It’s said that once you mention the word “wedding,” prices quadruple. Vancouver Wedding Photography in particular can seem outrageously priced at times. You’ll discover the website of a photographer whose images you love and then you’ll see the rate and your heart will sink. Why on earth do you have to spend so much money on a Vancouver Wedding Photographer?
Well, a photographer’s job isn’t as simple as showing up and taking a bunch of snapshots. An independent photographer is running a business. Businesses have expenses and they take hard work to build and maintain.
The Images
Do you want a photographer or a special effect person? This is the question you need to ask yourself. Really look at a photograph that you like and ask yourself why you like it. Is it the image itself or is it what the photographer did to the image after they took it. Many of the hip and trendy treatments are just that hip and trendy and may not be so 5 or 10 years from now when you look back on your images. What is truly important is the quality of the images themselves in their true form because really…almost anything can be done to them after the fact. Look for clear, sharp, well-composed images that show creativity and unique style all on their own. A photograph should be made as it’s shot not created in Photoshop later.
Experience
This is perhaps the most important of all. You cannot put a price tag on experience. I have been a Vancouver Wedding Photographer for over ten years and I know that when your day arrives I can handle any situation, you can’t have a retake of your wedding day. Good questions to ask your Vancouver Wedding Photographers are: Do you know how to deal with rain, snow & sleet? Do they know enough about flash to get you amazing shots inside, in the dark? Do they know how to power shoot in case you are running behind? These are questions you need to ask because trust me, they are important. Even better than asking, have them show you weddings that they have shot under extreme conditions. The proof will be in the proverbial pudding.
If you follow these few pieces of advice, you are on your way to finding the quality photographer that you deserve:
1. Research. Research. Research. Look past the website and all the snazzy special effects and really see the images themselves. If they speak to you…keep going. If they don’t…move on.
2. Ask questions. Learn about their experience. Ask to see more than what’s on the website. Make sure they have a game plan to deal with every situation.
3. If you have found the one, that perfect photographer who’s images speak to you and who’s personality will be a welcome addition to your day, then cost should not be the one factor that makes it or breaks it…any budget can be reworked to make room for perhaps the most important member of your wedding team.
A Vancouver Photographer’s Expenses
Equipment. High quality camera bodies can cost $5,000. Lenses – which the photographer will need several of to capture different parts of the ceremony and reception – can cost upwards of $1500 each. And at 2,000 to 3,000 frames per wedding, even a good camera will need to be replaced every couple of years. Then there are flashes, light meters, tripods, camera bags and other miscellaneous gear.
Taxes. Your photographer is (or should be) paying taxes on every dollar she makes, just like everyone else.
Insurance. Many wedding venues require photographers and other vendors to carry liability insurance. Photographers must also insure their own camera equipment. Each of these types of insurance costs several hundreds of dollars per year.
Advertising. Word of mouth is great, but a photographer needs to keep his name out there. Advertising is expensive and essential for people to find them
Other Factors That Determine A Photographer’s Pricing
Hidden Work. A photographer doesn’t work for you only on the day of your wedding. Every meeting with potential clients is an investment of their time, whether they gets the job or not. Your photographer will spend time with you before the wedding to go over your plan for the day, your required shot list, and the design of any albums you may wish to purchase.
For every 8 hour wedding a photographer generally works 30 plus hours editing, retouching, and color-correcting hundreds of images and then creating an album and/or online gallery of your wedding photo.
Intangible Artistry. Photography is a skill and an art. A professional doesn’t simply memorize what all the camera buttons do; he or she is able to capture the beauty and emotion of your day in a unique way. Good photos are more than just technically correct, they are special.
Like professionals in any other field, wedding photographers have worked out their pricing system for a reason, and it’s not just to part you from your money! Professional photographs are a wonderful way to capture your memories. They are not essential, but they are priceless.
You should never feel pressured into paying more than you want to pay for wedding pictures, but neither should you assume that higher prices are simply a scam or a rip-off. Once the cake is eaten and the flowers wilted, your photos (and your marriage!) are what you have left. A good photographer will provide you with photos that are worthy of becoming part of your family’s history.
