Key steps that'll help ensure you get the best photography of your wedding day.
Hands down, choosing a wedding photographer is the most important decision you'll make when planning your big day. Even bigger a decision than your dress! Why? Because your wedding photos are the only real memento you'll get from your special day. The only thing you'll spend budget on that you can still enjoy, many years down the line, with generations to come. These photos should be beautiful, timeless, and capture every unique moment your big day created. But with so many wedding photographers out there, it can be overwhelming trying to select the right one. That's where we come in! In this post, we'll share how to pick a wedding photographer who'll capture your big day perfectly, and stress-free.
How to Find the Perfect Wedding Photographer
To help you find the best person, or team for the job, follow our guide to selecting the perfect wedding photographer.
Determine Your Style
Before you start looking for a wedding photographer, it's wise to decide what style of photography you like. Photographers all have different styles, from traditional and posed to documentary and free-flowing. Each photographer will blend certain styles to create their own aesthetic.
To best pick a photographer, you should focus on finding someone whose style aligns with your vision, and who ticks the boxes when it comes to the types of shots you want.
A Photographer with Experience
Look for a photographer with experience if you want peace of mind on the big day. Experienced suppliers know how to capture the right moments, they can anticipate what is coming next, and they know how to work with different lighting conditions.
Ask to see their portfolio, but more specifically, request a browse of a full wedding. That way you'll be able to check consistency in their work, and make sure they're not just able to pull off one or two great shots on the day.
Check Reviews
It's essential to check the references of a potential wedding photographer. Reviews can provide valuable insights into their work, and what it's like to work with them. You could also ask for references from past clients and contact them to get a deeper understanding of how they operate on the day.
Meet In-person
Before hiring any critical wedding supplier, it's important to meet in-person, or at least via Zoom. A face-to-face meeting allows you to get a better sense of a photographer's personality, communication style, and their overall approach to the craft. It'll also help you gauge how comfortable you feel with them, and potentially how trustworthy they are.
Equipment and a Backup Plan
Every professional wedding photographer needs a plan B, and should be using high-quality equipment to capture their work. Ask about the type of camera they use, the lenses they have, and their backup plan in case of equipment failure. Also, enquire about whether there will be a second shooter on the day, and whether they have someone on-call to fill in if the main photographer is ill.
Budget
Wedding photography can be expensive, and it is essential to choose a photographer who is transparent about their pricing and what's included in their packages. Most photographers will offer a customized package to fit within the budget of an individual couple. So be sure to enquire about that if their advertised deals do not suit your requirements.