Photography Tips

Ideas & Inspiration

Photography Tips

With high standards for beautiful wedding photography at ever-increasing odds with the demand for low prices, Blair deLaubenfels, a 10-year veteran of the wedding photography industry and co-founder of Junebug Weddings, a local wedding-photography planning Web site, explains to Seattle Bride how couples can get the best value for their bucks—and even save a few along the way.

How did Junebug Weddings come about?
Kim Bamberg, Christy Weber and I all met on our first day at photography school and discovered we had a similar passion for compelling, artistic photography. We became wedding photographers and came to know so much about the Northwest wedding industry. We wanted to find a way to tell brides everything we knew and provide them with a list of vendors they could trust, so we started Junebug Weddings in 2006 as a way to take the stress out of wedding planning for brides. Now it has evolved to address fashion, art and so much more.

Photography is one of the more expensive line items in a wedding budget. Why is it so costly?
Great wedding photographs are distinctive works of art, so photographers charge for their talent as well as their labor and the costs it takes to produce their finished images, prints and albums. Most photographers spend between 30 and 60 hours on every wedding, including the initial meeting, the ceremony and reception, and the time it takes to process raw images into polished photographs. Professional-quality equipment is also very expensive and needs to be upgraded frequently. It’s not unusual for a good photographer to come to a wedding with $20,000 to $30,000 in camera, lenses and lighting equipment.

Why should couples hire a professional versus having friends and family snap photos?
Professional photographers are expert, multitalented artists who can shoot in a variety of styles, such as photojournalism, portrait and commercial photography. They use the latest equipment, can direct their subjects, know how to shoot in any setting and know when to be invisible. Most of all, they work nonstop to ensure they never miss an important moment. Asking a friend or family member to do these things at your wedding and then commit a significant amount of time afterward to complete the job is asking an awful lot. I’ve talked to scores of couples who have tried to cut costs on photography in this way, and not one was happy with the decision.

What are the most important things a couple should look for when hiring a photographer?
Seek out talented, experienced individuals. At Junebug we feature photographers with strong, distinctive styles. Pay attention to images with amazing lighting, unique compositions or ones that move you emotionally. Also keep in mind that your photographer will spend a good portion of your wedding day with you and your family, so be sure you enjoy being in their company.

How can a couple get beautiful, professional images and still save money on a professional photographer?
Instead of asking photographers to discount their services, you’re better off looking for quality, lesser-known photographers who charge less than their in-demand peers. Many photographers are open to including a free engagement portrait session since it helps them establish a rapport with a couple before their big day. Search for photographers online, and view their portfolios and pricing; look at no less than six, and compare costs. You can also save money by putting off purchasing leather-bound albums or coffee-table books. These items can often make up as much as 30 percent of the cost of a photography package. Instead, purchase several large, quality prints to display around your home and 4-by-6 prints to share with friends and family, and save the album for an anniversary present for yourself.

Any tips for couples headed to the altar?
Consider seeing each other before the ceremony for pictures and allow at least two hours for fun and creativity. That way, you can move immediately from your ceremony to the reception without making your guests wait. Finally, trust your photographer and relax. If you’ve hired a true professional, he or she will capture you at your best and produce images of your family and friends that you’ll always cherish. Weddings are simply beautiful events, so go ahead and laugh, cry or dance with joy!