Choosing the right Cebu wedding photographer is just as critical as choosing the right person to tie the knot with on your wedding day. You need to find out if you can work with this photographer during the happiest, as well as, possibly, the most stressful day of your life. So, don’t be hasty, instead, research and think real hard before making any final decision on which photographer to choose.
Listing down Your Preferences
When planning for your wedding pictures, you need to think and list down the specific things you want. First, decide what kind of photography style you would like to have. Perhaps you want the pictures wherein the subjects are mostly posing, or you prefer candid shots, instead, at which point you would not know that you are being photographed. Next is to determine the level of service you want from your photographer. Decide if you want your photographer to work only during the wedding ceremony, which should take him about one to three hours, or do the complete package, which could include the pre-wedding engagement, rehearsal dinner, bridal portraits, and photos of the newlywed. After that, decide how many pictures you would want to have. Some photographers can give you about a hundred photographs to cherish your wedding, meanwhile, higher-end photographers can provide you as much as 1,000 to 3,000 photographs. Now, if you do decide to print all those pictures on your own, you need to assess yourself if you actually have the time and the expertise to do it. This is because, some photographers would let you have just a CD copy of your pictures for you to print on your own. You may be able to save money on this, but, those memories might just stay forever in the CD, instead of being displayed beautifully in your albums. Finally, figure your estimated expenses. Wedding photography could cost about 12% of the budget for the wedding, so you can immediately eliminate anyone in the list you cannot afford.
Choosing Your Photographer
After you have listed down your personal preferences, you can now start looking for photographers. Start off by researching from friends, from the bridal shop you are registered with, or from the Internet for photographers that are in your area. Next, list the names of the photographers who do the things you listed in your personal preferences, as well as those who fit your budget. After that, research each of those photographers in your list, look at the samples of the works they made, ask for and talk to their references. Then, eliminate those names that do not have good records, with weak references, and those that you simply just do not like. Afterward, interview the remaining photographers on your list by phone. Find out if they are available on the date you have chosen; their length of experience, particularly on weddings; how soon you can have the prints or disk after the wedding; and the length of time before they let go of the negatives. Thereafter, eliminate those photographers who are not available on the date you’ve chosen and also those that do not fit your criteria. And then, meet those photographers, with your future spouse, to see their work and to determine how you feel about them in person. Afterwhile, discuss about them with your future spouse and sleep on it before making any final decisions. Then, when you have finally chosen one, call the photographer to make an appointment for the contract signing. And finally, always confirm with the photographer, such as 3 to 6 months prior to the event and 1 to 2 weeks before, so you will have enough time to work for any last minute changes or requests.