How To Choose A Wedding Photographer

I think choosing your wedding photographer is one of the MOST important decisions you’ll make for your wedding. They’re the vendor you’re going to spend the biggest amount of time working with before, during, and after your wedding day! Emails, consultations, planning sessions, your engagement session, the big day itself, album design – you’re investing a whole lot of time with your photographer! That’s why I believe it’s so important to choose a photographer you truly LIKE. Someone you can connect with and are confident will capture your special moments perfectly!

So after scrolling through all those open website tabs, sending inquiries, and meeting with potential wedding photographers, how can you make sure you’re hiring your dream photographer? Here are some ideas to think about:

Do you connect?

Is this someone you vibe with? Can you spend 10+ between your engagement session and wedding day being around them? Every photographer is not for every couple, you want to make sure you connect and feel comfortable with who you choose. Nothing is more awkward than working with someone you don’t feel 100% comfortable with. A lot of your time is going to be invested with your photographer, I think it’s really important to choose someone you enjoy as a person, as well as a photographer!

What about their work?

Photographers are artists. You are hiring someone with their own unique style, make sure it matches the dream you have of what you want your wedding day images to look like. Is the photographer’s style what you want? Does their work look consistent? Do their photos look similar in style or do they seem to change from wedding to wedding? Don’t be afraid to ask to see a full gallery of work, a professional is never going to mind! After all, social media (where most of us go from recommendations nowadays!) and websites are beautiful and can pack a punch, but they’re really just a highlight reel of that photographer’s best work. The key here is to see how they handle all aspects of a wedding, from start to finish, not just the highlights.

Do you know what to expect?

Have they shared with you more than just pricing or how you can book them? Do you know AND understand each item that’s included in your collection? Do you know when you can expect to get your images back, will they be online or in-person, and how many you’ll receive? It’s so very important to be aware of exactly what you’ll get from your photographer and when!

Are they prepared?

Do they have the equipment needed to do the job? A lot more than just a camera and flash is needed to make sure your day is captured seamlessly! Your photographer should have systems in place to protect your images from the moment the shutter clicks. Do they shoot with dual memory card slots? Do they have backup equipment? How will they be storing and backing up your images after your wedding? There’s no one right way, but a photographer should be able to tell you how they plan to protect your images for you!

Ask for help!

People love to share their opinions! If you’re unsure of where to start, talk to your married family and friends to help! They can steer you toward great photographers that gave them an amazing experience but also guide you away from photographers who might not deliver the type of experience they expected. Also, wedding planners, florists, DJs, and hair & makeup artists will gush over photographers they trust and love working with!

You don’t have to have all these questions answered upon first speaking with your potential photographer, but it’s a good place to begin an open and honest conversation. That way you’re learning about that photographer, how they work, and what you can expect from an experience with them!