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Tips and Advice on Winnipeg Wedding Photographers
The below content is copyright Curtis Carlson Photography.
How to choose a wedding photographer.
This is very simple.
1) Like the photographer.
2) Like the photos.
3) Like the price.
But perhaps some explanation is in order.
Like the Photographer
Sounds simple enough, but I think this is the most overlooked aspect of choosing the right winnipeg wedding photographer for you. Much of this business is driven by price and package competition; all very important, but not ultimately what you should base your decision on when choosing a wedding photographer.
If you want to have the most fun and relaxed day in front of a camera, the number one thing I recommend to you is to see as many winnipeg photographers as you can and find a personality that works best with who you are as a couple. I would suggest seeing a minimum of three photographers, six or more being optimal. Do not let price or package information determine who you will or will not talk to at this point. Forget about price and package for now, focus your initial search on photographic style and personality. (Note: Be sure the person you are talking to will actually BE the photographer on your wedding day. If they are not, ask if you can speak to the staff photographer the studio will assign to your wedding day and be sure you see his or her work, not the studios.) At this point, you want to be exposed to as many potential personalities as possible.
Why is this important?
As one couple put it to me, choosing your winnipeg wedding photographer is like choosing another member of the wedding party. Who else is with you all day, from morning until night, at all points during the day and in an intimate and close way? The friends and family members that you include in your wedding party, that’s who! And you don’t choose these people based on their service/utility to you, but based on the personality, fun and optimism they will bring to your wedding day – in short, the positive connection you have with those people. Your winnipeg wedding photographers personality is the most decisive factor in making your wedding day a blast or a bust. You are going to be choosing someone that has to be with you for potentially 12 hours. The only way you can find the “best” winnipeg photographer for you is by meeting with a lot of them.
So how do you find one that fits your personality as a couple?
Wedding photographers in winnipeg love meeting couples and talking about their wedding day, how they met and what they do for fun, work and hobbies, on top of their photography services and experience. But don’t let the photographer do all the talking! Ask them about how they got started, what keeps them photographing, what they do for fun when not behind a camera. In short, ask the kinds of questions you would regularly ask about close friends and family members in your wedding party. Why would you do this? To get the photographer out of “sales” mode. How a winnipeg photographer answers these questions will say a lot about the kind of character and personality he or she is that you won’t get from asking “What’s your price and package?” or “How many weddings in winnipeg have you photographed?” I have had only a few rare couples do this to me and I noticed the shift in the dynamic right away when the focus was suddenly on me, the photographer! Price, package and experience is important, but it won’t make up for a poor attitude, an inflexible approach to photography, or worse, simply someone trying to get you to part with as much of your money as they can by controlling the conversation. No matter how good the price or package or how long they have been in business, if you don’t get a “good vibe” from the photographer, does it really matter? I already know that while I will make a very good impression on 95% of the people I meet, not everyone is going to like me and I would be naïve to expect them to. I too want to work with the best couples I can find and the only way I will attract them is by being open, honest and genuine about myself and my abilities.
If after consultation with me and five other photographers in winnipeg I get a couple come back to book me, I know we are going to have a blast taking photos on the wedding day. Why? Because not only are you positive, confident and therefore relaxed about the photographer you have hired because you took the time to look around, I am as well because I know you choose me after seeing a variety of other options and did not go strictly by referral or price.
Choosing a winnipeg photographer is that simple. But there are two more steps that are just as important as the first.
Like the Photos
There is really not much for me to say here. You will either like a winnipeg wedding photographers photos or not and it is here I suggest you go with your gut. If there is something “off” about the photos, you don’t have to know what it is yourself and be able to explain it, that is not your job. If after asking the winnipeg photographer about his or her photographic style you still don’t understand it, or the explanation does not make that “off” feeling go away, don’t hire them, it is that simple. Your wedding photos are the single most important and lasting record of your wedding day. You have to like them. Don’t be fooled by the latest buzzwords about style or what look is hot or who’s name is on everybody's lips. Look at the photos and say “Is this how I want my wedding day, and us as a couple, to look like?” If there is even the slightest doubt, keep looking at other photographers. You don’t have to explain why or justify your reasons to anyone, least of all the photographer. This is your wedding. You go with the creative vision you like. Period.
From a winnipeg photographer’s perspective, again, it just makes the day go so much more smoothly for fun and relaxing photos when the couple is confident about the choice they made creatively for their wedding photos. The more you are jazzed about the style of photography you have chosen, the more you will be excited to co-operate and make taking photos a fun task rather than a chore you have to get through before the reception. When you base your choice of a winnipeg or destination wedding photographer strictly by reputation or price/package alone, without taking a really good look at the quality and quantity of work he or she has produced, you will most likely be just a little nervous on the day about how the photos will turn out. Don’t take any chance on bringing anxiety into your most important day. Take a look at a lot of photos and choose the creative style you – not your friends, your family and most certainly not the wedding industry – like the best.
Like the Price
This one is last for a reason, but still very important. You have to find a winnipeg photographers that fits your budget. You don’t have to spend $5000 just to get “the best” according to the maxim “you get what you pay for.” At the same time, you should keep your expectations of professional, technical and creative excellence very low if you are booking a photographer for less than $1000 for a full day.
It all comes down to being realistic and honest about how much you value photography for your wedding day. For some couples, they want the assurance of many years of experience, lots of consultation and options for prints, albums and other add-ons, the added benefit of having two photographers and assistants to cover as much of their wedding day as possible from every angle, all the camera and lighting equipment (and their backups) to create bridal magazine style quality photos, and have it all delivered in about one hour. If this sounds like you, budget at least $5000 to $10,000 right now and start cutting your wedding budget elsewhere to accommodate your winnipeg wedding photography wishes. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can find this for $1000 – you won’t. For other couples, they just want someone who is friendly and personable, takes amazing photos compared to what they (or their uncle) could do themselves, may or may not want albums or other bells-and-whistles and in general, just want a winnipeg and destination wedding photographer that won’t break the bank. For these couples, spending more than $1500 to $3000 would be unrealistic for them. Photography is important, but not as important as say a live band at the reception or a four week luxury honeymoon escape to a far away tropical island.
It all comes down to priorities and personality. Some people want their photos to look like they stepped off the fashion catwalks in Milan, others just want to be sure there are no “blinkers” when they go to make reprints on there own with the DVD of digital negatives the winnipeg photographer has provided to them. Think about the kind of couple and people you are, and then decide how much winnipeg wedding photography is worth to you.
Like the photographer, like the photos, like the price.
As simple as 1, 2, 3
How can I quickly and easily filter through all the package and price information?
It’s a jungle out there isn’t it?
You probably feel a little like Alice in Wonderland when it comes time to try and figure out all this price and package information you have collected from a number of winnipeg wedding photographers.
Until I started looking more seriously about the business side of wedding photography in winnipeg, (as opposed to it just being a hobby) I had no idea how many ways you could price and package local and destination wedding photography services. I went to a seminar a few years back by an excellent and very successful wedding photography studio. I left more confused than when I came in on how to price and package my photographic skills. When I tried to take some of what I learned and apply it to my own business recently in trying to turn myself more professional, I found I got confused trying to explain my services to the couple who was already confused!
So… how do you figure out how much wedding photography is going to cost and what you are going to get?
Number one: Get a price for strictly photographic coverage.
How many hours and how many locations? Is there a charge for going over the contracted time and at what rate? How much does it cost for a second photographer? Is there a cost for second photographer? Forget about the albums, the prints, the DVD slideshow, etc. Just get a price for what the photography itself is going to cost you, nothing more. Now you have a base line to start adding other stuff on to.
Number two: Get an album and print price list.
This should not be difficult to get. For custom albums, this might take some time for the photographer to get back to you with a quote, but you should never be told there is no set price or that it depends on the number of photographic hours contracted or how many prints you get along with it etc, etc, etc ad nauseum. This is a sales smokescreen. It’s an album, it has a price. Get it and be sure it is a firm price. Same goes for prints. There may be charges for custom work, but that too should be fairly straight forward and most likely be an hourly rate with an estimation as to the time required to do the work. Be flexible with your photographer when it comes to custom art prints and albums. Some things will take longer and the photographer’s time in working with you to get the print or album exactly right the first time should be compensated for.
Once you have prices for the photography, any additional add-ons and custom or overtime photography rates, you should be able to put together your own package working with your photographer. If the packages offered seem to be take it or leave it, that is ok, as long as you like the package you are about to take. But if there seems to be any hesitation on the winnipeg photographers part to get down to specifics about how photography is priced or albums/prints, I suggest you look at other photographers. If you are not careful, you can wind up paying a lot of money for all kinds of things you did not intend to get as part of your wedding photography “package,” especially if you sign a contract that stipulates so. At worst, you won’t really know what you bought but felt that it sounded about right and did not want to challenge the photographer on his or her pricing and package structure. This is not a time to be timid. If you are really not clear on what the final cost is or what you are getting, don’t sign any contract until you are clear. If you simply don’t get the answers you are looking for, find another winnipeg photographer
How much should a wedding photographer in winnipeg cost?
Well… that depends. It’s true! I have found that pricing for wedding photography services is guided by:
1) the market rate of other competitors
2) how much a photographer feels his or her skills and experience are worth
3) how much money an individual photographer feels they need to make to sustain a lifestyle they require to be happy
Combine all three of these together and you get quite the range of pricing for everything from day-rates to prints.
It also depends a lot on where a winnipeg local and destination wedding photographer wants to WEIGHT his profit. i.e. Where does he want to make his money? Some winnipeg photographers believe that their skill behind a camera is worth more than making money on prints and albums, so their day rate will reflect this and be higher while his prints and albums will be very competitive. Others have their advertising and studio work flow organized around getting people in front of the camera at a low price, then providing superior service and after session photo enlargements and add-ons with a good mark-up.
A good reputation also plays a role in how much a photographer feels he or she can charge. Those photographers just starting out know they have to pay their dues and some good value and talent can be found for the couple willing to put more than just a weeks worth of effort into researching their local and destionation wedding photographer options. Conversely, other couples simply do not have the time to research a large number of photographers. They want to save time, or just feel safer, by paying more for a long established professional that requires minimal work on their part. This photographer will take care of a lot of details for them that some photographers are not willing to do and they feel this is worth more to them than saving a few hundred (or thousand!) dollars.
I think the best way to answer this question is to take out some personal cheques. You can create some fake Monopoly ones, this is just an exercise, but real cheques help make this exercise hit a little closer to home. Take three cheques and write the following amounts to be payed:
$1000 $4000 $9000
Sign your name or somone famous like Beyonce Knowles or Brad Pitt… and then pretend a friend of yours is the photographer. Now… GIVE HIM ONLY ONE CHEQUE!
How do you feel?
Super happy you have bought the best wedding photographer on the market?
A little (or maybe a lot) ripped off?
Worried the cheque will bounce if the photographer cashes it right away?
Wishing you had taken longer to look closer at more photographers to see if you are really getting the best deal you can find for your money?
Wondering if this super cheap photographer is going to show up on your wedding day?
The answer to the question of how much a wedding photographer should cost is entirely based on your personality, the trust and comfort level you have established with your photographer, what your finances are and your personal relationship to money.
In short... it depends.
Whatever amount you decide to pay, when you write that cheque and hand it over to the photographer, you should have a smile on your face and no butterflies in your stomach. If your stomach does a flip or two, it will be a niggling anxiety that will bother you for the next 8 to 14 months leading up to the wedding day and on the day itself. Instead of focusing on the fun and excitement of having your declared love recorded forever, you will be wondering if you paid too much or perhaps not enough. I cannot stress to a couple enough in taking the time to meet with a lot of winnipeg photographers. That way, when you find one that “gets” you and you pay your deposit, you walk out of the photographer’s studio with a weight lifted off your shoulders and don’t think about him or her again until the wedding day starts getting closer and tingles of excitement about the photos you will create together start making it hard to fall asleep at night.
What should I be looking for in terms of technical photographic skill or quality and style?
Not being a winnipeg photographer yourself, this is probably the hardest part about choosing one for any bride or groom. I will address this question using the simplest language and try not to muddle things with fancy industry jargon or techno speak.
Technical Skill
Clearly, one of the photographers you choose in winnipeg should be able to take a photo better than you can. If by looking at his or her work you think you can do better, move on. That said, what kind of questions should you ask to ascertain the technical skill of the photographers you are meeting with? Ask photographers not simply what kind of equipment they owns, but how they use that equipment. Also ask not just about their credentials and experience, but their personal philosophy toward the photographic arts, and wedding photography specfically. I will give you two common questions anyone might ask and give two VERY different answers. This will give you an idea about what to look for in the ANSWER to whatever question you ask that shows how a photographer thinks about the technical aspect of photography. These may seem like very simple questions, but it is the answer you need to pay attention to.
Question One:
What kind of lenses do you use?
Wrong answer:
I use a lot of cool lenses but my coolest one is my Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS zoom lens with image stabilization to reduce camera shake by up to three f-stops and a response time of less than 0.5 seconds in conjunction with an 8-blade circular aperture that produces fast tracking and focus lock with improved bokeh performance at wide open apertures.
Did I lose you? Let's try the right answer.
Right answer:
I use a zoom lens that keeps me far enough away from the action to keep your reactions natural, not like a “deer-caught-in-headlights” with a short lens. I also have lenses that can work in very low available light, like reception halls and dark churches, so I don’t have to use flash and can get those romantic and classic atmospheric photos that would be lost otherwise. All of my lenses are able to focus very sharply to keep you in focus and blur out background distractions to ensure the main subject of the photo is you!
Both of these answers are technically correct, but the right answer in my case gives the couple a lot more information about how the photographer USES his equipment to take great photos, not simply the technical facts. This kind of photographer is able to translate what he knows about his equipment into ways of working and creating, not just pointing and shooting, and is able to communicate that to a prospective bride and groom in a language they can understand. It’s a subtle difference, but it makes a world of difference in how one approaches taking a photography. There are gear heads, and then there are artists. Choose an artist..
Question Two:
What kind of education or training do you have as a photographer?
Wrong answer:
I have a Master’s degree in Photographic Fine Arts that specialized in the neo-abstract concept of light and shadow as means to communicate the contrast between what we see in the world during the day and what we don’t when night takes over. I have had my work on display in art shows around the city and have been published in Vanity Fair and was awarded the (insert name of institution here) award for breaking new ground in technical and creative excellence in photography. Would you like to see my awards?
Ahem... I think we can all see THIS is the WRONG answer (and just a tad bit pompous!)
Right answer:
I have taken some courses but was pretty much self-taught. I was told that one lens, one camera and one roll of film is all that I required to become a good photographer. That and taking good photos is a matter of a LOT of practice and focusing on what you like to photograph. If your heart is in what you point your camera at, you can’t help but get better and better. I have photographed about 38 weddings now and while I am by no means winning awards or having praise heaped upon me, I am not concerned. I am more focused on making sure each time a take a photo I learn something. Did I get the best creative use of the light that was available? Did I get into position for the right angle for the most impact in composition? Did I take a risk and try something different or outside my normal shot list to mix things up a bit? Did I have fun, and most importantly, did my clients enjoy working with me and love my photos?
Again, both of these answers are correct. However, the first does not even mention wedding photography. Even if it did, the response does not seem to be focused on showing the couple that the photographer really loves taking photos and is a life-long learner. It only shows that he or she has completed a course and someone, somewhere, has thought their work was good enough to be published or given an award. It does not make them a wedding photographer that can handle the chaos of a wedding day without breaking a sweat or deal with the best man who just has to always try to put the rabbit ears behind the groom in every photo. The second answer, and I must confess I am the model for it, is a little more humble and grounded about the whole process of photography. It shows an interest not in receiving accolades or peer recognition, but just in satisfying his clients and his own desire to try and be a better photographer with every photo he takes.
My focus as a photographer is not so much what I have learned, but what I am learning right now; not what I have done in the past, but what I am doing right now. And being in the now, the moment, is key to being a good wedding photographer. All the technical skill and education in the world will not replace a curious mind, intuitive reflexes to be in the right place at the right time and a passionate desire to simply prove to oneself that one is getting better with each passing year with hard work and perseverance. I am not relying on degrees or accolades to secure clients, I am relying on character and honest, hard work at improving myself and my craft everyday. I like to think I am that photographer, but I have never been one who is comfortable tooting my own horn. I just try to do my very best and at the end of the day, that I think is far more important a character trait to have in a photographer than all the technical know-how or education in the world.
Creative Skill
This is an even harder question to get a good response out of a photographer. I think creative skill is best shown in his or her portfolio and you should let your own creative tastes be the final judge of what you think is “good” photography. I think the best question you can ask a photographer about his creative ability is…
“How did you take that photo?”
“What is the story behind that photograph?”
Good photographers will remember just about every photo he or she has ever taken (I know, incredible eh?) and most certainly will the photos they consider to be their best work. There should be an animated expression to his or her telling of the story of this or that photo and most telling, a creative insight he or she had when taking it that they now use to take better photos. This not only shows that the photographer is engaged in the process of photography, but that he or she is having fun and gets a kick out of discovering new ways of taking pictures.
Creative skill is a mysterious, illusive and obscure element. Some people have it, some people don’t. Some come by it naturally, some have to work real hard. But the common denominator running through either the natural or the learned is that each one has a vision about what they want a photograph to look like. In telling the story of how he or she took a photograph, they are giving you a window into what that philosophic vision is. For some photographers, it will be all about the lights, the make-up and the assistants. For others, it will be all about being alert and finding that “decisive moment” that sent many a Cartier Bresson fan off running with a range finder camera in his home town to document the people and the stories therin.
The creative vision of all photographers, and whether or not you want their approach for your wedding day, can be discovered by asking two simple questions…
“How did you take that photo?”
“What is the story behind that photograph?”
It is a very important question and depending on how the photographer answers, it may very well decide if you hire them or not
Tips and Advice on Winnipeg Wedding Photographers
The below content is copyright Curtis Carlson Photography.
How to choose a wedding photographer.
This is very simple.
1) Like the photographer.
2) Like the photos.
3) Like the price.
But perhaps some explanation is in order.
Like the Photographer
Sounds simple enough, but I think this is the most overlooked aspect of choosing the right winnipeg wedding photographer for you. Much of this business is driven by price and package competition; all very important, but not ultimately what you should base your decision on when choosing a wedding photographer.
If you want to have the most fun and relaxed day in front of a camera, the number one thing I recommend to you is to see as many winnipeg photographers as you can and find a personality that works best with who you are as a couple. I would suggest seeing a minimum of three photographers, six or more being optimal. Do not let price or package information determine who you will or will not talk to at this point. Forget about price and package for now, focus your initial search on photographic style and personality. (Note: Be sure the person you are talking to will actually BE the photographer on your wedding day. If they are not, ask if you can speak to the staff photographer the studio will assign to your wedding day and be sure you see his or her work, not the studios.) At this point, you want to be exposed to as many potential personalities as possible.
Why is this important?
As one couple put it to me, choosing your winnipeg wedding photographer is like choosing another member of the wedding party. Who else is with you all day, from morning until night, at all points during the day and in an intimate and close way? The friends and family members that you include in your wedding party, that’s who! And you don’t choose these people based on their service/utility to you, but based on the personality, fun and optimism they will bring to your wedding day – in short, the positive connection you have with those people. Your winnipeg wedding photographers personality is the most decisive factor in making your wedding day a blast or a bust. You are going to be choosing someone that has to be with you for potentially 12 hours. The only way you can find the “best” winnipeg photographer for you is by meeting with a lot of them.
So how do you find one that fits your personality as a couple?
Wedding photographers in winnipeg love meeting couples and talking about their wedding day, how they met and what they do for fun, work and hobbies, on top of their photography services and experience. But don’t let the photographer do all the talking! Ask them about how they got started, what keeps them photographing, what they do for fun when not behind a camera. In short, ask the kinds of questions you would regularly ask about close friends and family members in your wedding party. Why would you do this? To get the photographer out of “sales” mode. How a winnipeg photographer answers these questions will say a lot about the kind of character and personality he or she is that you won’t get from asking “What’s your price and package?” or “How many weddings in winnipeg have you photographed?” I have had only a few rare couples do this to me and I noticed the shift in the dynamic right away when the focus was suddenly on me, the photographer! Price, package and experience is important, but it won’t make up for a poor attitude, an inflexible approach to photography, or worse, simply someone trying to get you to part with as much of your money as they can by controlling the conversation. No matter how good the price or package or how long they have been in business, if you don’t get a “good vibe” from the photographer, does it really matter? I already know that while I will make a very good impression on 95% of the people I meet, not everyone is going to like me and I would be naïve to expect them to. I too want to work with the best couples I can find and the only way I will attract them is by being open, honest and genuine about myself and my abilities.
If after consultation with me and five other photographers in winnipeg I get a couple come back to book me, I know we are going to have a blast taking photos on the wedding day. Why? Because not only are you positive, confident and therefore relaxed about the photographer you have hired because you took the time to look around, I am as well because I know you choose me after seeing a variety of other options and did not go strictly by referral or price.
Choosing a winnipeg photographer is that simple. But there are two more steps that are just as important as the first.
Like the Photos
There is really not much for me to say here. You will either like a winnipeg wedding photographers photos or not and it is here I suggest you go with your gut. If there is something “off” about the photos, you don’t have to know what it is yourself and be able to explain it, that is not your job. If after asking the winnipeg photographer about his or her photographic style you still don’t understand it, or the explanation does not make that “off” feeling go away, don’t hire them, it is that simple. Your wedding photos are the single most important and lasting record of your wedding day. You have to like them. Don’t be fooled by the latest buzzwords about style or what look is hot or who’s name is on everybody's lips. Look at the photos and say “Is this how I want my wedding day, and us as a couple, to look like?” If there is even the slightest doubt, keep looking at other photographers. You don’t have to explain why or justify your reasons to anyone, least of all the photographer. This is your wedding. You go with the creative vision you like. Period.
From a winnipeg photographer’s perspective, again, it just makes the day go so much more smoothly for fun and relaxing photos when the couple is confident about the choice they made creatively for their wedding photos. The more you are jazzed about the style of photography you have chosen, the more you will be excited to co-operate and make taking photos a fun task rather than a chore you have to get through before the reception. When you base your choice of a winnipeg or destination wedding photographer strictly by reputation or price/package alone, without taking a really good look at the quality and quantity of work he or she has produced, you will most likely be just a little nervous on the day about how the photos will turn out. Don’t take any chance on bringing anxiety into your most important day. Take a look at a lot of photos and choose the creative style you – not your friends, your family and most certainly not the wedding industry – like the best.
Like the Price
This one is last for a reason, but still very important. You have to find a winnipeg photographers that fits your budget. You don’t have to spend $5000 just to get “the best” according to the maxim “you get what you pay for.” At the same time, you should keep your expectations of professional, technical and creative excellence very low if you are booking a photographer for less than $1000 for a full day.
It all comes down to being realistic and honest about how much you value photography for your wedding day. For some couples, they want the assurance of many years of experience, lots of consultation and options for prints, albums and other add-ons, the added benefit of having two photographers and assistants to cover as much of their wedding day as possible from every angle, all the camera and lighting equipment (and their backups) to create bridal magazine style quality photos, and have it all delivered in about one hour. If this sounds like you, budget at least $5000 to $10,000 right now and start cutting your wedding budget elsewhere to accommodate your winnipeg wedding photography wishes. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can find this for $1000 – you won’t. For other couples, they just want someone who is friendly and personable, takes amazing photos compared to what they (or their uncle) could do themselves, may or may not want albums or other bells-and-whistles and in general, just want a winnipeg and destination wedding photographer that won’t break the bank. For these couples, spending more than $1500 to $3000 would be unrealistic for them. Photography is important, but not as important as say a live band at the reception or a four week luxury honeymoon escape to a far away tropical island.
It all comes down to priorities and personality. Some people want their photos to look like they stepped off the fashion catwalks in Milan, others just want to be sure there are no “blinkers” when they go to make reprints on there own with the DVD of digital negatives the winnipeg photographer has provided to them. Think about the kind of couple and people you are, and then decide how much winnipeg wedding photography is worth to you.
Like the photographer, like the photos, like the price.
As simple as 1, 2, 3
How can I quickly and easily filter through all the package and price information?
It’s a jungle out there isn’t it?
You probably feel a little like Alice in Wonderland when it comes time to try and figure out all this price and package information you have collected from a number of winnipeg wedding photographers.
Until I started looking more seriously about the business side of wedding photography in winnipeg, (as opposed to it just being a hobby) I had no idea how many ways you could price and package local and destination wedding photography services. I went to a seminar a few years back by an excellent and very successful wedding photography studio. I left more confused than when I came in on how to price and package my photographic skills. When I tried to take some of what I learned and apply it to my own business recently in trying to turn myself more professional, I found I got confused trying to explain my services to the couple who was already confused!
So… how do you figure out how much wedding photography is going to cost and what you are going to get?
Number one: Get a price for strictly photographic coverage.
How many hours and how many locations? Is there a charge for going over the contracted time and at what rate? How much does it cost for a second photographer? Is there a cost for second photographer? Forget about the albums, the prints, the DVD slideshow, etc. Just get a price for what the photography itself is going to cost you, nothing more. Now you have a base line to start adding other stuff on to.
Number two: Get an album and print price list.
This should not be difficult to get. For custom albums, this might take some time for the photographer to get back to you with a quote, but you should never be told there is no set price or that it depends on the number of photographic hours contracted or how many prints you get along with it etc, etc, etc ad nauseum. This is a sales smokescreen. It’s an album, it has a price. Get it and be sure it is a firm price. Same goes for prints. There may be charges for custom work, but that too should be fairly straight forward and most likely be an hourly rate with an estimation as to the time required to do the work. Be flexible with your photographer when it comes to custom art prints and albums. Some things will take longer and the photographer’s time in working with you to get the print or album exactly right the first time should be compensated for.
Once you have prices for the photography, any additional add-ons and custom or overtime photography rates, you should be able to put together your own package working with your photographer. If the packages offered seem to be take it or leave it, that is ok, as long as you like the package you are about to take. But if there seems to be any hesitation on the winnipeg photographers part to get down to specifics about how photography is priced or albums/prints, I suggest you look at other photographers. If you are not careful, you can wind up paying a lot of money for all kinds of things you did not intend to get as part of your wedding photography “package,” especially if you sign a contract that stipulates so. At worst, you won’t really know what you bought but felt that it sounded about right and did not want to challenge the photographer on his or her pricing and package structure. This is not a time to be timid. If you are really not clear on what the final cost is or what you are getting, don’t sign any contract until you are clear. If you simply don’t get the answers you are looking for, find another winnipeg photographer
How much should a wedding photographer in winnipeg cost?
Well… that depends. It’s true! I have found that pricing for wedding photography services is guided by:
1) the market rate of other competitors
2) how much a photographer feels his or her skills and experience are worth
3) how much money an individual photographer feels they need to make to sustain a lifestyle they require to be happy
Combine all three of these together and you get quite the range of pricing for everything from day-rates to prints.
It also depends a lot on where a winnipeg local and destination wedding photographer wants to WEIGHT his profit. i.e. Where does he want to make his money? Some winnipeg photographers believe that their skill behind a camera is worth more than making money on prints and albums, so their day rate will reflect this and be higher while his prints and albums will be very competitive. Others have their advertising and studio work flow organized around getting people in front of the camera at a low price, then providing superior service and after session photo enlargements and add-ons with a good mark-up.
A good reputation also plays a role in how much a photographer feels he or she can charge. Those photographers just starting out know they have to pay their dues and some good value and talent can be found for the couple willing to put more than just a weeks worth of effort into researching their local and destionation wedding photographer options. Conversely, other couples simply do not have the time to research a large number of photographers. They want to save time, or just feel safer, by paying more for a long established professional that requires minimal work on their part. This photographer will take care of a lot of details for them that some photographers are not willing to do and they feel this is worth more to them than saving a few hundred (or thousand!) dollars.
I think the best way to answer this question is to take out some personal cheques. You can create some fake Monopoly ones, this is just an exercise, but real cheques help make this exercise hit a little closer to home. Take three cheques and write the following amounts to be payed:
$1000 $4000 $9000
Sign your name or somone famous like Beyonce Knowles or Brad Pitt… and then pretend a friend of yours is the photographer. Now… GIVE HIM ONLY ONE CHEQUE!
How do you feel?
Super happy you have bought the best wedding photographer on the market?
A little (or maybe a lot) ripped off?
Worried the cheque will bounce if the photographer cashes it right away?
Wishing you had taken longer to look closer at more photographers to see if you are really getting the best deal you can find for your money?
Wondering if this super cheap photographer is going to show up on your wedding day?
The answer to the question of how much a wedding photographer should cost is entirely based on your personality, the trust and comfort level you have established with your photographer, what your finances are and your personal relationship to money.
In short... it depends.
Whatever amount you decide to pay, when you write that cheque and hand it over to the photographer, you should have a smile on your face and no butterflies in your stomach. If your stomach does a flip or two, it will be a niggling anxiety that will bother you for the next 8 to 14 months leading up to the wedding day and on the day itself. Instead of focusing on the fun and excitement of having your declared love recorded forever, you will be wondering if you paid too much or perhaps not enough. I cannot stress to a couple enough in taking the time to meet with a lot of winnipeg photographers. That way, when you find one that “gets” you and you pay your deposit, you walk out of the photographer’s studio with a weight lifted off your shoulders and don’t think about him or her again until the wedding day starts getting closer and tingles of excitement about the photos you will create together start making it hard to fall asleep at night.
What should I be looking for in terms of technical photographic skill or quality and style?
Not being a winnipeg photographer yourself, this is probably the hardest part about choosing one for any bride or groom. I will address this question using the simplest language and try not to muddle things with fancy industry jargon or techno speak.
Technical Skill
Clearly, one of the photographers you choose in winnipeg should be able to take a photo better than you can. If by looking at his or her work you think you can do better, move on. That said, what kind of questions should you ask to ascertain the technical skill of the photographers you are meeting with? Ask photographers not simply what kind of equipment they owns, but how they use that equipment. Also ask not just about their credentials and experience, but their personal philosophy toward the photographic arts, and wedding photography specfically. I will give you two common questions anyone might ask and give two VERY different answers. This will give you an idea about what to look for in the ANSWER to whatever question you ask that shows how a photographer thinks about the technical aspect of photography. These may seem like very simple questions, but it is the answer you need to pay attention to.
Question One:
What kind of lenses do you use?
Wrong answer:
I use a lot of cool lenses but my coolest one is my Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS zoom lens with image stabilization to reduce camera shake by up to three f-stops and a response time of less than 0.5 seconds in conjunction with an 8-blade circular aperture that produces fast tracking and focus lock with improved bokeh performance at wide open apertures.
Did I lose you? Let's try the right answer.
Right answer:
I use a zoom lens that keeps me far enough away from the action to keep your reactions natural, not like a “deer-caught-in-headlights” with a short lens. I also have lenses that can work in very low available light, like reception halls and dark churches, so I don’t have to use flash and can get those romantic and classic atmospheric photos that would be lost otherwise. All of my lenses are able to focus very sharply to keep you in focus and blur out background distractions to ensure the main subject of the photo is you!
Both of these answers are technically correct, but the right answer in my case gives the couple a lot more information about how the photographer USES his equipment to take great photos, not simply the technical facts. This kind of photographer is able to translate what he knows about his equipment into ways of working and creating, not just pointing and shooting, and is able to communicate that to a prospective bride and groom in a language they can understand. It’s a subtle difference, but it makes a world of difference in how one approaches taking a photography. There are gear heads, and then there are artists. Choose an artist..
Question Two:
What kind of education or training do you have as a photographer?
Wrong answer:
I have a Master’s degree in Photographic Fine Arts that specialized in the neo-abstract concept of light and shadow as means to communicate the contrast between what we see in the world during the day and what we don’t when night takes over. I have had my work on display in art shows around the city and have been published in Vanity Fair and was awarded the (insert name of institution here) award for breaking new ground in technical and creative excellence in photography. Would you like to see my awards?
Ahem... I think we can all see THIS is the WRONG answer (and just a tad bit pompous!)
Right answer:
I have taken some courses but was pretty much self-taught. I was told that one lens, one camera and one roll of film is all that I required to become a good photographer. That and taking good photos is a matter of a LOT of practice and focusing on what you like to photograph. If your heart is in what you point your camera at, you can’t help but get better and better. I have photographed about 38 weddings now and while I am by no means winning awards or having praise heaped upon me, I am not concerned. I am more focused on making sure each time a take a photo I learn something. Did I get the best creative use of the light that was available? Did I get into position for the right angle for the most impact in composition? Did I take a risk and try something different or outside my normal shot list to mix things up a bit? Did I have fun, and most importantly, did my clients enjoy working with me and love my photos?
Again, both of these answers are correct. However, the first does not even mention wedding photography. Even if it did, the response does not seem to be focused on showing the couple that the photographer really loves taking photos and is a life-long learner. It only shows that he or she has completed a course and someone, somewhere, has thought their work was good enough to be published or given an award. It does not make them a wedding photographer that can handle the chaos of a wedding day without breaking a sweat or deal with the best man who just has to always try to put the rabbit ears behind the groom in every photo. The second answer, and I must confess I am the model for it, is a little more humble and grounded about the whole process of photography. It shows an interest not in receiving accolades or peer recognition, but just in satisfying his clients and his own desire to try and be a better photographer with every photo he takes.
My focus as a photographer is not so much what I have learned, but what I am learning right now; not what I have done in the past, but what I am doing right now. And being in the now, the moment, is key to being a good wedding photographer. All the technical skill and education in the world will not replace a curious mind, intuitive reflexes to be in the right place at the right time and a passionate desire to simply prove to oneself that one is getting better with each passing year with hard work and perseverance. I am not relying on degrees or accolades to secure clients, I am relying on character and honest, hard work at improving myself and my craft everyday. I like to think I am that photographer, but I have never been one who is comfortable tooting my own horn. I just try to do my very best and at the end of the day, that I think is far more important a character trait to have in a photographer than all the technical know-how or education in the world.
Creative Skill
This is an even harder question to get a good response out of a photographer. I think creative skill is best shown in his or her portfolio and you should let your own creative tastes be the final judge of what you think is “good” photography. I think the best question you can ask a photographer about his creative ability is…
“How did you take that photo?”
“What is the story behind that photograph?”
Good photographers will remember just about every photo he or she has ever taken (I know, incredible eh?) and most certainly will the photos they consider to be their best work. There should be an animated expression to his or her telling of the story of this or that photo and most telling, a creative insight he or she had when taking it that they now use to take better photos. This not only shows that the photographer is engaged in the process of photography, but that he or she is having fun and gets a kick out of discovering new ways of taking pictures.
Creative skill is a mysterious, illusive and obscure element. Some people have it, some people don’t. Some come by it naturally, some have to work real hard. But the common denominator running through either the natural or the learned is that each one has a vision about what they want a photograph to look like. In telling the story of how he or she took a photograph, they are giving you a window into what that philosophic vision is. For some photographers, it will be all about the lights, the make-up and the assistants. For others, it will be all about being alert and finding that “decisive moment” that sent many a Cartier Bresson fan off running with a range finder camera in his home town to document the people and the stories therin.
The creative vision of all photographers, and whether or not you want their approach for your wedding day, can be discovered by asking two simple questions…
“How did you take that photo?”
“What is the story behind that photograph?”
It is a very important question and depending on how the photographer answers, it may very well decide if you hire them or not