People will tell you that no matter what, you should always hire professionals for all of your important wedding needs. Generally I’d agree with that. But the fact remains, there are couples who can’t afford to spend $500 for wedding pictures, much less the $2500 or so that most photographers these days charge. If you can, then by all means spend the money. You’ll breath easier knowing that a professional is on the job, and believe me, your peace of mind is worth it. But, if you’re in a position where you’re considering having no photographs at all, or if you’re thinking of asking your poor Uncle Milt to shoot your wedding with his 30 year old Pentax, well then, you may just be the perfect candidate for "The Student".
Despite all the scary stories you’ve heard, there are student photographers who can do a wonderful job photographing your big day. Finding one however, can be a challenge. Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Contact a photography or art school if possible. There you’re likely to find students who plan to move into the professional arena soon. They will be more motivated and better trained than someone who’s just taking a photo class as extra credit. The head of the department should be able to recommend someone they have confidence in.
2. When you meet with the student, ask a lot of questions. What kind of photography are they interested in? Have they ever photographed an event before? Many photography students have worked on their local newspapers; some have even worked on professional jobs. Make sure they have some experience photographing people. Someone who loves to photograph buildings and old barns may not have what it takes to capture ‘human aspect’ of your wedding.
3. Make sure you have very specific guidelines of the photographs that you want. Your student may be a great photographer but if she hasn’t been to many weddings, she may not realize that you expect certain photos. If you want photographs of all the tables, say so. Specify that you want pictures of all the tables with the guests sitting at them. Sound obvious? Just think how you’ll feel if you get 14 photos of 14 empty tables and a photographer telling you he "thought it was a strange request". You CAN"T be too clear about what you want.
4. If possible, hire two students. That should ease some of your fears, since even if one doesn’t get all the pictures you need, between the two of them you should be okay.
5. Look closely at portfolios and if the work looks to experimental move on. You don’t want someone who’s going to get so fascinated with the ‘cool looking wall’ that he misses your first dance.
6. Be prepared to pay for your students travel and lodging if necessary. If possible get them there the night before. When I was a student I always photographed the rehearsal dinner and the morning of the wedding. This made everyone feel more comfortable, since they knew I wouldn’t miss the big day.
7. Make sure you call to confirm all of the details. Students are usually more responsible then they’re given credit for, but not always.
8. After your student has finished printing your photographs, get the negatives. You don’t need your wedding negatives in some suitcase headed to spring break.
9. If you decide to make re-prints later make sure you go to a professional lab. A one-hour place can not give you the care your photographs deserve. Always choose a lab that prints the pictures "in house", meaning they don’t send them out to another lab for processing. The less distance your negatives have to travel, the less chance of them getting lost.
10. Remember, having a student photograph your wedding is no substitute for a professional. If you have the money hire someone with experience, even if it means cutting back somewhere else. But if your choice is a student or no pictures, then sometimes you just have to throw caution to the wind.
Remember, today’s students are tomorrow’s great photographers!
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