Written by Eric, owner of A Treasured Wedding with over 15 years’s experience in the wedding industry. He and his team have captured over 1,000 events and weddings throughout Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia.
Important tips how you can get beautiful and affordable wedding pictures or videos for under $1000.
-
Experience
Make sure your photographer or videographer has at least 5 years’ experience and have captured at least 100 weddings. Anything less, you are at high risk of disappointment. How would they handle equipment malfunction? So many issues can happen within a tight window of time and they must have the experience to handle any variable. Your wedding will be one of your most important day’s in your life. Your photography or videography will only get one chance to capture your wedding day. Your photographer or videographer can’t say “stop the wedding ceremony because I did not get the shot” or “Can I come back tomorrow and try it again”. Also, a company with great experience will help guide and support you throughout your wedding day. If they are using DSLR cameras to capture video, run! This is a sign they are entry level / amateurs. They should be using full professional video cameras when capturing your important wedding day.
-
One Team
Try to pick a company that handles both photography and videography. This is so important because they need to work together as a team. They will understand when and where they need to position their selves throughout all the events including the ceremony. We have seen photographers and videographers from other companies jump right in front of our cameras. This happens all of the time. To their defense, they are unaware or not thinking about the other company because they are used to working within their “Silo” with no team thinking. If you have already picked a photography or videography company, no problem. We will work with them because we understand the importance of team work. We will team up with them and communicate the ceremony layout, timing, positioning ahead of the time. Photographers will always receive first priority while working with us. We will always go out of our way meeting and teaming up with your photographer. If you want beautiful up-lighting, try to find a company that handles all services (photography, videography & lighting) because they will understand how to set up lighting to improve your pictures and video. We have seen lighting companies set up lighting that pushes too much light onto your faces which could wash out your pictures and video.
-
Artistic with a Great Personality
They must have extension experience, great personality with an artistic ability. Finding a photographer and videographer with all these important talents at an affordable price, is not easy and when you do, book them ASAP. They must be able to handle stress and able to handle working with many people with a smile. While video capturing weddings, I have seen so many photographers become stressed out and become unprofessional with very poor people skills. I feel so bad for the bride and groom when I see this. Their poor attitude and personality during stressful situations transfers onto your friends and family during photo taking times. Be very selective in personality!
-
Samples
Make sure they show you their photography and videography past work. If they only show you samples from 1 or 2 weddings, you need to question their experience. They need to prove they have captured many weddings.
-
Location Experience
Ask them if they have ever captured weddings at your location. If they never been to your location, the above experience helps here because your photographer and videographer must have experience how to handle many different lighting and layout situations. Again, they only get one chance to capture your wedding. 95% of the time, we have been to your location since with have captured over 1000 weddings with over 15 years’ experience.
-
Reviews
Make sure you read reviews and rewards about your photographer and videographer.
-
Unobtrusive Style –
Make sure you find a company that can capture your wedding day without getting to close. Usually companies with little experience don’t understand this concept. I feel so bad for the bride and groom when I see a photographer up in their face when capturing pictures. I have seen photographers up at the alter area with little respect for you and your ceremony. They should have good equipment with high zoom ability and wireless microphone to help avoid obtrusive situations. Please make sure you ask them if they are unobtrusive.