Ø Ask family, friends and recent newlyweds for recommendations, and set up interviews.

Ø Ask for a picture portfolio of an entire wedding for which he or she was hired.

Ø A good wedding photographer will have the best professional equipment. Don’t get fooled, a crappy lens will capture crappy photos no matter who is holding it. What are the standard equipment: Canon 5d, all lenses with a red ring around the front or it is called an “L” lens. Professional wedding photographers need several equipments for back up. Minimum of two for every equipment just in case something breaks.

Ø Which style do you prefer? A good photographer should apply all styles while covering your wedding. I use traditional, portrait, and candid/photojournalistic styles. Some photographers says that they use modern style, etc but they eventually employ all styles to cover a wedding.

Ø Consider the photographer’s personality. Check their business license to find out if they are legitimate or not. Decide if you share a vision and will get along well. Remember, the photographer will be your shadow before and during the event.

Ø Check prices, including those of packages offered and numbers of prints included. Remember, it may be worth it to invest in a good photographer if it means that the memories of the day will be captured perfectly. Also, there are many wedding photographers who includes a 2nd photographer in the package and charging for it when it fact, they got them for free. Most often time, the 2nd photographer agree to do it for free in exchange for posting the photos on their website as their portfolio.

Ø How can you tell a professional wedding photographers from the not so professional? A real professional apply
for a business license. A business license is usually the last thing that a beginning wedding photographer will do prior to going professional. No one applies for it unless they are serious since they will end up paying taxes quarterly if they do.

Ø Are your potential wedding photographer insured?

Ø Schedule a follow-up meeting to hammer out specific shots you want and don’t want, the shooting schedule on the day of the wedding, digital processing, how many shot will be taken, the number of proofs available and the negatives policy (how long they’re available and whether they’re for sale).

San Jose wedding photographers, photographer, photography

A professional wedding planner should have the experience and all the connections and information right on hand to to plan your event right down to your tiniest wish. In fact, a good wedding consultant will keep you from becoming too stressed in the process of getting your wedding details together. Your planner will take care of the details while you concentrate on your job or business. A personal wedding planner can be an invaluable service in making your special day your fairytale dream. Planning a wedding can definitely be overwhelming when you start thinking about all the decisions and effort it takes to planning a wedding.

Many people decide to use a consultant to help them cover every detail of their wedding, so that everything goes smoothly from getting to the church on time through the last dance at the reception.

What is the difference between a certified wedding planner and a personal wedding planner?
A certified wedding planner or event consultant has had formal education in the field of wedding planning and most times they are their own business owner. Basically they’ve learned more about contracts, etiquette, customs, traditions, and other topics specific to wedding planning. The information they learn in a formal course could be information that a personal wedding planner may have learned through experience. A certified wedding planner has successfully completed a test or series of tests to earn their certifications.

A personal wedding planner can also be certified, but it’s not necessary. Actually, your personal planner could easily be a very close friend or relative who has a lot of connections and experience in helping her friends and relatives plan their event. She may do your planning without a fee just to help out or give you her services as a wedding gift.

A certified wedding planner however knows more about every possible logistic of planning a wedding that most people forget about. They’ve made it their business to know all of the local venues, music avenues, florists, catering, etc. The list can go on and on with the wealth of information that a good wedding planner knows and understands.

Save Time and Money
If you are working on a tight budget it may be smarter for you to hire a wedding planner because as you know, the less time you spend in planning, the more money you ultimately spend by not grabbing the best deals as early as you should. Your consultant can advise you on the best corners to cut, and where you will save the most money without feeling as though you’re skimping.

Less expensive does not necessarily mean “cheap,” especially when planning your wedding. Your personal consultant will help you to have your own fairy tale wedding, without spending a fortune. They know where to refer you to for the music you want on the budget you have. They know where you can get your flowers, and which place to have your wedding.

Help with Emergencies
Not only in the planning process of your wedding, but on your wedding day you me be pulled in all different directions. A consultant can help alleviate any stresses you may be feeling by being prepared for any emergencies that may arise. Most often there is an issue that arises on that special day even if you spent years planning each detail.

Nobody thinks about what to do if the DJ is late, or the flowers are not right for what you ordered, but your personal wedding planner will know how to handle these types of situations. They would know who to call, what to do, how to improvise, and even what your rights are. They know more about how to handle such situations than any other person in the business. Having a consultant during that crisis, you will be so happy you did.

There are so many benefits to hiring a certified wedding planner, or a personal wedding planner, that if you feel you’re not sure about what you should do or you already know you’re not going to be able to devote the necessary time to proper planning without getting over stressed, you should consider shopping around for the right consultant to fit your needs.

And whether you decide to hire a professional consultant, a friend or someone who has simply helped a lot of people save money by planning their weddings, your personal wedding planner will help ease your stress by taking care of your even your smallest tasks so you can concentrate on other things and avoid taking too much time away from work or daily life.

San Jose  | Wedding | Photographer | San Francisco – Benipayo Photography

Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com

(408) 717-3670 ********** (415) 763-7643

About the Author: Karen Musselman designs personalized and laminated wedding favor bookmarks and offers wedding planning ideas for couples planning their fairy tale weddings on a low budget.