A Guide to Hiring a Boston Wedding Photographer
A Boston wedding photographer are not a one-size-fits-all sort of deal. Each one has their own creative style and unique nature that sets them apart. When looking for one for your wedding day, it is vital that you find one that is right for you and who you are. You want your vision for your wedding to be captured as lovely as you picture it, which is why you should take time looking for your photographer.
Research Different Style of Boston Wedding Photography
There are several different styles of photography that wedding photographers in the Boston area offer. The most popular types of wedding photography would be photojournalism, lifestyle, traditional, and fine art.
The first step to finding the right Boston wedding photographer for you is to start looking at different polifolios of as many wedding photographers as you can. You’ll also want to read the information on their website that describes their style. I recommend hiring a photographer that specializes in one type of photography.
The style of wedding photography you’ll find on my website is considered wedding photojournalism. I’m inspired by people, moments, and natural light. I take candid photos that tell a story. No story would be complete without a nice blend of a couple relaxed portraits and a few family photos. When you put these wedding photos together you end up with a complete story of your Boston wedding.
Overall, there’s a lot that goes into hiring a photographer. Since this might be the first time you have ever sought out a professional photographer, you will want to do a little research. This how-to guide will help you save time and find the best Boston wedding photographer for your day.
Set a Budget For Your Boston Wedding Photos
You can find a wedding photographer in Boston at every price point. According to The Knot.com, couples should expect to budget 10-12% of the total cost of the wedding for their wedding photographer. The Knot’s data shows that most the average cost of a Boston wedding is $44,000. So if you have an average wedding, you’ll want to set aside around $4,400 for your Boston wedding photographers.
I recommend not hiring photographers based on their price point, but based on your love for their photos. Oftentimes couples will hire a wedding photographer because they are getting a big bang for their buck. The photographer is offering them engagement sessions, albums, extra hours, and other “deals.”
The client may not love their photos, but it’s the best thing they could find. Since the client isn’t crazy about their photos in their portfolio, there’s a good chance they will not be happy with their wedding photos.
You’ll notice when a Boston wedding photographer is giving you everything at a too good to be true price, they may lack experience. You truly get what you pay for.
Create A List of Boston Photographers to Contact
After you have set your budget for your wedding photographer, you’ll want to start contacting them. Give them a little bit of information about your wedding, who you and your partner are, and what you're looking for out of your wedding photos.
For me, I love it when clients let me know what they are looking for, such a second photographer, engagement session, or albums. The more information you give me and other photographers from the first time you contact us, the easier it will be for us to start to prepare a quote.
Being a Boston wedding photographer, I get hundreds of leads every year. When a couple sends me an email saying “What is your price?,” it slows the process down for the client and we end up writing several emails back and forth over the course of four days to get what we could have accomplished in the first email.
Review Their Boston Wedding Photos and Read Reviews
I recommend not only looking at photographers' photos on their website, but asking to see a full gallery of a recent wedding. The more you know about your wedding, the more specific your request of the type of gallery to the photographer.
When I’m speaking to a couple that is having a wedding at the Fairmont Copley in Boston, who knows if they are having a first look, and want a second photographer, I show them a wedding that I have done at that exact location (or a location similar if I have not photographed at that specific place). That sets the expectations of the type of photos that they can expect for their own wedding.
There are several review sites for past wedding couples who can review their Boston wedding vendors. The two most popular are The Knot and WeddingWire. Google reviews are also becoming more popular. It’s important to read what past couples have had to say about them. I would caution couples if the photographer doesn’t have many reviews online because it may be a sign that they are new to photographing weddings in the Boston area. Which isn’t a bad thing at all depending on what you are looking for. The more experienced a photographer, the more reviews they will most likely have.
Interview Boston Wedding Photographers
If you are getting a good vibe through your email communication, you enjoy the gallery, and the Boston wedding photographer has more than a couple of good reviews online, you should set up a time to chat with them.
Before you talk, write down all your questions for them. Some questions you may want to ask them include:
What is their payment structure?
What is their turnaround time for photos?
Who is their second shooter?
There is no such thing as a bad question and that could be more true for when it comes to hiring a Boston wedding photographer. It’s our job to educate you and make sure you feel confident in your final decision.
Contract Signing
If you feel great about your interview and have all your questions answered, ask for a contract. Boston wedding photographers book up fast and most of them have a first come, first serve, booking process.
After the wedding venue, they are the next that get booked. Once the photographer sends you a contract you’ll want to read everything over and make sure you understand it.
Make sure your wedding photography contract states what services you’ll be receiving. It should also outline when and how payments should be made. My contracts are all signed online. It takes about 5 minutes to review everything. Your photographer should be using some software to make this whole process easy and effortless for you.
Finding a photographer for your wedding day is a process, but it is an important one. No corners should be cut when finding the person who will be recording the memories of your day. Take your time and find who you like and have chemistry with. I promise you won’t regret it