Your wedding photographer in Lake Como will be with you all day and should be someone you and your fiance both adore. Getting to know this person and finding out they have your style and vibe is key!
Choosing the right one for your day will help ensure every moment and detail is captured. This is how you will remember your day forever!
Look at Their Portfolio
During your first meeting with potential photographers, be sure to review their portfolio. Make sure that the collection includes full weddings, not just highlights from a few weddings. This will give you a better idea of the photographer’s style and quality.
Also, pay attention to how they handle different lighting situations. For example, if a photographer doesn’t have any shots from a dark reception, it may indicate that they’re not comfortable in those conditions.
Next, ask for a copy of their contract and policies. Read these over carefully and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re not clear on something. The last thing you want is to be surprised by any hidden fees on your wedding day!
Ask for Referrals
When hiring a wedding photographer you should ask for references and testimonials. This will help you gauge their level of work and professionalism. Couples will be happy to recommend you to their friends and family, especially if they enjoyed working with you.
Another way to gain referrals is by reaching out to vendors after the wedding. This can include contacting them for marketing purposes, sharing photos with them or even helping them out on their wedding day. This will show the planners that you care about their business and they’ll be more likely to refer you.
It’s also a good idea to compare prices with other photographers in the area before you hire one. This will ensure that you don’t get overcharged. You can also ask your wedding planner or venue coordinator for referrals. They will be able to point you in the direction of the best local wedding photographers. This will save you time and money in the long run.
See Their Work at Your Venue
Once you’ve narrowed your options down, you should make sure that you know what you want from your wedding photographer. This will help you to evaluate if their rates are right for you. This includes deciding if you want a photographer who hands you over the digital files after your big day or one who will deliver a gorgeous album to your doorstep before all is said and done.
Ask to see full galleries of weddings that they have shot at your venue. This will give you a much more accurate idea of their style than just looking at highlight reels on their website. It also allows you to see how they work in low light conditions, which is important for your big day. It’s also a good time to ask about anything that they offer outside of their standard packages (like albums, prints, and second shooters).
Ask About Their Pricing
After you narrow down the list of photographers to a few, contact them to get their availability and pricing information. If they don’t have space to accommodate your wedding date, see if they can recommend someone else who might be available.
Photographers have to cover costs like website hosting fees, business insurance, and equipment maintenance. Plus, they want to make sure they are charging enough so that they can cover their overhead and costs of goods while still making a profit.
It’s one thing to see a beautifully-curated insta feed or sample album of 30 lovely (but probably heavily retouched) cherry-picked images. It’s another to see a full gallery of an entire wedding that is organized in chronological order, from beginning to end, so you can follow the story of your day. Also, ask if they include a second photographer or assistant in their pricing. If not, that’s something you may need to add on or budget for.
