Las Vegas Wedding Photographers Guide, Las Vegas Wedding Guide Advice from OurWeddingDay.com

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Las Vegas Photographers Guide

Taking the Gamble Out of Your Wedding Pictures

Lucky for you, Las Vegas wedding photography is no longer a gamble. Although weddings here used to be synonymous with Polaroids and drunken couples, Sin City is now a wedding wonderland. In addition to all the other top-rate planners Las Vegas offers, photographers abound. Whether you’re getting married in the reception rooms of a heavenly Strip hotel, or in a quiet chapel of love, finding the right photographer is just a matter of knowing what levers to pull.

When picking your Las Vegas wedding photographers, weed out anyone who’s only shot a few weddings. Portrait photographers might be perfect for the future family photo, but you need someone with about 50 weddings to his name. Ask other vendors for referrals, hotel staff—if they handle lots of ceremonies—and friends and relatives who’ve married in the area. The photographer should be booked eight months prior to your big day, and after you’ve chosen your site.

How much you pay depends on the size and length of the ceremony and the type of photos you desire. You can opt for color photos, a mix of color and black and white, and photo-journalism shots (pictures that document your day in a candid fashion). Expect to pay at least $2,000 for your photo needs. Some photographers charge by the roll and some by the hour; the former is best for smaller weddings, and if you’re not insistent on every detail of your day being documented. Should you want every ribbon immortalized, hire a photographer who charges by the hour. It’s not uncommon to hire two photographers, usually at a discount.

When interviewing photographers, make sure you like their personality. She or he will be a “guest” at your wedding, and it’s imperative that you feel comfortable in their presence. The photos won’t be nearly as dazzling if you’re nervous about a stranger watching your every move. Go over must-have shots. In addition to the obvious (first kiss, cake-cutting), he needs to be informed of particulars, such as an old friend who traveled a great distance to witness your nuptials.

Wedding photographers who are familiar with your site have the advantage of knowing where the best shots are, and what the lighting requirements involve. If the guy you like doesn’t know your site, make him take a tour, and go along with him to exchange ideas. When looking through a potential client’s book, make sure that you see photos from a complete wedding, not just a “best of” gallery. You want to get a feel for how he works from start to finish.

When you’re ready to interview Las Vegas photographers, visit the OurWeddingDay.com Las Vegas Local Vendor section for a great list of top Nevada wedding photographers.

Once you’re ready to sign on the dotted line, go over who the replacement is should the photographer have an emergency at the last minute. You need to write down overtime fees or the charge for extra rolls, and what the reimbursement is should damage occur to any of your pictures. Once signed and settled, get ready for a lifetime of enjoying the pictures.

-David Toussaint