These big companies know you are not going to read the fine print of their contracts. Bold text on
their packages they say you will get digital negatives. What they don't say they will have watermarks
on them so you cant use them with these watermarks. Some companies say they own the images. In
both cases you have to pay big money to buy the images that you though you were paying for.
Do you get to chose who your photographer is or are they assigned to you a few months before your
wedding. What happens if you don't like the one they assign to you. I photographed a wedding where
the Videographer really piss of the bride by the way he spoke to her while preparing to get dressed for
her wedding. I'm sure that put a damper on her wedding day. At the very least do a zoom call. I
suggest actually meeting in person to build a personal connection. If we like each other you will
understand the I will have to be your face for eight hours. I will care that you need some privacy
sometimes.
Know what type of photography you want for your wedding. A lot of
photojournalists are shooting weddings now. That usually means no assisted flash. Some of them will
use bounce flash by pointing the on camera flash at the ceiling or a wall. This is much better then no
flash, but it does not work in dark rooms or if the walls and or ceiling are very far away. When it does
work it can accentuate large foreheads. I like to use two off camera remote flashes that I control from
my on camera flash one is a front light or side light, and the other a back light.
Is your photographer insured? All companies say they require that we carry liability insurance
but they don't ask to see the paper work. Because it states it in our subcontract that we are
responsible to obtain it and we will be held libel not the company.
Who edits the photographs? The companies say the photographer does not have to do it they pay
some else to do it for the company. Is it farmed out to another country or is it done by A.I. I like to
do it myself. the company can make a lot of money by up selling that as well. Custom editing and
retouching.
Is the photographer or the company going to hire a assistant to work with them? How
about a second shooter? Separate Videographer? How many cameras do they use?
How long will it take to see the photographs? I have to deliver my images to the
company in 4 days. But they tell the clients 6 weeks.