When it comes to planning your wedding day, choosing a wedding photographer should be at the top of your list! What many people don’t realize when hiring a wedding photographer is how involved they are throughout your entire day. It’s important to find a photographer whose style you love but also who understands your needs as a couple. With so many photographers out there, it can be hard to determine what you’re looking for. The last thing you should do is to cut corners or cheap out on your wedding photographs. Besides all of the incredible memories, your wedding photographs are the only thing that you have left after the day is over. Often one of the biggest regrets I hear from couples is that they wish they would have prioritized their wedding photos more. Wedding photography is an investment and choosing the right wedding photographer to capture your day is a crucial part of the wedding process. It can be really intimidating to search through all of the photographers out there but it doesn’t have to be.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your wedding photographer:

Do your research

If you’re engaged or will be in the near future, it’s probable that you’ve considered who might be the one to photograph your wedding day. If you don’t follow them on social media, spend some time browsing their profiles. This will help you to not only get a sense of their work but also who they are as a person. Social media is great for allowing you to connect with potential vendors without even having to reach out to them. Next, check out their website. It’s so important especially as a professional to have a website that showcases their work and products and/or services and shares more about them and what they have to offer. This is also a good way to see their level of experience and sense of professionalism. Look through their portfolio to determine if they would be a good fit for you on your wedding day and then go from there.

Determine your style

There are so many different photography styles out there. If you’re not a photographer, it’s unlikely that you would understand what this means and that’s okay. Some of the wedding styles include light and airy, dark and moody, fine art, artistic, warm and cool toned, photojournalistic and editorial. Start by looking at some of your favourite photographers and ask yourself what you love most about their work. Also, search the different styles I listed above and look for similarities and go from there. Ask yourself how you want your wedding day captured? This is an important thing to keep in mind when deciding what style you want reflected in your photographs. Once you’ve decided on what style you love best, this can help you select your wedding photographer.

Meet them in person

Out of all your wedding vendors, your photographer is the person that you will spend the most time with on your wedding day. There are a few things that you can hone in on to determine if their personality is a good fit for you. First things first, ask yourself what kind of experience you want on your wedding day. Do you want someone who blends in with the day and feels like an extension of the wedding party? You might also really value the client/vendor relationship and the professionalism that it brings. Regardless of what you choose, the most important thing is ensuring that they are going to put you and your family first. Through their experience with photographing weddings, they are also the one who is going to help keep you relaxed on your wedding day. More often than not, without a wedding planner, they become the ones who keep your wedding day running smoothly, too. If you can’t find a time to meet in person or because of distance, set up a meeting virtually.

Discover their approach

After you’ve checked out their website and spent some time browsing their portfolio, reach out to them and set up a meeting. Every photographer has a different style and how they like to operate on a wedding day so ensure that you set aside some time to meet with them and ask questions. If your wedding day doesn’t allow you to have a do-over, it's crucial to work with someone who understands your needs as a couple. When choosing your wedding photographer, you should hire someone that you trust to capture the moments that are most important to you. Alongside how the pictures look, consider the way that the subjects look. Is it posed or candid?

Ask the right questions

It’s so important when comparing apples to apples between photographers to understand exactly what you're getting and what’s included in your package. How many hours of coverage do they suggest based on your timeline? Do they have options to add an engagement session or second shooter if needed? Before paying your deposit, go through your contract and confirm details including copyright, payments, re-scheduling and gallery delivery. Do they offer albums and prints? Is your gallery delivered online or via USB? Ask all of the questions so that you can confidently book your wedding photographer and understand exactly what you’re getting.

View their portfolio

Outside of their social media and website, ask to view a full wedding gallery. More often than not, browsing a photographer's portfolio is only a glimpse into what an actual wedding day looks like. This will allow you to get a sense of what a full wedding day looks like and not just the highlight reel. Wedding photographers shoot in so many different scenarios throughout the day so it’s important for them to be knowledgeable in each situation. Do they use a flash during reception or lower lighting scenarios? Determining this can help you ensure that you are getting the best possible images throughout your entire wedding day. Viewing a full wedding day gallery will also help give you a sense of what it’s like to work with them and what you can expect when getting your wedding photos back.

Photographers are trusted wedding vendors that have attended countless weddings and they can often help you with other aspects of your wedding day, too. Hiring a photographer with a strong portfolio as well as experience can be beneficial to you throughout your wedding process. It’s an added bonus if your photographer includes things such as a wedding guide, recommended vendors or timeline planning.

If you’re looking for a wedding photographer, I’d love to connect with you! Reach out to me through my contact form here.