This Bride Asks The Pros How To Choose The Right Photographer
by Candice Fehrman
Choosing the right photographer for your wedding is a daunting task. In fact, it may be the most important decision you have to make in the entire wedding-planning process. After months of weighing every option and scrutinizing every little detail, in the end you’ll realize that a wedding really is just one day—the cake will be devoured, the decorations will be tossed out, the dress will be packed up or sold. And all you’ll have left are your memories, and the pictures that keep those memories alive. As a recent bride myself, I know this dilemma all too well.
I remember panicking when I found out photographers were already booking for May 2007, more than a year in advance. Luckily, I knew a proposal was forthcoming. I called my then-boyfriend in a huff and said, “Look, I know we’re not technically engaged yet, but we have to set a wedding date right now.”
I was lucky. I already had the hard part—choosing a photographer—figured out. In addition to the sheer volume of talented photographers in the Evansville area to choose from, the decisions concerning photography options are seemingly endless. Do you want digital or film photography? Color or black-and-white? Traditional or photojournalism style? Candid or posed? It’s enough to drive a bride crazy! I recently chatted with local photographer Michelle Forche, owner of Memories by Michelle Photography, to see if she could provide some guidance for all the brides-to-be out there facing this important decision.
Michelle—who has been photographing weddings professionally for thirteen years and has owned her own company since 2000—cleared up the first dilemma right away. “I don’t know anyone who still shoots film,” she said. “The quality of digital photography has improved so much that even the most famous photographers have made the switch. I used to shoot with film myself, but once the quality was there, I switched. There are so many advantages to shooting digital.” Of these advantages, the most important is that is there is no limit to the number of images taken throughout the day. While film has a set number of shots on each roll, digital memory cards can hold more than a thousand images. This means the bride will have a bigger (and thus better) group of images to choose from for her album. In addition, any image from a digital camera can instantly be transformed to black-and-white or sepia tones—which means no extra cost for switching between color and black-and-white film. The last advantage, of course, is the option of touch-ups. If that tiny little pimple no one else notices really bothers you, it can be touched out of the picture—for an extra fee, of course.
Even more intimidating than the choice between film and digital is trying to decide which style of photography is best for you. According to Michelle, while there are several variations, there are basically two types of wedding photography: traditional and photojournalism. Traditional style is the conventional staple of wedding photography—everyone poses, stands up straight, and smiles for the camera. The photographer “sets up” the shot—sometimes even with extra lighting—and tells everyone where to look and when to smile. These shots are also known as “formals.” Photojournalism style, on the other hand, uses a more documentary-like approach. The photographer is not the main event; they don’t give a lot of instructions. Instead, he or she stays on the sidelines, documenting the day as it unfolds, capturing delightful images that could never be planned. These shots are also known as “candids.”
“The style I shoot most is a mixture of traditional and photojournalism,” says Michelle. “I do shoot the traditional formals, but I also like to do shots that are set up without looking set up. And I love to shoot completely candid shots.” These photojournalistic, candid shots are what Michelle has been focusing on since starting Memories by Michelle. Ever since she was a teenager working in photo labs, Michelle said, she has been interested in creative wedding photography.
“I remember seeing all these beautiful pictures coming into the lab, and thinking, ‘I could do that.’ I especially loved the creative ones. Shortly after I graduated, I fell into a position as an associate wedding photographer at a local studio and was trained in a very traditional manner with film cameras. When I started my own company, I really wanted to step outside of the traditional box, to find my own style.”
Unless you are absolutely certain you want a particular style, though, you don’t have to make the traditional or photojournalism decision before choosing a photographer. “I’ve had a lot of brides meet with me and say they want absolutely no posed images,” said Michelle. “But then it gets closer and closer to the wedding and they come in with a list of posed images they’ve realized they want. It’s pretty normal to change your mind throughout the process. Every bride wants a little bit of everything!”
So how do you choose the right photographer for you?
According to Michelle, there are three basic things to do when shopping for a wedding photographer. First of all, meet with several photographers and look at their previous weddings to see what you like and what you don’t like. Take time to explore their Web sites in depth. “Look for a photographer whose work really speaks to you,” she said. If you fall in love with a few images the photographer has already shot, chances are you will like the pictures they take at your wedding. Second, pick a photographer that you like as a person. “It’s really important to find someone you connect with,” said Michelle. “The photographer is going to be around the entire day of your wedding, and you don’t want to have someone who is barking orders at your relatives, or someone whose personality conflicts with yours.” Finally, decide how important photography as a whole is to you. Brides typically set aside 10–20% of their wedding budget for photography, but the amount you should spend depends on what you want. There’s a big difference between wanting a few snapshots of your big day and wanting a full-fledged professionally-designed album—a difference especially evident in price—and you need to decide what is right for you.
As far as when to start nailing down a photographer, it really depends on who you want to shoot your wedding. If you have your heart set on a specific photographer, go ahead and book up to two years in advance. Typically, a year in advance is wise. There are several bridals shows in the Evansville area each January, and dates start to fill up after these shows. And the peak months—April through October—always fill up much faster than the rest of the year. In other words, if you want to be a May bride, like me, you better start nudging that boyfriend or fiancé of yours toward setting a date. If you’re planning on December or January, you can let him drag his feet a little while longer.
If you would like to see some of Michelle's work click here to go to her vendor page.