What are you REALLY paying for when you book the more expensive photographer?
If you’re a modern day bride (or groom), you’ve undoubtedly seen the Facebook posts in the wedding groups looking for a photographer who “won’t break the bank,” is “budget friendly” or “doesn’t charge an arm and a leg.” I get it, everyone has a budget (whether that’s $1000 or $10,000) and in this day in age many couples are paying for their weddings themselves. It is important to set a budget because after all it’s the responsible thing to do and it’s only one day out of your entire marriage. But what are you really missing out on when you go for the cheapest option? Let’s explore what you’re REALLY paying for when you opt to book the more expensive photographer and what the very real risks could be if you choose the cheaper option.
Experience
A photographer that charges more, most likely has more experience with shooting weddings. This is extremely important because photographing a wedding is very different from photographing basically anything else. Weddings are fast paced, often high stress events with a million little moving parts that could easily be missed or go wrong. A more seasoned wedding photographer has seen it all or at least more than someone who has never shot a wedding or very few. For example, when I got married years ago, I hired a friend who was an amazing newborn photographer who wanted to get into weddings. She had only shot a few at that point, but I knew she was a great photographer so I trusted her skill. My photographer stayed in the back of the venue for my entire ceremony which resulted in zero photos of my father walking me down the aisle, obviously a very key and important shot. Learn from my mistake and entrust your memories with a seasoned wedding professional!
A Legal Legitimate Business
A photographer who charges more is charging a livable wage which means this is most likely their full time job/business which also implies they are well established. This is important for a few reasons. Most clients book their photographer 9-16 months before their wedding date. The odds are in your favor that a well established photographer will still be in business when your wedding rolls around. Someone who’s just starting out, may already be out of business or has lost interest.
Another reason to hire a well established photographer is they will have a contract along with liability insurance in place to protect themselves but also protect you in case of an emergency. Hiring a non-legitimate non-licensed business puts you at risk for your photographer to not show up, not deliver your photos in a timely manner, deliver a sub-quality product or lose your photos with zero legal repercussions. I unfortunately see it all the time in the wedding Facebook groups: clients whose photographer canceled on them last minute, has very irregular communication, never delivered their photos or delivered such a poor quality product after showing something completely different on their website. Don’t be a victim of non-legitimate photography businesses. Always make sure you are working with a licensed & insured photographer with a contract in place.
Quality & Consistency
A photographer who charges more knows their worth. Photography is an art form and a technical skill that takes years to hone and perfect a personal style. Booking with a higher end photographer basically guarantees you a top quality product consistent with the work you see on their website and social media. Make sure you ask to see a few full galleries of REAL weddings as well, so you have a better idea of what to expect with your own gallery. Also, quantity does not equal quality. Simply asking a photographer how many photos they deliver doesn’t mean you’re getting more bang for your buck. If one says 2000 and the other says 500. You could be getting 2000 crappy mostly duplicate shots with the first and 500 well crafted, hand edited frame worth images with the second. (For more on this check out my blog: The 5 Most Important Questions to Ask When Choosing Your Wedding Photographer)
You can also do your part as a client. Using language like “won’t break the bank,” “budget friendly” or “doesn’t charge an arm and a leg” doesn’t attract quality photographers to you as a client. This gives the impression that you don’t value their service, so photographers who do respond to that probably don’t value you either.
So while having a budget is understandable, it’s important you understand the risk of hiring the cheap photographer and the benefit and rewards of hiring the more expensive option. Because in the end, these are YOUR memories of your wedding and the only thing you have left of the day. So, isn’t that something worth investing a little bit more in?
How LGBTQ+ Weddings are Unique + Tips for Being More Inclusive in your Photography Business
How LGBTQ+ Weddings are Unique + Tips for Being More Inclusive in your Photography Business
So how are LGBTQ+ weddings different from cisgender/heterosexual weddings? Well the short answer is THEY AREN’T! Their big day is still about celebrating the union of two lovebirds with friends & family. That being said, there CAN BE a few differences that you should be aware of and sensitive to as a photographer/wedding professional.
Chosen Family
An unfortunate reality of the LGBTQ+ community as a whole is the lack of acceptance or support by their biological families. Thankfully this is not always the case, but it’s absolutely something to be aware of. Often times, the couple’s CHOSEN family will take precedence in photos over bio family. As a photographer, this can show up as, less formal family photos and more photos with friends. The couple may also choose to walk together down the aisle or be walked by a friend or non-traditional family member.
Gender and Pronouns
Using verbiage such as “same sex couple” or “gay wedding” on your website is not very inclusive. Being an LGBTQ+ couple does not automatically mean they are the same gender. They may even appear to be a cis/het couple. For all you know, they may both be non-binary! This is why you always want to find out your client’s pronouns as soon as possible. I highly suggest removing gender-specific verbiage and pronouns from your website, contact form, contracts and email interactions.
Gender Roles
As a photographer, no doubt you have your go-to poses for your cis/het couples that perfectly capture their relationship. These go-to poses may or may not accurately capture the relationship of an LGBTQ+ couple. Never assume gender roles are in affect on any level in their relationship, even if one partner’s appearance is more masculine or feminine.
I highly recommend offering a complimentary engagement session (if you don’t already) to get to know your client’s dynamic before their wedding day. I will often suggest a pose to my clients and allow them to choose their own position within it. I’ll say things like “however feels right for your relationship.” By working with them ahead of time, you will learn their unique dynamic and will not need as much direction on the day of their wedding.
Comfort Level
LGBTQ+ weddings will be some of the most fun, love-filled weddings you will ever experience but if you have never photographed an LGBTQ+ wedding before, I highly suggest 2nd shooting a few with a seasoned photographer before booking one yourself. Your client’s comfort level is of utmost importance and if YOU feel in any way uncomfortable, it will impact them. You can also set up a styled wedding shoot with an LGBTQ+ couple. Just make sure to use models who are a couple in REAL LIFE.
I hope this blog has helped give you some insight into how to become more inclusive of LGBTQ+ couples in your wedding photography business. Though there are a few things to be aware of, LGBTQ+ couples just want what every other couple wants - an unforgettable day celebrating their love!
