When deciding on a photography service for your wedding, one thing you have to take into consideration is the wedding photos copyright and cost of the pictures themselves AFTER the wedding is over!
Who Really Owns Your Wedding Photos
Who has the rights?
You hire the photographer to take pictures of your wedding but technically, they own the rights to those photos. Just like the latest photo of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle that dons the cover of one of those tabloids at the grocery store. The photographer took the pictures so they are the rightful owners of that picture.
It’s possible that you could be paying loads more when returning from your honeymoon just to get your hands on the top pics of your wedding night. This is one of the most frustrating things about weddings, and the fact that it hasn’t changed is most surprising.
Read your contract
When you are choosing your photographer, make sure that your contract states that you have the rights to the photographs. This way you won’t be paying a dime more for your pictures. This means that you’ll legally own all the pictures taken on your wedding day. The copyright release is almost more important than the photographer. This doesn’t mean that you can’t still purchase enlarged prints or even an album from the photographer. It just makes it so you don’t have to.
Not only will you legally own all of your photos, but many photographers give you the best ways to view them as well. An online photo gallery allows you to view all of your photos online, as well as let all of your friends/family view the pictures online. Everyone with a login can easily access this gallery and download any picture they’d like. In addition to the online gallery, some photographers give you digital copies of all your pics on a flash drive or hard drive. When they do this, make sure they give you all your pictures in a high-resolution digital format so that you can print them. I’m not going to get all technical. Just know that hi-res is the only way you can print pictures larger than a standard, letter-sized, piece of paper
Ask about a release
The last thing I want you to know before I get out of here is that your photographer still retains the right to use your pictures. I’m not trying to freak you out but just make you aware. Think about it, you research a photographer’s website and you see all of his pretty pictures. Some of your out there Instagram stalk a photographer or two for the same reason, to see their pretty pictures. That works is typically from another couple’s wedding. Chances are, your photographer is going to use a few pictures from your wedding to add to their portfolio so they can gain more clients. If you’re still IG stalking your photographer after your wedding and see some of your photos on their page, be flattered. Not horrified.
Complete Weddings + Events in Fort Lauderdale and South Florida Areas
If you’re planning a wedding in Fort Lauderdale, FL, then you’ve landed at the right place! Now that you’ve said YES! to spending your life together, you have some exciting decisions ahead. At Complete Weddings + Events planning, wedding events are what we do best. Complete Weddings + Events, Fort Lauderdale’s leading provider of event and wedding photography, videography, lighting, DJ services & photo booth rental