Wedding are a big mess of contracts and hiring vendors and working out details – it’s easy to feel like things are slipping through the cracks. Sometimes it can be difficult to know exactly what you should be expecting from vendors who are professionals. If you’re hiring a wedding photographer, here’s three safe practices to look for.
Hiring a wedding photographer – the three things they MUST have:
Business Insurance
Business insurance doesn’t just cover the business owner – it helps cover you too. Their insurance can cover accidents that they caused, or even possibly your guests cause (like knocking over a photographer’s lightstand). Insurance also helps in scenarios where your images are compromised (like a faulty memory card). The scenarios where your photographer having business insurance would benefit you are endless, making this an absolute MUST. Business insurance is common – so if the photographer you’re considering for hire doesn’t carry it, run the other direction.
Contracts
Documents and contracts aren’t just there to protect photographers and their business – they’re there to protect you as a client. Contracts can include provisions about what happens in case of emergency, what money is paid back to you in the event of equipment malfunction, etc. It’s not just worst-case scenarios either – they also outline what to expect for image delivery times and protect all parties involved. Hiring a wedding photographer isn’t a scary process – but contracts make it safer. If your photographer doesn’t require one, it’s a good signal you’re not working with a professional.
Good Communication
Did it take the photographer 5 days to respond to your inquiry, and another 5 days to respond to the next email? Have they failed to outline the steps in hiring them, and also neglected to answer your questions? Did they fail to follow up with you at all? These are signs they have too much on their plate, and won’t be the resource you need of them during the planning of your event. If a photographer has poor communication before the event has started, there’s a good chance they’ll have worse communication after it’s completed. You should never fear that you won’t be able to reach them or worse, not receive your images from them. Having consistent, clear communication is a priority in hiring a professional, so if theirs is lacking, move onto your next option.
Wedding professionals all run their businesses in different ways. These three items are requirements for all of the vendors you’re considering hiring. These items will ensure that they are a trusted professional, with your best interests in mind.
M
My favorite part of your blog is when you pointed out the importance of choosing a professional wedding photographer that can communicate clearly and consistently. This is something that I will share with my sister and her boyfriend since they are planning to get married three months from now. Your tips will surely help them find a professional that they can depend on.
It made sense to me when you said that when a wedding photographer takes time to respond to your inquiry, it is a sign that they have too much on their plate. My fiance and I are planning to get married in December, and we are planning to hire a wedding photographer. We want to make sure that all our worries and questions are going to be addressed properly before our wedding day, so we will do your tips on hiring a photographer.
My favorite part of your writing was when you stressed the need of selecting a skilled wedding photographer who can do so in an effective and consistent manner. Since my sister and her fiancé are preparing to get married in three months, I will share this with them. Your advice will undoubtedly aid them in locating a qualified expert.