All you lovely togs & people

Hi

Here are the questions I thought were important when booking a TOG:

1. How long are you there for on the day

2. 1 or 2 togs

3. if you are going for a disk only package (which we did)

- high res images and how big can they be blown up to,

- license to copy/ print them as much as we like for non commercial use

4. Post production work e.g. photoshopping of pics

5. Do you require feeding

There are prob more but thats all I can think of off the top of my head! I met with three togs, its nice to be able to compare work "in the flesh" rather than just on a website.

These are just some of the questions we recommend to our Bride and Grooms they ask:

http://markpearsonphotography.co.uk

Mark

- have u shot at the venue before (ask to see work)

- what is weathers bad, do you have inside shots?

Cheers !

Questions keep popping in my head for me to ask.

I know i only get 1 tog i would like two but i'm also happy with the one

I just want to make sure i'm 100% happy with my tog

Thanks again for your help x

Hi, if you take a look at my website www.samantha-j.co.uk there is a FAQ page which might help. It has lots of answers to questions I get asked all the time, might give you some ideas.

Sam. xx

This is pretty comprehensive:

http://chrisgilesphotography.co.uk

Make sure the work you see has been taken at real weddings and not on training days with models. I am sure Samantha Jane will correct me if I am wrong but I am pretty sure that many of the photos in her slideshow are of a model called Viv who does a lot of training days for a Yorkshire based photographer. There is a massive difference between photographing a model and working under the pressure of a real wedding so you must be told if models are being used in a portfolio and the price should reflect the experience.

I love you Bev

Yikes, I am blushing now ?

Hi, thanks for you reply.

Yes, some of the photographs in my slideshow are of a Model called Viv who I was lucky enough to photograph as part of my membership to the SWPP. There also a lot of photographs in my portfolio that are'nt. I really don't feel that you need to get personal as I was only offering advice in good faith.

I am a very experienced Photographer & don't appreciate such uncalled for comments. Anyone interested in my work can look at my website, asked for my portfolio if they would like futher information.

Please don't use the forum to attack the reputation of other photographers as I'm sure it is not welcomed by the moderators.

I didn't see ANY attack by Bev. She was merely answering the OP's question.

I just didn't see the need to comment on my slideshow as it was totally OT!

There's no attack by Bev but what it does do is give a great opportunity to share a recent observation.

I met a couple the night before last to talk about their wedding photography plans.

They mentioned the name of another photographer who I respect and said they were put off by his site because the people looked like models, 'too perfect'.

When people go to choose a photographer you need to show them what they can reasonably expect to receive. A site where the main selling point is a model and not a true representation of their output isn't going to get as much business as they could.

You're only as good as your weakest pic and your signature is too big.

With the greatest respect it is not off topic at all. The OP wanted to know what they should be finding out when they meet a photographer. This is one of the major things that causes problems when people book a photographer based on web or portfolio images that are not taken under a real wedding situation and then afterwards are disappointed with the results. I would have mentioned it anyway but as the first photo on your slideshow is of a model, it was a good example to use.

Point taken & maybe I was a little over sensitive even though I do still feel it was a little OT.

I actually agree with you regarding people looking too perfect, in hindsite I should have updated my slideshow as it's actually quite old & I didn't really take much notice before I put it on her. However I really didn't expect it to be commented on.

I just feel very strongly about not putting negative comments out there for everybody else to see, I make a point of not critising other photographers work in public & expect the same respect in return.

As for my signature being too big, I'd only put the link on there about 15 mins ago & had no idea it would show up that big!!

If you read what I posted again, I didn't criticise your photography, I simply advised the OP to check whether images are from real weddings or models on training days. I do get cross seeing photographers (not just you) using photos of models to sell wedding photography as it is misleading the clients and as a profession we get enough stick anyway. What people don't realise is the same models pop up time and time again. If you have plenty of real wedding photos then I would definitely suggest replacing the models on your slideshow and website or at least putting a message on there saying where they were taken.

Point taken, thanks. Sorry i took it so personally.

However, Viv is actually the only model in my portfolio so I'm not sure why you say "models". Everyone else either in the slideshow or on my website are real weddings

Nice portrait work.

It's difficult to tell if it's the same model but I can see 4 images of her? In a gallery of just 19 images.

Read into that what you will. It's not a criticism either just an observation that's made itself known to me.

'Everyone else either in the slideshow or on my website are real weddings'

But does the customer know that, or will they just think you are trying to pull a fast one.

Well I meet all of my clients in person before they book, I'm totally upfront that those certain pictures are of a model, in fact I have often made a joke of it. Anyone that actually knows or has met me personally would know that I am one of the most genuine & honest people you could meet (which is why I took the comments so personally) I am totally upfront about everything to do with my business & my clients have often said they book me because I hide nothing! Yes there are 4 images of Viv in a gallery of 19 images, my new website has only been live for 2 weeks & I haven't had chance to add more to it yet, I'm not justifying anything but like I said I am very honest & hate to think that you have got the wrong impression of me.

Thank you very much for your compliments on my portrait work, toddlers in my experience are much harder than weddings!!!

Yep, toddlers are harder to do!

Sam, don't take anything we say as a personal attack. We've all been where you are and any observations are to help you, not cause a hinderance.

Back to the original thread for a moment, finding the right photographer is about far more than equipment and qualifications. Sure, ask about backup equipment, ask to see a recent wedding, ask about doomsday situations but make sure you take time to ask them about them.

Find out how they became a photographer, why they do it, what makes them tick. Make sure they're doing it because they have a passion and that their heart will be in it on the day. Basically ask all the same questions you'd ask as if you were looking for a great friend who happened to be a great photographer.

Alex

And also ask one more REALLY important question: Can I put up with this person for a whole day?

The personaility of the photographer is of equal importance. Chances are they will be with you most, if not all, of the day. If you don't click with them, if you can't stand the sight of them, regardless of how much you love their work, personality also plays its part.

Mark

Go with your gut, not your wallet.

Exactly.....very well put. Never thought of explaining in that context before but you're so right, it is like looking for a friend.