How To Choose The Perfect Wedding Photographer For You
Choosing the right wedding photographer is such an important decision as your wedding photos will be one of the few tangible things left over after your wedding day ends and all your guests leave the reception. Here are some tips to help you choose the right wedding photographer for you:
Determine the style you’re looking for - Before you start searching Google for the photographer of your dreams it's important to figure out what style of photography appeals to you the most. Do you prefer heavily posed images or more of a documentary style that captures whatever candid moments reveal themselves? Look for someone who specializes in the style you prefer and you’ll be a lot happier with the results longterm.
Check their work - Allow yourself some time to review the photographer's portfolio to get an idea of the quality of work as well as the things they tend to focus on. Look for consistency in the level of finish from one image to the next. Another really helpful tip is to ask to see an entire wedding gallery. This gives you an idea of what you could be receiving if you chose that photographer.
Read reviews - Reviews aren’t everything but there’s something nice about knowing other people came before you and were happy with their decision. Check the photographer's reviews on places like Google to see what people have said about their experience. This will give you an idea of how skilled they were and how satisfied the couple was in the end. I’ll say it again, reviews aren’t everything and we all start somewhere but they are nice to have in your corner.
Meet your photographer - Arrange to meet with the photographer either in person or over a video call like Zoom. This gives you the opportunity to ask questions and get a sense of their personality and communication style. A good photographer will put you at ease, a great photographer will make you feel like you’re talking to a long-time friend. Never make decisions off a website alone.
Discuss the details - Make sure you express what you’re looking for in terms of coverage and extras like albums or prints. It might be a good time to go over a proposed timeline to see how all the separate parts of your day will fit together. Are you planning a First Look with Dad or First Touch with your Soon-To-Be? Maybe there are images you’re overly excited to capture or something you have planned that will make the day that much more special to you. These are all things you should bring up during your consultation. Pay close attention to how the conversation plays out. You’ll be spending a lot of your day with your photographer by your side - be sure they’re someone you like.
Understand the pricing - The right photographer will have their pricing laid out in a way that is easy to understand. Make sure it’s clear what is, and is not, included in the various collections they offer. If something is confusing, ask about it. They should know their pricing better than anyone and should be able to answer questions about it without a problem. Another helpful tip is to ask about additional costs such as travel expenses or additional hours of coverage. It's important to ensure the photographer's services fit within your budget.
Follow up - Just because the consultation is over doesn’t mean you can’t have more questions. Many times, couples will think up questions later that day or even days later, after everything has sunken in. If you feel like you can reach out and get a friendly response in a timely manner you’re well on your way to finding the right photographer for you.
These seven tips will help you make an informed decision about a very important piece of your wedding puzzle. This list is not all encompassing by any means and you should supplement it with whatever other points are most important to you. Best of luck finding your match…
P.S. If you have a tip that I didn’t mention please leave it in the comments below!