Photo by Abacus Wedding Studios

First and foremost, it is my opinion that top ten lists are subjective, that being said, I am sure there are many items on my top ten list, which other photographers would agree on and I would love to see their top ten lists as well.

From number 10 to number 1 here they are:

10.) Insurance: Every professional Studio or Freelance Photographer working in the wedding industry should be insured, and most reception locations will require a proof of that insurance before your vendor can work at that facility. So although it may seem like a given, always make sure the studio or photographer you are considering has the proper insurance.

9.) Reviews/Referrals: Like many other people I like knowing what other people thought about the service of any vendor. With wedding resources like www.weddingwire.com, the Knot and many others, it is easy to get some reviews and opinions on the vendors you may be considering.  Please keep in mind that reviews are also based on one individuals experience, so what you may want to look for is consistency in the reviews, like profession, creative and easy to work with.

8.) Professional: Everyone likes to save money, regardless of your budget, but investing in a professional photographer vs. someone new to the industry or to photography is a mistake which may cost more in the long run.  A professional camera or equipment does not equate to a professional. A professional will have samples to show you, be insured and will most likely have some reviews and most importantly, they will have number 6, experience.

7.) Likeability: The photographer does not have to be your best friend. They have a job to do and you must keep that in mind however, you will be spending the majority of your wedding day with that individual, so it is important to have a connection with the photographer or the studio, so that there is a comfort level you will be happy with when your big day arrives.

6.) Experience: The more experience the better. I think that can be applied to just about anything. An experienced photographer or studio will have greater familiarity with your wedding location and will know how to efficiently run your wedding day, while capturing every special moment. Experience is often easily seen in the work that your vendor will present to you.

5.) Style: We have had many discussions on Traditional vs. Photojournalistic styles of photography, and it’s important that your photographer matches the style you are looking for. Many studios differ in their styles and some may specialize in a particular style while others can adjust to what you are looking for.

4.) Post Production: Many independent photographers do not offer albums or may refer you to a lab, while other studios, such as ours offer full, in house, post production, with custom album design. With digital albums setting the pace as the standard, much more creativity and personalization can go into your wedding album.

3.) Albums: Related to number 5, albums are how we preserve our wedding days and with a variety of options available, from matted to digital, it is important to get the album style you most want.

2.) Copyrights: Most studios have moved to digital proofs, while others still print all the proofs, with the word “PROOF” stamped across the image. This is done, so that you can’t reprint the images captured, unless they are purchased from the studio. I believe that most couples today want the option of owning their images and printing what they want, when they want to. This is why getting high resolution images; with copyright is a top three item for me.

1.) Value: I like to know why one studio is more expensive than another. It may have to do with their location, overhead and many other factors but, if something is dramatically more, I want to know why and what I am getting for the extra $$$. On the other hand is if the price is dramatically low, then I want to know what I may “NOT” be getting.

Let me know what you think?

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