We are very excited to share some advice and trends from Central Florida wedding photography, Pilster Photography!  We love hearing about the different pieces of advice that our vendors have to offer couples.  It’s always helpful to hear advice and get the latest trends from vendors that are experienced in the wedding industry.  Get the inside scoop on advice and trends in the wedding photography industry below and visit my Kate Parker Wedding to see more of Pilster Photography.

What is some advice you would give couples when choosing a wedding photographer?

1. Even if you had an unlimited budget, there is no single photographer will be the right one for every couple. Make sure you are comfortable with who you choose and do your research.

2. Look at the work first. Find a few photographers who’s work you really enjoy. Then contact them for price. Price is a factor, but memories are priceless and you don’t want any of them missed.

Look at a few weddings on photographer’s blogs and look at their albums. Anyone can put their top photos in a portfolio, but to constantly keep good photos on a blog is a difficult task. This will give you the best insight into how the photographer shoots on a regular basis. Look at the portfolio to see the best that they can do. Look at the album to see how everything comes together.

Look closely at indoor photos. This is the biggest tip on how much experience someone has. Is the light really harsh on the bride and groom with the background dark or black? Or is it even all around? You can also ask your photographer if they know how to bounce flash. The answer should be yes.

Don’t be afraid to tell a photographer what your budget is and what your priorities are with your photography. This will give them the best opportunity to try and work something out, especially if they seem beyond your range.

3. Figure out what style you are. Ask yourself questions like where you shop for furniture. What type of artwork is on your walls. Why did you chose your venue? Then ask your photographer these questions.

4. Get referrals from friends. Get referrals from vendors, but if they only give you one name (Unless they know your style), be suspicious. I will give as many as 5 photographers when I am booked for a date. Check for reviews on sites like Weddingwire and maps.google.com. Watch for patterns.

5. If you have questions, ask! We want to answer them. We want to be helpful, and make sure you make the right decision. If you are uncomfortable talking to a photographer, then they probably aren’t the right one for you.

6. This goes for any vendors you had a conversation with. Let them know you made a decision, even if it wasn’t to hire them.

7. There are many lists out there with a lot of the same questions on them of what to ask a photographer. Most of these are a list of basics that even amateurs will be able to answer yes to. Many times you will already be able to weed the pros from the amateurs out by setting your standards high when you look at portfolios. Another thing to look at is if they are a full-time photographer and if they are supporting themselves off of it. They may be inexpensive, but if they can’t manage to pay their bills, then they may not be around when it comes time for your wedding.

8. Ask open ended questions and find out who they are as a person and where they have gained experience. If they picked a camera a few years ago, or decided to become a pro a couple years ago, be wary. Find out what type of photos are their favorite to make. Look for red flags or areas that you might clash with them or that their inexperience might show through. “What is your background?” “Why do you think you’d be the best photographer for my wedding?” “What photography do you do on your personal time?”

9. Do an engagement session. This will answer almost every question above. It’s there for you to connect with each other, but if there are any red flags a deposit is a lot cheaper than priceless wedding memories.

10. Photographers who enjoy making photos outside of work tend to make better photos on the job. Ask to see some of their non-wedding work. It’s easy to be excited about something when it is new.

What are some current trends you are seeing in wedding photography?

Video and stills are starting to become more integrated. As still digital cameras start to produce high quality video the combination of the two is becoming more common.

I think with the internet things move a lot quicker. When it used to take years for a trend to come to light, it’s only taking a few months now. Ideas spread quickly and some people follow the pack while others scour for new ideas. Some trends are also dying down as quick as they come to light.

I’m seeing different styles of portrait sessions, such as a boudoir session as a gift for the fiance.

DVDs are becoming standard. I don’t think I had one couple come to me this year and not ask for a DVD. This can be bad in some ways. There are many companies out there offering cheap photography products and it can degrade the quality of good photos when the images are reproduced on these. Many photographers have done a lot of research to find the best vendors for reproducing their work and will go to many lengths to make sure the client has the highest quality product.

Canvas prints are becoming popular. Prints on metal sheets are starting to catch on.

Coordinators have become a necessity and not just a luxury.

A trend that I think is coming is complete wedding week coverage. With family in town you want it all documented. I’m already being asked to cover more rehearsal’s and rehearsal dinners. Day after sessions are also become more common.

Central Florida wedding photographer, Pilster Photography is a member of my Kate Parker Wedding, your online wedding resource guide geared towards directing couples to quality vendors based on their price range and state.