(If you’re just starting this 4 part piece, you might as well check out part one!)
This is the third part of a four-part list of questions to ask your wedding photographer, along with a little commentary about each question. Drop me a line if you’ve got any other questions you’d like me to comment on!
• What is this going to cost me?
Jourdan and her bridesmaids on the shuttle at the 1927 Lake Lure Inn near Chimney Rock in NC
Let’s put it this way: in the context of wedding photography, the phrase “you get what you pay for” holds especially true. You will always be able to find someone to do it cheaper. In this instance, the price should not be your main focus- you should be shopping for a photographer with your heart and your affinities first, and your budget in mind second. Most photographers can accommodate a reasonable budget… you may not get all the coverage or the special day after of shooting on the edge of the canyon, but they will almost always have some level of coverage available in a set budget. A good photographer will be very forthcoming about what will and won’t work, how much time $xxxx will get you, and what is a realistic expectation within the budget you’ve allotted.
I’m gonna let you in on a secret- all the best photographers in a given area know each other. We work together regularly, and we commiserate together as often as possible (imagine not having a water cooler or break room- we use online forums and real world meetups instead). If you can’t afford my services but we click, I’ll help you find a photographer who won’t disappoint. I’m an artist first, and as such I really want you to be happy.
Another important point is this: a good photographer can make a detail light wedding look like a rich tapestry of texture, but a bad photographer won’t do a beautiful wedding justice. So if you need to cut corners to fit a budget, start with other aspects of the wedding first. Beautiful images will last a lifetime (and beyond), but no one is going to remember that you skimped on the canapes.
My coverage for a full wedding day ranges from $6500 to $2500, and my average clients spend around $4000. That being said, an elopement or a couple hours on a weekday will be much less than that. Fill out the inquiry form if you’re interested, and let’s talk about what you’re looking for.
As a side note, payment plans and retainers are normal in my field, so if you’re planning ahead, everything can be way more affordable than you may think.
under the birch trees @ McGuire's Millrace Farm, Murphy, NC
- Do you offer images in black and white?
I hear this question more often than you might think. Unless you’re looking for a photographer to shoot film on your wedding day (which is AWESOME), you don’t need to worry about this. Part of the discussions leading up to booking a photographer will help your photographer suss out your esthetic- since most photography these days is digital, and since most digital photographers shoot in RAW file formats, a black and white conversion is a fairly simple thing. Ultimately (unless there’s a specific image you want to see as b&w) your photographer will choose the images he thinks present best in black & white (or sepia, etc) to offer to you. Often you’ll get to see both the color and the monochrome versions, but that is determined by your photographer’s process!
…to be continued…
((the final part of this article will be posted soon!))
Looking for a South Eastern wedding photographer or a North Carolina based portrait artist? Do you want the best headshot you can get?
No matter your needs, Nathan Baerreis is a seasoned photographer who can meet them with empathy and integrity. Learn more at www.nathanbaerreis.com