Which wedding photographer would you choose?

Question

What is more important to you...a wedding photographer that is well known, has lots of previous wedding experience and charges a lot of money or one that has only photographed one wedding, but has done more with nature photography and is more reasonable in price? Thanks for your answers in advance.

Keep in mind the quality would be the same with either photographer.

Answer 1

I was in the exact same predicament as you. I chose the cheaper photographer because he is going to give us all of our pictures, he is going to stay until I tell him to leave compared to the higher photographer who would only have stayed for 5 hours and I would have to pay him more by the hour. I also based my decision on the personality of the photographer. My cheaper photographer is such a free spirit and I know that I will have fun with him takin my pictures and he will make me laugh and he will do anything in his power to make me happy and make my pictures come out awesome. And when we talk together about the wedding and what I want he gets so excited and he can't wait just as much as I can't. I think that's cute. But more expensive doesn't always mean better! Good Luck!

Answer 2

Perhaps you can find a third option. Someone with a bit more experience than nature photographer, but a bit less money than experienced photographer. I know pictures are expensive, sometimes outrageously. However, it is somewhat true that you get what you pay for. Definitely get one that will give you all the pictures on a CD. That will make it a million times easier when 5 years later you want another print. You don't have to hope they are still in business, hope they kept your negatives, hope they don't cost a fortune, etc. My photographer did weddings to put herself through college. She'd done a number of them, but there are still some shots I wished she'd done better. Especially the bridal party shots. I can't tell you how many have one sister looking away and the other slouching. A more experienced photographer would have caught that and told them to a. look at camera, and b. stop slouching. From the pictures you would think my sister is a hunchback. Luckily, I have 500, so I found 30 good ones for an album. Good luck finding the right photographer.

Answer 3

Well, I'm a photographer who does a lot of weddings, but don't charge an arm and a leg. If your nature photographer is going to make you look beautiful, is good with posing, is good with people, then go with that one. However, there is a big difference between nature and people photography. And after your day is over, all you have is the picture. I would take a look at the portfolio and find some other things on the web that you'd like to try as far as posing. Remember that if you are heavy, your photographer should not shoot up on you, but shoot down...of course, if you are a skinny-mini, it doesn't matter, and he/she can play with different angles.

Answer 4

Look at samples of each photographer's work. Make sure you see examples of the nature photographer's wedding shots. Instead of just looking at the price, consider what kind of pictures you want. Do you want a lot of posed shots, or more candids? Do you want an album put together, or a disc? After the big day, this is all that will be left. Make sure you get exactly what you want. You will still be looking at these photos 20 years from now. Good luck.

Answer 5

Sorry, but the quality WON'T be the same with both photographers. A photographer who has only done one wedding and is used to nature photography (still life) is going to miss a lot of impromptu pictures. You don't want all of your pictures to be formal, posed shots, and a nature photographer isn't skilled at going for the more candid shots that involve movement. Bottom line is that the nature photographer doesn't yet have an eye for seeing a perfect shot and going for it quickly before the moment passes.

Answer 6

i would be wary of a photographer that hasn't done many weddings. I think it takes alot of experiance to really fall in the groove of weddings, being able to anticipate when a special moment is going to happen is hard to do if you have been photographing nature all your life.

I would suggest going to the one with lots of experiance and telling them that you love their work but your budget only allows a certain amount and see if they can work with you on your budget. Most would be willing. I would not want to skimp on photography as that will be the only thing to look back on and remember.

Answer 7

I hired a couple who were just getting into wedding photography when I got married, they were so great. It was like they became additional guests at the wedding instead of photographers. Because of this they were able to get really awesome shots because people were at ease around them and not thinking about their cameras. If they have gone to school for photography then they know how to snap people as well as trees, I think you will be fine. But it all depends on your comfort level with them. What kind of feeling do you get when you have met with them? If its at all uneasy, I wouldnt do it.

Answer 8

I picked my photographer because she was a better price and gave us the CD. Getting the CD of all the picture was the most important thing to me.... Yes, I want the pictures to look nice but I don't want to have to pay for ever single copy.
This first guy we saw as freaken amazing and we loved his work but he was twice as much, didn't offer a CD and wanted $$ for ever print plus charge extra for a flush mount album. The girl I am going with is good! Gives us the whole CD and just charge us the printer cost to upgrade the album- she didn't pad it with her own cost.

My suggestion is- get the nature guy to do engagement photo for you and see how you like him. That's what we did and we were very happy with her. You never know until you actually USE them so go for engagement pics!!

Answer 9

i'd definitley go with the second one. people who do nature photography or photojournalism are often very keen on detials, and have a very creative eye. the one who's shot tons of weddings...well in my opinion all their photos look the same with different people in them. it will be the same poses, the same angles, etc, etc. i'll probably have one of my friends who's a photo major and wants to do photojournalism take my pictures......i think asking someone with a fresh slate will get you the best, most creative and personal pictures. try asking art students at your local college. just make sure if there are shots you absolutely MUST have, make a list for them, other than that, let their creative juices flow!! congrats and good luck!

Answer 10

I say if you trust the cheaper photographer, go with that one. Some times if they are more new to professional photography they will have more new fresh ideas for photo opportunities.