Tips for selecting a wedding photographer

Planning your wedding day can be a daunting task.  It will be an amazing day filled with wonderful memories marking the beginning of your life with the love of your life.

If you're getting married in the San Francisco Bay Area, in addition to finding your venue, another important task is answering the question, "Who will be your wedding photographer?"

Here is a list of some of things you should consider when looking for a SF Bay Area Wedding Photographer.

//1 The Photographer's Personality

This sounds like a silly thing to think about since you might ask, "Isn't your wedding photographer just another vendor?"  The answer to that question is a bit more complex. 

The reality is, your wedding photographer will spend more time with you, your family and your wedding group than any other vendor on your wedding day.  The personality of your wedding photographer is a huge part of the selection process and should not be overlooked or discounted. 

The personality of your San Francisco Bay Area Wedding Photographer can set the tone for your entire wedding day and your bridal party.  More than likely, you will be working with your wedding photographer for a year or more when you include your engagement session, wedding day photography and albums. 

//2 Price

Price is always an important factor when selecting your SF Bay Area Wedding Photographer.  However, price should not be the only consideration.  Nearly everyone knows someone who heard a horror story when a wedding photographer was chosen based purely on price.  The problem of choosing a photographer based strictly on price is when the event is over, your wedding photography will be all you have to remember your wedding day. 

// 3 Wedding Albums

With your wedding day behind you, what will you do with the images from your wedding photographer?  Most people decide to display them in a beautifully designed wedding album provided by their wedding photographer.  Don't underestimate the importance of a wedding album from your wedding day.  This is your first family heirloom and one keepsake you will have forever to look back on and revisit the memories from your San Francisco Bay Area wedding.

When selecting a SF Bay Area Wedding Photographer, you should look for an album that best represents you and your new family.  Wedding albums are available in nearly every shape and size.  You should ask your San Francisco Bay Area Wedding Photographer:

  1. How many pages are in the wedding album?
  2. How many images will be in the wedding album?
  3. What cover options are available for my wedding album?

// 4 Coverage

It's very easy to overlook the number of hours of coverage offered by your San Francisco Bay Area Wedding Photographer.  Covering all the moments of your day typically requires your wedding photographer to be with you for 8 - 10 hours.  This is an area where you need to be very careful.  Many SF Bay Area wedding photographers offer cut-rate prices by offering less hours than required to cover your wedding day.  These often become hidden costs, or are added on after the fact, and once you realize it, it's often too late.

//5 Number of wedding photographers

How many photographers are needed for your San Francisco Bay Area wedding?  Nearly all weddings require at least two wedding photographers.  This ensures your wedding photographer is focused on working with you and your group, while allowing the second wedding photographer to cover other events taking place at the same time. 

We find by having two SF Bay Area Wedding Photographers at your event, your wedding photography needs can be met while ensuring nothing gets missed from your wedding day.  Other photographers charge an additional amount for a second wedding photographer, but we feel that is a way to charge extra for something that should have been included in the first place.