Choosing a Photographer - What you should ask
So you’ve looked at a photographer’s portfolio and liked it, or you have been recommended to use them by a friend. Now you need to determine if this photographer is right for you. There are several factors to consider so that you can get the most out of your wedding photographer and to be sure you are happy with the final products. So here are some questions that we recommend you ask each photographer you are considering, as well as our approach here at eclipse photography.
What style of photography is offered? These can include Traditional or Classic, Photojournalistic, Contemporary or lightly posed and candid. Pictures may be black and white, sepia, full colour or a combination of many types.
At eclipse photography we tend to shoot in a combination of all these styles so that we can capture the emotion and spontaneity of your wedding day story, in a modern and artistic way but ensure that you have those classic pictures that will capture beautiful family portraits that your parents will be happy to display on their walls. We will determine which style you prefer and approach your wedding with YOU in mind. We shoot in full colour and then adjust to black and white or a colour wash where it is most fitting and are guided by your preferences. Colour can easily be changed to black and white while the opposite is not so. |  |
Will you receive high resolution copies of your wedding pictures or will you be required to obtain prints through the photographer. What rights will you be granted?
At eclipse photography we believe that your wedding pictures should be yours. We will provide high resolution copies of each picture and you will be granted unlimited private reproduction rights to all images. You will be able to reproduce your pictures either digitally or in print (including enlargements) whenever and as many times as you wish. The images may be shared but cannot be used commercially. The copyright and ownership will remain with eclipse photography, and we may use the images for advertisement, portfolio, sale or other public and commercial uses.
Will your photographer be using a contract to confirm your agreement and to protect both parties?
eclipse photography prepares a contract for every client. This includes details of the agreement and package. The contract also defines the cancellation policy and the rights of use for all images. It will be signed in duplicate so that each party retains a copy.
What is the photographer’s cancellation policy? Be sure to understand the policy if either party cancels. The cancellation policy at eclipse photography is included clearly in the contract. If the wedding is called off, or the photography contract is cancelled by the client for any reason after the date is booked and the down-payment is made, the photographer will retain the down-payment and booking fee. If for any reason eclipse photography cannot be available for the job after the down-payment is made and the date is booked, we will attempt to provide a photographer to do the job at no extra cost to you. If a photographer cannot be found, the down-payment will be refunded in full. If eclipse photography is unable to attend or to find a replacement within 2 weeks of the wedding, 70% of the total package price will be refunded (including the 50% down-payment) to compensate for any problems caused. |   |
   | What down-payment is required, by when, when is the balance paid and when is the final product available? Under normal circumstances we request a down-payment of 50% of the total package price to book the day. However to ensure your day please book as early as possible. The balance is paid on delivery of the final products within a month of the wedding.
Will a Second photographer be available? Will this be at an additional cost or is it included in the package? A second photographer is always an advantage; this allows you to capture important moments and reactions to them at different vantage points. Depending on the package, eclipse photography will include a second photographer at no extra cost. However with some packages the request for an additional photographer will incur additional costs, depending on the role he/she is expected to take.
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Will your photographer be available for consultations, updates and advice as your wedding planning proceeds?
We take a very personal approach to our relationship with you. We will remain accessible from the time of booking all the way to shooting on the day. If you have any queries or ideas that you would like to share, please feel free to email or call and we will happily give some time to your concerns. It doesn’t matter if it’s to add to your list of must have photos, to ask our advice on colour coordination or to remind us to look out for Uncle Bob’s tendency to make faces in pictures, It is your wedding and you should feel free to expect perfection. We’ll do what we can to make that happen for you.
Will there be an extra cost if the photographer is asked to stay beyond the agreed end time of the photosession, or past the agreed number of hours?
A wedding is not a predictable thing, it may start late for any number of reasons, or simply go off track as the event evolves. This may mean that your bouquet toss or first dance may be more than an hour after you first expected.
At eclipse photography, we will stick with you as long as we are able. We will work with you to determine your can’t-be-missed moments beforehand and ensure that we help you to capture them on the day. We do not charge extra for staying a bit later than agreed to shoot the events agreed upon during consultation.
However, if for some reason, a short session was booked and you decide on the day that you would like to add several more hours to the session we may decide to oblige at an additional cost. If this is the case we will immediately prepare a new agreement to be signed.
Will the photographer guide you through the portrait sessions? We will work with you to create a list of your must have photos before the wedding, and we will attempt to make the process as quick and enjoyable as possible so that you can get back to your guests and to having fun. We will ask that during the session you assign someone from each family to help gather the relevant people during the planned portrait session, and that you remind everyone to take the direction of the hired photographer when we indicate the need to do so. This is especially important when all your friends and family are trying to get pictures and your professional pictures end up with everyone looking in a different direction at a different camera.
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Will the photographer be able to handle weddings at non traditional sites such as beaches, gardens, outdoors, historical sites etc.
This is an important factor, as many people believe that once you have a ‘professional’ camera you will get the perfect picture. The lighting at the site must be considered. At eclipse photography we pride ourselves in adjusting our approach to any situation. We will ensure that your beach wedding pictures are not a series of blue sky and sea and some cryptic shadows saying I do (Unless that’s what we meant to do!). We also ensure that your cathedral wedding is not dark and dreary, and your garden wedding is not washed in sunlight with strong shadows and a super glaring wedding dress.
   | Does the photographer do post production editing and touch ups? We do provide the services of post production editing in terms of light/contrast adjustment and cropping if necessary. Also, we all know how a lipstick mark on the groom’s cheek, a stubborn bra strap or a mal-timed pimple could forever spoil that perfect wedding picture, so we also do provide some touch ups on some portrait photographs that are likely to be significant or enlarged. We do not however touch every image unless asked to for an additional cost. Does the photographer provide post production special effects editing, and what type. And will you be provided with an original version of the picture and/or be consulted during this process. We very rarely do post production special effects (essentially ‘photoshopping’). We prefer a more natural look to the images, and special effects are limited to what might traditionally be done with filters or similar while the picture is being taken. That being said we can provide the service on a picture by picture basis if required at an additional cost (includes background changes, background washes, superimposed images, and other special effect digital alterations to images). |
So take advantage of any meeting with your potential photographers to get your concerns and questions in the open and to be sure you’re getting what you want before you commit to spending the money!
