How to Choose a Wedding Photographer

Congratulations! You're engaged and now it's time to planning your wedding day! I bet you're googling venues, vendors, themes, and countless other things. Picking your wedding photographer may seem like a daunting task but you want to make sure you are confident in your decision. Remember, after everyone has gone home, your beautiful decorations have been taken down, and your dress is hung up for the final time, your photos are what you will carry with you for the rest of your life. They are going to hold all the important memories and small details that you spent months planning and they are what you will share with family and friends for years to come. When looking for a photographer don't only pay attention to their art. It's important to keep in mind how they treat you! Do they communicate well and in a timely manner? Are they putting your needs and wants first? Do they go above and beyond catering YOU and your special day?

1. Photography Style

It is important to do some research and find out what photography style best suits you. This will help when narrowing down who you want to capture your day. Do you like more posed images or do you like when the photographer captures all of the intimate moments between poses? Do you like bright and airy photos or do you like dark and moody ones? It is important to know how your photographer edits and to be aware that if all of their content is dark and moody, they will not be the best fit if you like colorful fun imagery.

2. Client Experience

It's important to get to know a little about your photographer and their personality before you book them. Do you get along and feel comfortable around them? Remember, you will probably spend more time with your photographer on your wedding day than your significant other! They are the person who will be with you from the moment you start getting ready until you cut your wedding cake. Make sure that your photographer is there for YOU. I've heard story's where a photographer booked two weddings on the same day and tried to rush one wedding along so they could be on time for their second. This is not what you want. Make sure your photographer is focused on you and willing to help in any way possible. I love building a strong relationship with my couples and I make it clear to them that I am there to grab them that glass of champaign or help solve any problems that pop up on their wedding day. Client experience is one of the most important things to consider when choosing a wedding vendor.

3. Trust

Make sure you are hiring a photographer that you trust. I understand that you want your wedding photos to come out beautifully but sending your photographer hundreds of images you find on Pinterest isn't going to help. Your photographer is an artist and it is not in anyone's best interest to spend all day copying another photographer's work. Showing your photographer a few inspiration photos is totally normal and expected, but your photographer won't be able to capture the EXACT same image that you found online. It's important to communicate with your photographer and listen to their suggestions. If you always dreamed of having your photos taken by a certain picnic table and your photographer suggests moving over to a different one, take their opinions into consideration. The location you may have envisioned may not have the best lighting, or there may be a giant pole that will look like it's photobombing your images. It is always in your photographer's best interest to make sure your photos come out the highest quality possible.

5. Budget

Make sure to check your photographer's website and see what they charge for a wedding package that you are interested in. Everyone has a budget and it is important to make sure you know how much your dream photographer will cost. If they are more than you expected to pay think about if you are willing to stretch your budget a little bit or limit expenses in another aspect of your wedding. Photography and Videography can be one of the most expensive parts of your day but remember that every photographer has a set price for a reason and you want to make sure not to cut corners. When thinking about your photography budget remember to factor in not only the coast of their art but their equipment, travel time, preparation, editing, etc.

6. Backups

Make sure you ask your photographer how they back up their images. Imagine having your whole wedding only to find out all of your images were lost due to a freak accident. I personally always carry two camera bodies and both of my cameras have dual card slots. This means that every photograph is backed up in two different places. I also carry multiple lenses in case of emergency. If for some reason one breaks I always have a backup! Every one of my wedding packages includes a second photographer so not only do I have multiple copies of my images, but they are shooting with multiple cameras with dual card slots as well. I always travel separately from my second shooter in case of emergency. If by chance I got in a car accident on my way to your wedding having a second shooter that I know and trust ensures that someone will be there on time to capture your day. I make sure to back up my images the second I get home from your wedding, and I do not erase the images from your memory cards until I have delivered your gallery to you. Making sure your photographer is prepared and has a backup plan is very important when planning a wedding!

7. Test Run

Scheduling an engagement session is a great way to get to know your photographer and see how you work together. you will get to see their process from beginning to end before your wedding and make sure that you all mesh and work well together! Personally, if a couple hires me for an engagement shoot and they later decide to book me for their wedding I will take the price of the shoot off of their wedding package!