32 Counties Photography

Welcome to part 3 in a series designed to help out those who are in the process of hiring a wedding photographer.   Please see the first two articles here:

How to Choose your Wedding Photographer.

Selecting your Wedding Photography Package.

So, let’s assume you were able to find someone who fit all of those criteria, you got everything you wanted in your package, and now you’re ready to book them and sign the contract!  lets go!

Wooohoo!  Right?

Slow down…   This is the most important part of the process.  This is where you tell your photographer exactly what you require from him, and he tells you exactly what he is going to do for you.   If your expectations aren’t clearly met in this contract, chances are there will be communication issues and problems ahead.  It’s also good to remember that photographers aren’t lawyers, and while we know the contract is a necessary evil, it’s usually annoyingly long.   So while the contract isn’t nearly as fun as shooting your engagement session or collaborating on ideas for your wedding shoot, it’s very important for you and your photographer to be on the same page before you sign anything…

In the following article, I’m going to break down each section of my current wedding contract, and explain what it’s for, why it’s  included and what you need to watch out for.  I’ll also be attaching a PDF of my contract at the end of this paragrah, feel free to download it if you want to get familiar with what you should be seeing when you meet your photographer.

32 Counties Wedding Contract

Section 1:  Contact information

This section will require a LOT of names, email addresses and phone numbers.  This includes both the bride and grooms info, the wedding officiant, the reception manager, the wedding planner, and the best man/maid of honor.   It’s very important that we be able to contact all of these people in order to coordinate things like access to buildings, organization of groups of people, and so we can talk to the other people who will be in charge of different aspects of your wedding.   The more people you have on the same page come the day of your wedding, the smoother things will run.

Section 2: Wedding Day Details

This section generally includes all of the details specific to your wedding – where, when, how many, wedding attire and wedding theme.  There should also be a section for anything different or crazy that the photographer should be aware of.    This information is very important to the photographer in a number of ways.  It essentially allows him to prepare for particular moments and details of the wedding that are very important to you, but might not be obvious to a bystander, or might be different and unique to your wedding, and would require a little extra prep work.  I mean lets just say you’re going to break out a little Vanilla Ice for your first dance, or the Philly Phanatic is going to jump out of the wedding cake… You’d want your photographer to be ready to capture that, right!?!?

Section 3: Pricing and Package information

Pay attention to this section!   If you gloss over the rest of the contract, for the love of god, pay attention here.   This is where the details of your chosen wedding package will be formally entered into a contract.   This section should include all of the following details:

• How much you are paying the photographer
• The amount of the deposit, and the terms for the final payment
• The breakdown of the package
• Any special terms, conditions or special services you have negotiated
• How many hours the photographer will be working

If any of those are missing from this section – ADD THEM.   You need all of this to be in the contract.   Should a problem arise later on, it is this section of the contract that will determine who is responsible, and for what.   If your photographer tries to claim you only paid for 4 hours of photography for your 8 hour wedding, it is this section of the contract that will set him straight.   If your photographer tries to cheap out on the prints you paid him for, it is this section of the contract that will make sure you get your prints.   Hopefully, none of these problems will ever arise, and more often than not, if problems like this do arise, it’s usually a mis-communication that causes the problems.   Having this section of your contract fully detailed will eliminate the opportunity for that to happen.  When you are done here, both you and your photographer will be on the exact same page as to what you are paying for, and what you should expect to receive.

Section 4: Legalities

In this section, you will find a long list of itemized conditions that make the contract legal.  Chances are, this was drawn up by a contract lawyer, and will probably contain too many words for anyone to even consider reading it.   I will give some bullet points here to give you some idea what to expect inside this section.   This is designed to protect both you and the photographer, and usually does a pretty good job at that.   The list:

• Once you sign, the date is officially booked.   The photographer will not accept another job on this date, and you will not hire another photographer.
• If you cancel the wedding or change the date, the contract is void.   The photographer will keep the deposit, but you will not owe the balance.
• You agree to meet with the photographer prior to the wedding to discuss all final details and to arrange times/locations/details.
• You agree to set aside appropriate time for the photographer to shoot formals.
• As the wedding is based on a timing structure, you understand that any delay that cuts out photography time will reduce the number of pictures you ultimately receive.
• The photographer is not responsible for people who do not show up to be photographed, or do not cooperate with having their picture taken.
• All images taken are property of the photographer under copyright law, and cannot be used for commercial or profitable uses without permission and compensation of the photographer.  All personal use by the clients is allowed under this copyright.
• Model Release: The photographer may use the images taken as part of a portfolio and advertisements to generate more business.
• The photographer will be the only professional photographer at the wedding.   This means Uncle Joey can’t bring his gear and stand in front of the photographer all night.
• The photographer will complete the clients order within X number of days
• In the event the photographer has some sort of emergency, the photographer will provide the client with a professional replacement who will complete the contract as signed.  If a replacement cannot be found, all money will be refunded.
• any changes to the contract will need to be approved by both parties.

Yeah, that’s a lot of words, right?   How many of you just glossed over that list?   The real contract is about 4 times that length.  I don’t blame any of you for not reading it, but there really is some important stuff in there.

From experience, the one I get the most questions about is the model release, so I just wanted to discuss that quickly…   Lets be honest here – if you didn’t get to see a good amount of the photographers past work, you would not be here hiring them.   The model release and the displaying of past work is the ONLY way a photographer is able to obtain new work.

Section 5: Signatures

This is it… Last chance for questions…  Last chance for adding more data…  Once you sign, it’s sealed.   Getting this done can be a great relief, as it means one more piece of the wedding puzzle is solved.   Just make sure you’re happy with every other word on the contract before you sign it.

So that’s it.   At this point, you have yourself a wedding photographer!  Congratulations!!!

Thanks again for reading.

- Jared

As always, if you have any questions or comments, by all means, jump in.  The more information we get out there, the better!

Hopefully I was able to answer a lot of questions for those who are searching for the right wedding photographer in last week’s article –   How to Choose your Wedding Photographer.

So, lets assume that after reading last week, you were able to evaluate a couple of potential photographers, and have found one that meets all of the criteria…  Time to sign the contract, right!?!?

Hold on a second…

Choosing a wedding package is one of the most critical parts of your wedding photography, but often I find couples just glossing over the details and just picking the one with the price closest to their ideal budget number.   Of course the price is one important factor, but no one will end up happy if price is the only criteria used to make your choice.

So today i’m going to go through a standard wedding package, and show you what to look for and how to select the package that encompases everything that you expect your wedding photographer to deliver.

For reference, here is a downloadable PDF of our current wedding packages:  Wedding Packages

There are a couple of easy ones to identify, so we’ll get those out of the way first:

Number of Photographers – Some photographers shoot by themselves, others will either always shoot with a partner or will bring an assistant to larger weddings and when it is requested.  There are advantages and dis-advantages to each, and really, it boils down to the preference of the bride and groom, as well as the style of the photographer.  I honestly believe that there isn’t an inherent advantage to either, but rather it is more important that the photographer be comfortable with the choice.   If your photographer is used to shooting alone, it would be quite awkward to bring in a second photographer and expect them to be on the same page at all times.  On the other hand, if your photographer is used to shooting with a partner, they surely have established a pattern of responsibility and communication that works best for them.   Considering that at this point you have already looked at the photographers work and it passed your criteria, it should be fair to say that whatever the photographers philosophy here, it’s working for him.

Hours of Coverage – This one is easy.  Coverage means start time to end time.  It doesn’t mean ‘only the time the photographer is shooting’.   If your photographer is required to start at 10am to photograph the bride and her bridesmaids at their hair appointment, and the reception ends at 10pm, that is 12 hours of coverage.   If your photographer is properly shooting your wedding, there is no down time in those 12 hours.   When he’s not shooting the bride and groom, he will be shooting detail shots for the wedding albums, coordinating times and locations with the other wedding coordinators, and setting up/breaking down studio equipment for formal portraits and reception lighting.   Make sure you have enough coverage.

Additional Shooting Sessions – Want an engagement shoot?  Bridal Portraits?  Trash the Dress Session?  If you want one of these, make sure it is in the package that you select, and discuss the terms and have them written into the contract.   There is a huge range of variables in here, so you’ll want to make sure you and your photographer are on the same page.   Things like the location, length of shoot, final use and presentation of the pictures are all things that will need to be discussed before hand, to avoid surprises and let downs.

So that was all pretty straight forward, right? I hope so.  After those three items, the decisions get a little more perticular, and as any business owner will tell you, the devil is in the details…

Proofs – Proofs are another area where personal preference is the only real guideline.   With proofs, you typically only have 2 choices – an online gallery or a whole lot of really small prints.  Both will serve the same purpose – to allow you to view your images and choose which ones you would like to be turned into professional prints.   They should be un-edited, numbered, and in chronological order.    Most photographers have converted the proofs into an online gallery, as it is a much faster and easier process.  The proofs can be ported directly from the camera into the gallery, usually within days or a week of the wedding, and it allows unlimited access to the couple and their family.   Printed proofs are usually available by request, but often have an additional cost, so if you would prefer this, make sure it is included in your wedding package.

Prints – It is very difficult to decide the size, number and quality of the prints you will want from your wedding before it actually takes place.   More often than not, a couple will see the pictures from their wedding, and only then, will they feel comfortable choosing what they want printed.   In anticipation of this, more and more photographers are now including a ‘print credit’ in their packages, instead of forcing couples into specific print sizes and quantities.   This is a great practice, and I am personally glad more photographers are moving toward this.   However, you MUST make sure that print pricing is provided up front, so that you can see just how far that print credit will get you, and if necessary negotiate a print credit that better fits your estimated needs before you agree on a package.   Prints do cost more than most people assume, so it’s better to know beforehand.   It’s also necessary to understand that the prints you will be provided from your photographer are completely different than what the average person can get on their own.   All of your prints from your photographer should be professionally touched up for correct color balance, sharpness and contrast, and should also be printed on the highest quality archival materials available.   This will not only provide a superior image at the time you receive it, but the archival process ensures that a print will not fade or discolor over time.

Wedding Albums – This is one of the most important decisions you will make in regards to your wedding photography.   There are so many choices that it’s often difficult for the photographer to sort through them, and it can be downright overwhelming for a newly  engaged couple.   Hopefully your photographer has narrowed down the options they present to a couple of products they believe in, and present them to you in a manner that is easy to understand and navigate.  I won’t be breaking down the choices here, as this would quickly turn into a novel if I did, but if you have any questions about a particular option or type of album, please feel free to ask.   No matter which styles or options you are presented, it’s very important to make sure that your photography package includes the type of album that you want, or at the very least, you are aware of the cost of the album, and understand what the total cost of your wedding package will be, album included. I do recommend that all couples purchase an album.   A good wedding album allows the couple to look back at their wedding in a linear, storybook type of setting that cannot be replicated in any other way.

Wow.   That’s a lot of words.   If you’ve made it this far, it’s pretty safe to assume that you’re knee-deep in the process of choosing your wedding photographer.   I really hope that this article helps to make things easier for you.   However, if you do have any questions or would like some more help with wedding packages please let me know.   It doesn’t matter if 32 Counties Photography is your wedding photographer or not (although we’d like to be …  ), I write these articles to help make the process easier for everyone that I can.

Spring is here!   It’s time to get out and get shooting…   Coming soon – more engagement sessions, an article written by a friend and awesome wedding planner Briana Scazafabo of ‘Live Life Events’, and the 3rd part of this series – The Wedding Contract….

Thanks for reading!

- Jared

As always, if you have any questions or comments, by all means, jump in.  The more information we get out there, the better!

At this point in both my professional and personal lives, I’m surrounded by weddings. Both my shooting partner and myself are recently married, a lot of my friends and co-workers are in various stages of getting married, and of course, I’ve been lucky enough to have a lot of couples select me to photograph their days. One thing I’ve come to notice with all of this going on around me, is that most couples are really at a loss on how to select their photographer, and what criteria are actually important. Today I’m going to discuss the top 5 most important criteria a couple should look for when selecting a photographer.

5.  Competence - Lets get this out of the way first. One would think that if someone were advertising himself or herself as a wedding photographer that they must have the basics of photography down. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Without harping on this too much, I’ve seen first hand just how easy it is to be tricked into selecting a photographer who’s only concern is cashing your check. Fortunately, it’s VERY easy to eliminate the people who do wedding photography only for the paycheck, and find a photographer who cares as much about your wedding as you do. Any photographer worth their salt should be able to breeze through the following:

1. – What gear do you use, and how often do you update it? – Photographers always have been, and always will be, equipment junkies at heart. We LOVE getting new gear, updating our equipment and adding new toys to our stable of tools. It’s fun. Anyone who just brushes this question off is either hiding something, or uninterested in what they are doing. A camera might be a tool, but it’s not as bland as a hammer. Ask my wife; she’ll confirm that I’m like a little kid at Christmas every time UPS shows up at our house…
2. - Aside from Wedding Photography, how else are you invested into photography? – Wedding photographers weren’t born as wedding photographers. We all started with a love of photography, and a passion for capturing our visions with a camera. Photography is an art, and a good wedding photographer will still follow personal interests and will be feeding their photographic urge in other ways than just photographing weddings. This could be anything from submitting work to fine art galleries to teaching college classes part time or traveling and shooting serene landscapes around the world. But there WILL be some other outlet. If not, then you’re talking to someone who is not personally invested into what they are doing. You’re personally invested in your wedding, right? Why would you expect less from the people you choose to be involved?
3. - Let me see more than one complete wedding. – This could be in the form of physical wedding albums, online albums, or proof sheets, but it’s important that you see the finished work, from start to finish. Anyone can get one or two shots right, especially at a wedding, where everyone looks great and the environment and surroundings are staged for beauty and emotion. However, if you are able to evaluate the photographer from start to finish, you will get a great impression of what they are capable of. Remember, what they are showing you is what they want you to see – It’s their best work.

4. Professionalism -    Who are you dealing with here? Is your photographer a professional? Are they on time? Are they prepared? Are they dressed appropriately? Are they in control of the situations you expect them to be in control of? If you’re not satisfied with the answers to all of these questions – move on. Your photographer’s actions and demeanor throughout all of your contact leading up to your selection should give you a crystal clear idea of who they are and how they conduct their business. If they can’t handle responding to your emails in a timely manner, or show up to your meeting on time, how can you trust them to capture everything on your wedding day? This is a business, and being competent with a camera is only half the battle.

3. Fulfilling your needs – Every day, I see a huge disconnect between couples and photographers in this area… It should be obvious – no couple has ever needed this service before this point in their lives, so how could they possibly know what they need? In my opinion, it falls on the photographer to be able to clearly explain every single aspect of how the photography aspect of a wedding should work, and tailor their services to meet the specific needs and desires of the couple. Before selecting a photographer, the couple should understand how everything will work, from the contract to the wedding day to the selection and delivery of the printed albums and photographs. I have seen so many instances of couples that have signed contracts that are almost the exact opposite of what they actually want out of their photography, and of course, frustration and unhappiness ensues. It’s very important for the photographer to both explain and provide examples for any choice that the couple needs to decide on, and it’s very important for a couple to not sign a contract until they are satisfied with the answers.

2. Style -    This is an easy one. Do you like the photographs your photographer takes? A photographer cannot change their style. It’s an extension of their personality. It’s a part of them. If you give 100 photographers an assignment, you’ll get 100 different results. While it’s always a great idea to give your photographers some examples of photographs you like and styles that interest you, if the photographers previous work doesn’t match up with what you like, you won’t get photographs you like. It’s that simple. I always ask for my clients to send me some photographs that resonate with them, and it gives me a good idea of whether or not I can meet their expectations.

1. Personality -   I saved this for number 1, because I believe it’s very important and very under emphasized. Your photographer’s personality and his or her ability to fit in and interact with you and your guests will have a HUGE impact on the photos. You need to be able to relax and be comfortable around your photographer. Simply put – How can you expect your photographer to capture the emotion and energy of your wedding if every interaction you have with them is awkward, out of place, confusing or frustrating? The personality of your photographer will be present of every single aspect of your wedding photography, and the last thing any couple needs while planning their wedding is an additional point of stress. Find a photographer who makes things easier and fun for you.

Hopefully this clears up some things for a lot of you looking for your wedding photographer, and even provides some insight for wedding photographers who are trying to do things to better provide for their clients…
I am more than happy to answer any questions for any couple looking for a photographer, and invite all feedback and discussions…
Check back next week for ‘Wedding Contracts – Decoded’

- Jared

As always, if you have any questions or comments, by all means, jump in.  The more information we get out there, the better!