afford the kind of photographers I really want.
Budgeting is one reason I would begin at least 12 month out. The other reason is that if you left it much longer to book me, you would probably be too late. Most of my bookings are taken up in 9 to 18 months before the wedding day. You can improve your odds of getting your photographer by avoiding the busiest months - I always have to turn down half a dozen couples every September, October is even worse and November is always oversubscribed, too.
Most photographers don't try to take advantage of this heavy demand to price gouge; but knowing that these three months account for more than half of all wedding bookings should tell you that if you aren't ready to make a commitment (ie a deposit) you can't expect a photographer to hold the date while you shop around for a cheaper price.
It is frustrating when a couple who seem like a good fit for your style of wedding photography want to shop around; you don't want to seem like a pushy sales type, and you don't want to undermine the value of your work - your art. Different photographers have their own approaches: mine is to offer some valuable incentives. Doing this through partnerships with high-end wedding providers means that I can do this without significant cost to my business, because my partners get extra clients. Each of these incentives is popular, but some rate higher with more brides and grooms than others, and while we are always open to new ideas, these were the most popular in 2013-2014:

1. Free hair-styling and make-up from specialist wedding professionals

1. A smartphone app that lets you carry your wedding photos with you and share them phone to phone or via social media

1. A short DVD as a 'thank-you" for each member of your Bridal Party

1. Playing cards featuring your wedding photos on the back for your Bridal Party

1. A photo book for your parents (or others)  with your wedding album

Some previously popular items no longer interest our clients (digital photo frames) and I don't doubt there will be new ideas to ad, while some of these current favourites will drop off the top five... for instance, Photo Booths and Pre Wedding sessions are hovering just outside the top five.  

I'm interested to know how you these rate for you...leave me a comment!

Insure Your Wedding? Why?

Why are there so many brides and grooms taking out Wedding Insurance? One reason is that quite a few venues include a hiring agreement, which you have to sign, with an indemnity clause. It makes you responsible for any losses or damages resulting from your wedding; some even insist on you having you own liability insurance because they realise that most couples can not afford to make good the kind of losses they could face.

Really?? How much could that be? It isn't just that weddings are expensive, but they all carry what the law calls a Public and Products liability risk. Simply put, you can be held legally and financially responsible for yourself and all your invited guests. Even so, you can always look for a venue that doesn't insist on you taking out insurance for their benefit. Think on, though - there are some pretty good reasons to take out a wedding insurance policy to protect yourself... and it doesn't cost that much: read on...

I attend a lot of weddings, and I have rarely seen one that went just the way it was planned, with no little problems along the way: you have to plan for things going wrong: allow more time than you think you need; have an alternative location if the weather turns bad: you plan, you adjust, you cope. But I have seen a few major incidents, too - and a lot of things are beyond anyone’s control. When something unexpected does go wrong, it is frightening how quickly the costs can add up.

You can't insure against every possible eventuality - Nobody insures against a wedding cancelled because the groom got cold feet! But beyond this, for wedding couples - or their parents - who have lovingly planned every detail and budgeted down to the last penny, even a relatively small loss can be devastating, while a large loss or liability claim can be a financial disaster.

Think of it this way: the average wedding costs upwards of $30,000, making your “big day” probably the second biggest purchase an Aussie couple will make (after the family home). Protecting such a big emotional and financial investment against the unforeseen can not only give you peace of mind, but it can save you thousands of dollars if things do go wrong.

I'm not an insurance salesman, and I don't get any kickback from any insurer, so why do I sound so pessimistic about my favourite celebration? Because it doesn't matter if it's extreme weather, no-show vendors or some alcohol-related incident at the reception. What counts is having to cover the huge costs involved - such as damage to furniture and equipment, disputes with vendors (lawyers love these), and cancellation or postponement of your wedding.

Insurance policies designed especially for weddings covers things like loss of deposit and other expenses, cancellation and postponement costs caused by your booked venue being unavailable (they get flooded, catch fire - I know of one where renovators failed to complete their work on time and it couldn't be used).

 The worst possible scene - the death of the bride, groom and/or one of their immediate family members is such a terrible tragedy. But it's made even worse when the various vendors' bills start arriving for a wedding will never be held. And yes, I have seen something like this happen: a wedding postponed because a grandparent passed away shortly before the wedding day, and another when a wedding was moved at the last minute because a close family member became terminally ill and could not travel to the original destination. The family finished up paying for two weddings.

Less dramatic but equally costly- the bride, groom or someone else really important to the ceremony is hospitalised; or perhaps severe weather conditions prevent the bride and groom from getting to their wedding: BOTH these things actually happened to me personally! The Minister was to perform our wedding ceremony then accompany us to our garden party reception; except a cyclone blew the garden to pieces and the Minister had a hearty attack! Then things started to go really wrong!!!

Have you ever heard of a couple having a dispute with a wedding supplier? Wedding Insurers will negotiate for your legal rights if you get into a contractual dispute arising from an agreement which you have entered into for the buying or hiring of any goods or services and pay for any legal proceedings in courts. It will also reimburse you for lost deposits and help pay to arrange replacement services if someone like a caterer, florist or entertainer, lets you down.

Property cover under a typical Wedding Policy includes compensation for the cost to repair or replace property that is damaged or stolen: that can include photographs and videos; wedding gowns and suits; wedding rings; bridal jewellery; wedding gifts; the cake; flowers; your stationery; and the official  Wedding Documents.

That loss or damage cover extends for 24 hours before and after the wedding,  a time when thieves like to take advantage of your big day.

Other people own things that you could be held responsible for, too: damage to hire marquees and other equipment, rented suits, gazebos, staging, flooring, chairs, tables, furniture, household or lighting equipment hired during the wedding.

Finally, the Personal Liability issue that I mentioned at the start of this blog: wedding insurance covers that, too, up to whatever limit you specify, plus court costs and expenses for issues like accidental bodily injury including death, disease or illness; or accidental damage to property.

There are differences between companies and between policies, and you need to compare before you commit. Look at the optional extras, too, like Honeymoon Cover to protect your home contents while you are off on their honeymoon in case the home is burglarised.

So, from a sudden cancellation to stolen gifts, a damaged gown or a personal injury, wedding insurance can help protect you against the unforeseen, and afford you peace of mind. But can you afford it? Well, Australian premiums start from under $230 for a standard policy including loss of photos, videos, attire, presents, rings, and deposits and Public liability insurance up to $5,000,000.

When should you take out wedding insurance? Insurance companies have limitations on how far in advance you can purchase insurance, but really, the sooner the better. Let's say you put a deposit on your wedding reception hall 12 months before your wedding day but it burns down a month before the big day. Or you buy a dress six months out, which results in a dispute with the supplier because it is not completed to the standard you expected - you aren't willing to pay, she won't make the alterations you feel entitled to and won't return your (substantial) deposit....

Towards a Perfect Wedding

A Low-tech Wedding Limo

Loving Congratulations

 A professional photographer is the only person who is going to work your whole wedding day, from before you slip into your dress all the way through to the time you climb in to your limo at the end of your reception. As a professional wedding photographer I have attended 100's of weddings, and I have had to become something of a wedding expert by default - this blog is a fun way to share some of the  'insider' knowledge I've gleaned along the way. 

Brides want their marriage ceremony to be perfect. Part of making this memorable occasion nothing short of spectacular is to involve the right people behind the scenes. Everything from the cake, to the music, to the photographs need to be spot-on, and when it comes to pictures, competent direction and, lighting and posing skills that a professional wedding photography brings to your wedding assure the bride-to-be that she will look absolutely stunning. 

Strolling in the Grounds

So, how much should wedding photography cost? I know that every bride would love to have a Wedding Photography Price List and go shopping with it in her hand, but that's just not practical  in the world of wedding photography. However, you can get your hands on one price list for wedding photography to help you with your comparison shopping. 

Go to my website at http://weddings.davidrichphotography.com and click on the Prices and Packages tab. You are welcome to print off the prices for different levels of wedding photography services and use these to compare with other photographers... you can also click the links to see exactly what you get at each price point. Don't worry that most wedding photographers do not post a price list on line; they are not trying to make things difficult, but too many couples get stuck on the price question, and ONLY shop by price. Lots of effort goes into weeding out "tyre kickers" from real clients, and holding back price details until the photographer is sure that you are a legitimate client is a common practice. Hard to be specific when you haven't spoken to the bride and groom.

Wedding Hide and Seek

Once you have phoned or emailed them, explaining what you hope for (use the details from my site as a starting point) most will be happy to quote you. If they insist on an interview first, there are plenty of others who are more open about their pricing policies.

Be cautious about low price upfront offers. If your wedding photographer charges a base shooting fee, telling you to order albums, DVDs, image files and so on after the wedding, you can run over budget very quickly. The same is true if you hire someone who just charges for their time and a disk full of images for you to print out later... It seems like a way to save some money, but the chances are that you are going to pay more in the long run and get a far less professional result - if you ever get around to making those prints and albums at all!

You should also be careful not to take on the job of supplying photographs for your guests and relatives who want photographs from your wedding day; that can be trying, time consuming and, sometimes, expensive. It is better to look for a photographer who will facilitate everything you need in one easy package at a price you agree with them in advance. If you wish to add something after the wedding (a parents album or canvas wall hanging, for instance), a professional wedding photographer will have secure copies of all your files and be able to ensure you get the best prices and quality.

More Ways to Afford the Wedding You Really Want.

Number three in a series on controlling the cost of a wedding


Your Reception can be the most expensive part of your wedding - even more than your honeymoon, so there are lots of opportunities for saving money. Don't worry, though - economising doesn't mean you have to do without all the things that make a wedding beautiful. 

Music:
Hire a DJ instead of a band; or limit the time the band is required - say for four hours instead of six. Reception venues often include the DJ and MC in their packages and insist you use them. They will tell you that it saves money and protects them (they know the DJ/MC are professional and insured);  but do the sums... you could save a lot; maybe enough to make a different venue a better choice for you, especially if one of your friends would like to DJ  - someone who's right into your music!

Flowers:
If flowers are your thing, make sure to choose ones in season locally - hothoused flowers are not necessarily more expensive, but anything that has to be trucked to the florist will be, and they are not going to look as fresh if they have been transported or stored. Talk to more than one florist before you set your heart on a particular floral style.

Not everybody enjoys flowers as much as you might think - and throwing away hundreds of dollars worth of blooms the next morning is pretty wasteful;  alternatives to floral decorations could result in very real savings and be better for the environment.

The Right Day:
Weddings are traditionally held on Saturdays. Other days are relatively underbooked for receptions and many places offer discounts to attract business on these less popular days.  Tying the knot on a weekday could reduce your venue costs by 50% or more. 

A Church Reception:
If you are having a church wedding, the church may also be interested in hosting your reception. Many churches will decorate their halls for wedding receptions. They do it beautifully, they often do not even charge for the flowers, and the cost savings are significant - especially if it is your own church! You can usually opt to have the church members do the catering, hire a caterer or do it yourself - well, not you personally: you are getting married! But you know what I mean. 

Food:

Nobody checks the menu before they accept your wedding invitation. Don't get too fancy and don't let the costs run away with your budget. If most of your friends like pizza and fried chicken, now isn't the time to educate their palates at your expense. Keep it simple with food they don't have to think about.

Consider two courses instead of three. Make the entree or appetizer a simple finger food and keep the more expensive meat/fish dishes for the mains. The wedding cake makes a really special third course.

Photo Booth
My number one piece of advice to a bride and groom: hire a good photographer and have lots of family photos taken. Ten or twenty years down the road those photos will be much more important than what colour the ribbons were, or what music was played. A photo booth is a nice adjunct to the official photographer's work, but since they start at about $1000, I have fallen into the habit of setting up a mini-studio for guests to use - a camera on a tripod, a set of studio lights, a plain background  with lots of fun props. I just keep a whether eye on it or leave an assistant close by in case anyone has a problem or wants their photo taken when there isn't another guest nearby to  snap the picture. Lots of fun, and i don't charge for the prints. You can do the same sort of thing, or ask your photographer to organise something similar.