How to Choose the Perfect Photographer for Your Wedding
How to Choose the Perfect Photographer for Your Wedding
Your wedding day will be one of the most memorable milestones of your life, so choosing the right photographer is an important decision to make. The truth is, there are so many talented professional photographers in the industry, narrowing down your options can feel overwhelming. However, with a clear plan and vision for your day you can find the perfect photographer to capture your special day in a way that aligns with your vision and also your budget. Below is a guide to aid you through this process.
1. Understand Your Style Preferences
Before reaching out to any photographers, take some time to identify the photography style you both love. Think aesthetics - Are you drawn to light and airy, dramatic and moody tones, or something more “true to life”? After you have thought about the aesthetics, start asking yourselves the question of what do you want to see in your final images? What is it that you want photographed?
Spend time browsing Pinterest, Instagram and other social media websites/apps to create a mood board of your favorite looks. At this point in the process, you’re not looking for your photographer, you’re trying to fit together a style and vision that suits you. But who knows, maybe during this exercise you’ll find the perfect match.
Now it’s worth adding it’s really important if you’re creating a mood board that you do that first. The idea is you create the mood board as a reference point to find your perfect photographer. It’s not ideal if you find a photographer and then just present them with a mood board, especially if that mood board doesn’t match their style at all. Most photographers may be happy to work with you on this, but if the style and vibe are a complete contrast to their work, it’s probably best you continue your search.
2. Start Your Search Early
It is true what they say, that the best photographers often book up months - sometimes even years - in advance, especially if your wedding date is during peak season. Begin your search as soon as you have a venue and date secured and you’ve completed step 1 above. Starting early in the process is never a bad idea, plus it also gives you plenty time to research and compare options.
3. Ask for Recommendations
If you were looking for a plumber or an electrician, your first step in the search might well be word of mouth. You want to know who your closest friends have hired and more importantly if they were happy with the service. So ask recently married friends, family members, or if you have one, your wedding planner for recommendations.
Side note: Most wedding venues do have preferred vendor lists featuring suppliers who are familiar with the space, but just be careful with this, it seems to have become a “pay to be featured” option that some venues have started operating. Some even charging a percentage of commission from the suppliers.
4. Review Portfolios and Sample Work
A photographers portfolio speaks volumes about not only their skill and style but the “moments” in which they choose to photograph. If you want to know what someone values, take a look at what they photograph.
Take the time to review full wedding galleries if possible, not just their social media feeds. This will give you a more accurate idea of how they capture an entire event. Key things to look out for are consistency (all year round) and more importantly, how the photographs make you feel. Do you feel like you were part of their day? Do they look overly posed? too many detail images? Is what you’re seeing matching with how you wish to remember your day? Does it match your mood board?
5. Consider Personality and Rapport
This one is not to be treated lightly. No matter how professional your photographer may be, if you don’t quite gel or see eye to eye then I promise you your photographs will reflect that. Remember if you’re opting for a full days coverage, they will be with you for most of your wedding day, so it’s crucial that you feel comfortable around them.
Most photographer are happy to schedule a consultation so you both get a sense of personalities and communication style. Remember this applies both ways, a proffesional photographer should never take on a job where the rapport isn’t there. Their work will suffer from it and neither of you will get the true results you deserve.
6. Prepare a List of Questions
It’s never a bad idea to come prepared with a list of questions you may want answers to. Do not view this as a bad thing and truthfully, you can never ask too many questions. There is also no such thing as a stupid question. Photographers understand that for many couples this is not only the first time getting married it’s also potentially the first time having professional photographs taken.
Here a just a couple of example questions:
What is your experience with weddings of similar size or style?
Do you work with a second shooter or assistant?
How do you handle challenging lighting situations?
What is your backup plan for equipment or emergencies?
Can you accommodate specific cultural or religious traditions?
Do you like cake?
Remember though, not all questions need to be “business” related, try to connect with your photographer on a personal level rather than a transactional level.
7. Understand the Pricing and Packages
Wedding photography can be a significant investment, but it’s important that you understand what it is you’re getting. It’s important you understand what’s included with each package. Some photographers offer engagement sessions, albums, or extended hours as part of their packages, while others offer à la carte options. Some may require a larger deposit upfront with regular payments whilst others may just require the balance to be paid off x amount of weeks before the wedding. Knowing this, will help you budget far better.
Ensure you understand what’s included, what’s not included and ask about any additional fees (for example, is travel included?).
8. Prioritise Experience with Weddings
I initially wanted to leave this one out, for the sole reason that when I first got into photographing weddings this was all I heard… How was someone who is trying to break into Wedding Photography supposed to do so when the advice given is to steer clear.
So here’s my take on it. Your photographer, if they have little experience with weddings, must absolutely know their camera inside and out. Before I even photographed a single wedding, I knew my camera inside out and back to front. Oh, not to mention, backups - camera’s, batteries, lenses, plan A, B and through to Z.
But that said, having experience of photographing weddings is important, this ensures they are more likely to anticipate key events, like the first kiss or the cutting of the cake, ensuring nothing important is missed.
To summarise what I will say is that I believe there is absolutely nothing wrong with hiring a photographer who is just starting out in the wedding industry. If it wasn’t for the couples who trusted me from the beginning, I wouldn’t be where I am today. You just have to know EXACTLY what it is you’re getting yourself in to.
9. Discuss Your Vision.
Along with creating your mood board that you used to find your photographer, it’s useful to share this and your vision with any potential photographers that you’re going to meet with.
Common advice found over the internet would suggest to put together a “detailed shot list” of all the photographs you want captured. As a wedding photographer, and on behalf of probably 98% of professional wedding photographers… please don’t do this.
By all means, if there are specific photographs you are wanting then do discuss this, but all you’re doing by providing a detailed shot list is simply hampering your photographers creativity. Instead of focussing on the moment and telling the story of your day, your photographer is more concerned about checking items off a list.
The end result? Not what you hired the photographer for.
10. Understand Your Rights
Admittedly this usually comes during the booking process in the form of a contract or terms and conditions but it doesn’t stop you from discussing these things upfront.
The vast majority of professionals will retain the copyright to the images. Don’t mistake this for printing and usage rights.
11. Check Turnaround Times
Whilst not essential in most cases, this is a nice to know and always worth checking. It would be a horrible surprise for you to find out that after your wedding you won’t receive your images for another 12 months.
Remember that quality work takes time, perhaps ask if you will get any sneak peeks. Discuss how files will be delivered—whether through an online gallery, USB drive, or another method.
12. Ask About Backup Plans
I touched on this earlier but it’s really important that it has it’s own place…
Unexpected issues can arise, so it’s important to choose a photographer who has contingency plans in place. Whether it’s backup equipment or a colleague to step in if they’re unavailable, knowing your photographer is prepared (and they should be) will give you peace of mind.
13. Stay Flexible
You might feel the need to have all day coverage and you can certainly get this regardless of budget if you look around hard enough. That said, don’t sacrifice quality for quantity.
If your budget is tight, consider hiring a photographer for a shorter duration, such as just the ceremony and some couple portraits.
14. Trust Your Gut
There is backed science about your “gut feelings” and it’s often referred to as the second brain. Although arguably some of you might be thinking that certain males think with a different organ.
Sometimes, choosing the perfect photographer comes down to intuition. If you feel a genuine connection and confidence in their ability to deliver, trust your instinct.
15. Consider Your Venue’s Lighting
Whilst it’s almost a given that you would expect any professional photographer to be able to handle any lighting, this point comes from personal experience because it’s also equally important that you understand how lighting can change your images.
I once sat down with a couple who told me that they loved my style, specifically pointing out photographs that were “dark and moody” (Not a fan of that term, I prefer “playing with shadow”). When I asked them about their venue, they told me it was “white walls and full of light”. I had to explain that those 2 things don’t go hand in hand.
If you’re looking at a low light winter wedding with candles on the table, you also don’t want your photographer overpowering the ambiance with too much artificial light (flash/video lighting/etc). Check with your photographer to see how they deal with situations like this. The objective is to match and enhance the mood and tone of your wedding… not change it.
Bonus Tip. Enjoy the Process
My bonus tip and final point is to remember to enjoy the process. Yes, this is a big day for you, yes you want to ensure it’s photographed in the way you envision, but don’t get yourself tied up In knots about it. Have fun window shopping, I promise you, your perfect photographer is out there waiting for you.
And if they’re not, well, maybe you skipped point 2.
As always, thanks for reading. I appreciate you.