There are many things to consider when choosing your wedding photographer.  You want to be sure they’re skilled, professional, and experienced. You also want to be sure their style matches yours and that you connect. No one will spend more time with you before, during, and after your wedding day, than you photographer (with the exception of your fiancé).  But what about the end result?

Your photographer (provided you found the right one) is going to beautifully capture every moment and detail of the biggest day of your life, now what?  What will happen to those images?  Will they exist only on the photographer’s hard drive?  End up lost in a drawer on a CD or USB drive?  You’ve invested (yes, it’s an investment) a lot of money in your wedding photographer.  You’re paying for their time, skill, equipment, etc., so it’s important to give life to your photos through albums and other products.

There is a growing trend of photographers only providing their clients with a CD or USB drive, or even just an online gallery. Sometimes the images are straight from the camera without any culling or editing.  This is not a full service and those beautiful photos for which you spent money to be created, have no purpose. That’s not to say CDs and USB drives are bad, but they’re not the end-all-be-all. And when digital images/negatives are provided there should be more than a CD with something scribbled in sharpie.

You may think that you’ll purchase the USB drive and print your own images or create your own album, but will you really?  Do you have the time?  Do you have access to a photo lab that can print professional quality images and books?  Do you have the legal right to print those images?  These are things to consider.  We all like to do things for ourselves, but is DIY always the best option?

When choosing your photographer take a look at the products they offer.  Do they offer albums?  Are they included in their initial package or is it a separate purchase?  Are they press-printed, or do they use photographic prints (big difference in quality)?  How many photos can go in to the album?  Can you add more? Who designs the album?  An album can be a big investment (there’s that word again), but it is one of the best ways to give your photos life and for you to relive and share your wedding day.

Be sure to find out what other products your photographer may offer. There are many great options, in addition to prints, for displaying your wedding art in your home.  Give life to your photos.