It often occurs to me that people do not understand why wedding photography is priced the way it is. So I would like to take a minute to talk about it. I understand that weddings are expensive and I understand that there are moments when sanity is questioned in paying for the wedding…but the ONLY thing left after the wedding besides the actual marriage are the photographs. This is why it is very important to select an experienced photographer who dedicates their heart and soul into weddings. Those of us who have higher prices have them because we have overhead in our business just as ANY other business would. We have professional equipment, we have insurance and taxes to pay. We have many times well over 50 hours into your wedding by the time you get your final images. Trust me when I say we are working hard for our money 🙂
So you know how those magazines all have a list of questions to ask your photographer…I would ask your photographer some more professional questions. For example what professional organizations do you belong too? I love how in every walk of life you need a resume and qualifications but it seems that in wedding photography these things get pushed to the wayside. I can tell you that in the list of amazing wedding photographers in Maine not only do they all belong to professional organizations but many of them have been in print and some even have degrees in photography. I myself do not have a degree but have made it a point to go to as many conventions, workshops, and seminars as possible all over the northeast. I also am a member of the Professional Photographers Association, the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International Organization, the Wedding Photojournalist Association, and the Maine and Massachusetts Professional Photography Association, as well as Professional Photographers Association of New England.
So why do I think this is important?… I think it is important because being in these organizations means that you have had to prove that you do this as a business and that you have professional quality work. Just as I don’t buy things from companies that aren’t reputable why would you want someone who doesn’t even claim this as their primary income to photograph your most special day? Let me say that in the four seasons I have been doing this I have learned a lot that I wish I had known when I was photographing my first weddings. It really helps when someone has studied under people who are wedding photographers because then they have experience in the field. I am just trying to point out it is risky business to NOT invest in your wedding photography. THE MOST COMMON REGRET IS NOT HIRING A PROFESSIONAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER!
So please take the time to meet with us, find someone whose work you like, and whose PERSONALITY you LOVE because we are with you every second of your fabulous wedding day 🙂 Good luck and enjoy the planning you will have a wonderful time.