5 Things to consider before hiring a wedding photographer

Hey there! Are you engaged and completely overwhelmed with the insane amount of options you have for wedding photographers? Or wedding vendors in general? We all do things a little differently, and you will want someone who works well with you.

Of course there are things you will need to consider while booking a wedding photographer:

1. Do I like their style and branding? It’s important to check out their work. Visit their social media pages. Dig through their website. Ask to see a full wedding gallery as an example. You will want to know what you can expect on the day of your wedding. The style of work they produce needs to be consistent, and you need to connect with their style! Your wedding is a big once in a lifetime day! You will need to carefully consider your vendors.

2. Are they a professional business? Do they have things like insurance and contracts? Contracts not only protect the photographer you’re doing business with, but they also protect you as a customer! Do they have the right equipment to do the level of job that you are expecting? Are they responsive? Do they have a customer experience/booking process? All of these things are essential to running a good business and chances are your photographer has thought about them thoroughly.

3. Do they offer what I want within my budget constraints? Everyone has a limited amount of money to work with while planning a wedding. And the truth is, you will spend the most on those items you value the most! Personally, I believe your wedding photos will have the most long term value. They will be around years after your wedding, unlike the cake, or food, or invitations, etc. You will need to make sure to invest in those vendors according to how you value them. And maybe the cake or the dress is the most important thing to you for your wedding day! That’s great! You will need to take that into consideration.

4. Do I get along with this photographer? It’s important to see if you are a good fit for each other! Your wedding photographer is at your side the ENTIRE day! They are guiding you, cheering you on, helping you in any capacity they can on that important day. You need to make sure that your personalities work well together!

5. Do they offer the products I want? Perhaps you want an album, or maybe all you want are digitals. Make sure your photographer offers the timeless products and prints you want as heirlooms for you and your family!

I hope this list helps you start to consider what you want in a wedding photographer. Thanks for reading.

My Booking Process:

I wanted to take a minute to talk about what the process of booking with me looks like! This is of course for a typical family, maternity or newborn shoot.  I have made this handy flow chart to help clarify:

First thing you need to know is that booking is super easy! Just contact me! You can do that through Direct message on Instagram, Messenger on Facebook, you can email me at Korycallihanphotography@gmail.com, or you can call or text me.  All my contact information is listed on the contact page of my website.  Which is here.  From there we will pick a date and place.

Next you will receive three emails from me. Don’t get overwhelmed! If you ever have any questions just let me know. These emails are:

1.       A model release (so that I can use your pictures for my website, social media and portfolio.)

2.       General Photography Contract (this is standard).

3.       An invoice. (the first payment of $100 is due within the week to hold the date).

You can sign these contracts through ShootProof online for your convenience.  You can also pay with a credit or debit card through ShootProof or you can send cash or check.

Then after all the contracts are signed and payments are made, I send you a beautiful welcome packet so that you know what to expect with your shoot. I also send a what to wear guide and some resources that might help you in that area.

Next, I want you to start getting excited for your shoot! I assure you, I am thinking and planning for your photo shoot, and would love it if you communicate what shots are important to you.

By this time your photo shoot date has arrived.  You have paid the remainder of your invoice. Now comes the fun part! Come to your photo shoot relaxed and ready! After the shoot is complete we will schedule a viewing and ordering session. I really see this session as an additional service. It can be hard and overwhelming to go through your photos and narrow down your favorites. It can be overwhelming to pick out which ones you want as prints. So at this session I help you to do just that! I also can show you sizes and samples of everything. It is very helpful to see product examples before you order them.

Next, I spend time culling and editing. I hand edit every picture I deliver.  I am very picky and will only select the very best ones for your gallery. After the gallery is ready, I will contact you to remind you of our viewing and ordering session.

Next, I will sit down with you and go through your photos at a viewing and ordering session. You also will receive access to the gallery online through ShootProof.  You will receive an email saying your gallery is ready.  Then you can share it with your family and friends. You and your family and friends can order prints! This is available for a limited time, as you will also receive the digital images on a thumb drive. The prints you specifically order through the gallery will come directly to me. Or at our viewing and ordering session, I will help place your order, and then I receive it. When I receive the prints and products I repackage it to reflect my brand, and add your thumb drive with all of your digital images. I then get your package to you either through the mail or directly to you! At this point I remove the gallery online.

Next, I send you a review request. I ask that if you have enjoyed your experience you’d leave me a 5 star review.  You can do this through google or Facebook.  I give some prompts to think about when writing your review too! I want to make it as easy as possible!

And that’s it!! I hope you book with me! I really do value every single client I have, and I truly enjoy gushing over your photos.  I hope we can connect over our mutual love for art and good photography. Hope to hear from you soon!  

Why You Should Hire a Photographer

I know what you are wondering. Why should I hire a photographer when I can take pretty decent photos on my phone? Well I completely understand this question. It is a valid one. A regular point and shoot camera or even your phone camera can give you pretty good quality photos! Plus, if you are a DIYer, like myself, you might want to save the money and just do it yourself. And maybe that is the right path for you! However, I’m here to open your eyes and see the value in hiring a photographer. Here are a few reasons I think it is important to hire a photographer.

Reason 1: Photographers have a trained eye for editing

The truth is, the auto setting on your camera doesn’t always get skin tones correct. For example, in backlit situations, chances are your camera will see all that golden light and automatically make an adjustment for it, creating blue or cooler skin tones that are inaccurate. When you are first starting out it is really hard to train your eyes to see correct skin tones and color casts. This is something that takes time. And a good photographer will have labored many many hours to hone that skill. Also, artistic style when editing can really make a photo stand out. I, for one, have created my own presets so that I get a consistent color and black and white photo every time. Many photographers edit in different styles ranging to a more cinematic, bright and airy, or clean look. So picking a photographer whose style you enjoy is important, and is a great reason to invest in their business.

Reason 2: Technical Ability

When you first start out it is really easy to mess up the white balance, or the exposure. I know it was something I really had to work on! Hiring a photographer will ensure that the photos delivered won’t be under or over exposed, and they look their best. Photographers also have worked hard to know how to position someone in good light. Composition also plays a very important role for the photographer. A great way to elevate your photography is through good composition. This might not be something you’re thinking about when you grab your phone, or try to do things on your own. But I can assure you a good photographer is always looking for a great composition that will enhance the storytelling aspects.

Reason 3: Decision Making

Let’s say it is your wedding day. Do you really want to add to the stress of the day by not hiring a photographer? By hiring a photographer you can make your wedding day go so much more smoothly. They are there to be your friend and guide for the day. They make the hard decisions like where to take your portraits, and how to document and tell the story of your day in the most flattering and artistic way. They are there to help you and serve you on your most important day. Not to mention it’s a day where you really need to be present! If you spend the whole day worrying about the timeline, family, and if your friend was able to really capture that moment, then you are not really enjoying the most important day of your life. A photographer can put your mind at ease. They handle the timing, the posing, the family, the lighting, all why being your encourager and friend! This can make a huge difference on such a big day. I also believe it’s important to hire a photographer to capture your family or high school senior. While yes, it is some work on your part to pick out the outfits and make decisions on what you really want. A photographer can assist and guide you in those big decisions. They have also put in the time and effort into things like picking the best photo lab, calibrating their computer monitors to ensure the best printing outcomes, and making sure you have the best client experience. They also can guide you in clothing decisions. They make sure the most important moments and people are captured in a flattering way. Hiring a photographer can really put your mind at ease.

In summary, hiring a photographer can really help you to enjoy the moment that you are in. How often do we take time to just stop and enjoy the present? I know that I am always thinking and working for the future. I imagine you spend a large amount of time doing that as well. It’s hard to be intentional and stop to enjoy the moment. Milestones like being a high school senior, or getting married are (usually) once in a lifetime events! It’s important to stop and recognize these moments. Hiring a photographer means they have put in the effort and time to make sure you are documenting those moments in the best way possible. They have worked hard on the technical aspects of photography that maybe you haven’t been able to focus on. So maybe, just maybe, hiring a photographer is worth it.

Thanks for reading!