Not All Photographers Are Created Equal

Associate Contributor - Written by Jason and Chasnie Vinson with Vinson Images

Photo by Vinson Images

It's easy to get caught up in the here and now of wedding planning. Who are you going to hire? How much will it cost? What do you get? How does it compare to the other person offering the same thing? 

We get it. Everyone these days is a photographer. Someone buys a decent camera, gets a couple of likes on Facebook, and all of a sudden they are a professional photographer. It's pretty similar to how we started our own business! The problem comes when couples start comparing photographer A and photographer B not realizing one is like Ruth Chris and the other is closer to a food truck that's been open for a week. Both may give you good food on your first visit, but Ruth Chris will consistently perform over and over while the food truck may have good days and bad days as they figure things out. 

You don't want your wedding to fall on a day that a newer photographer is trying to figure things out.

Photo by Vinson Images taken at Beaver Lake

Similarly, a decent photographer can walk away from a wedding with some good images so long as everything is going great, but a great photographer can walk away with good images when everything is going wrong. That’s what you are paying for. A photographer’s experience and ability to get those great images in unpredictable and varying conditions.

So when it comes down to comparing photographers, there are a few questions you should ask yourself.

Image taken by Vinson Images at The Walton Arts Center

Do I Like Their Style?

One thing that a lot of people don’t realize is that photographers have a style. Some people produce work that is light and airy while photographers like us prefer something more colorful and cinematic. So when choosing a photographer, make sure you are choosing someone based on the work they produce and not the price they are offering.

We have seen a lot of stories online of couples hiring a less expensive photographer, supplying them with a Pinterest board of images they want, and then being upset that their images looked nothing like the images they sent. That’s because this exact scenario would be similar to someone walking into Walmart and being upset that they can’t find the Louis Vuitton designer bag they wanted. So if you are drawn to the style of a particular image, find out who took that image or find someone that shares a similar style of work.

Image by Vinson Images taken at The Record

What Are They Offering?

Not all photographers offer the same products. In fact, some photographers don’t include any products in their packages at all. Instead, they are add-ons or items you need to purchase after the wedding. Similarly, not all products are created equal. When we first got married our photographer gave us an album. We later found out that this album closer resembled a magazine in terms of quality. This is why when we meet with potential clients, we always show a physical example of the album we include in all our packages. We do this because we want people to know what a museum grade album looks like and feels like. We also include an album in all of our packages because we believe so strongly that all couples should have this item. We love prints on the wall, but as your family grows and evolves, those prints will be replaced with new representations of your life. But your album will always be there for you to relive your wedding day as well as be passed down from generation to generation.

Image by Vinson Images taken in Kansas City

How Much Experience Do They Have?

Experience is a very valuable asset to have in a wedding photographer. Weddings are inherently unpredictable. Things almost always come up that will change your timeline. There are also things like weather, venue rules, etc that can change the wedding day circumstances. Because of this, having a photographer that knows the ropes is a huge asset. Someone that knows what to do when you only have 10 minutes to shoot instead of an hour. Or how to make the best of the situation when your sunset plans get rained out.

Image by Vinson Images taken in Northwest Arkansas

There are also a large number of photographers that don’t fully grasp the concept of creating their own light. But when your dreams of sunset portraits get rained out, it’s amazing to have the ability to create those images even on a cloudy day.

Image by Vinson Images taken at The Ravington

Likewise, if you plan for a sunset ceremony but still want portraits after, being able to make your own light opens a lot of doors. What was once dark and dreary can now become interesting and unique.  

Image by Vinson Images taken at Mildred B. Cooper Chapel

Outside of actually taking pictures, there are a lot more areas that you want your photographer to be experienced at. There is creativity, editing, client management, product design, etc. And then maybe one of the more important factors is the ability to provide a great experience. Guiding couples through the process.

Image by Vinson Images

Conclusion
While there are even more ways to compare photographers and many questions you should ask your potential photographer, I hope this post at least gives you some basic insights into what to look for. Comparing photographers essentially comes down to style, what they offer, and most of all, experience. If you have any questions about photography or would like to know how we handle a wedding day, we would love to hear from you.

About the Editor

Vinson Images is a husband and wife team based in Northwest Arkansas. They have been ranked as one of the Top 100 Wedding Photographers in the World and have been shooting weddings for more than 10 years. Outside of shooting weddings, they also educate other photographers on how to get better at their craft.