Choosing the right photographer is so important! Your wedding day is one of the days you look forward to most in your life and your photographer should be someone you trust to capture all the precious memories for you to cherish in the years to come. The process of choosing a wedding photographer can seem daunting as there are many amazing options, so here’s a guide on how to choose the perfect wedding photographer for you! I’ll outline some key points for consideration to help you narrow down your selections and choose a wedding photographer that is right fit!

Know your style

“Style” goes beyond whether you prefer light and airy or moody and rich photos. While that IS important, it is also important to know what experience you are going to get when you book a photographer. What kind of support do you want leading up to your wedding day? Is it important to you that your photographer is available to help guide you through timeline planning and give any needed recommendations? What level of support do you expect during the planning phase of your wedding? Do you feel more inclined to book with a photographer whose client experience involves a more hands-off approach, with minimal interaction before appearing at your venue on your wedding day? Additionally, consider how you envision your interaction with them during the wedding. Do you want your wedding day story to unfold naturally, making viewers feel as though they're experiencing it alongside you? Perhaps you want a blend of candid moments, capturing the essence of being a fly on the wall, along with more structured, posed shots. It’s important to make sure the style that you are looking for aligns with the style your photographer delivers so your day runs in the way you’ve dreamed of. You spend so much time during your wedding day with your photographer, it’s necessary that your styles align and there’s trust that your gallery will continue to melt your heart each and every time you peek back through.

Do your research

A good place to start is by browsing Pinterest. You’ll be able to quickly see what style of image you are drawn to and which images make you feel something. If you notice a consistent aesthetic among the images you save to your wedding board, it's likely a direction worth considering when choosing a photographer. Photographers can also have their website linked to their images on Pinterest, which makes that a good way to find some photographers you're interested in. You can check out my work on Pinterest here! Another good method for doing research is looking through prospective photographers’ social media. Are they active on platforms like Instagram, sharing insights and behind-the-scenes moments in their stories? Do you connect with their personality and the content they share on their feed? Do they offer helpful information that aids in client preparation? If you are looking for a photographer who will travel with you to your destination, is your favorite photographer available for travel? Where are they located? Following your favorite photographers on social media for a while can help you determine if they're someone you connect with.

Schedule a consultation

We all have busy schedules and there can be so many vendors to juggle while wedding planning, but it really is so important to take the time to schedule a call with the photographers who have made your final list! This is great for talking through any questions you might have, learning each other’s personalities, and seeing if you connect! It doesn’t have to be a long call, mine typically lasts 15 minutes, and it is really worth your time to make sure the connection feels right.

Discuss packages and pricing

Most wedding photographers will have starting prices on their website so you can get an idea of whether their services are within the amount you have budgeted. Once you take a look and decide if that photographer seems like a good fit, there is typically a more detailed guide they can send you. There you can see all of their collections as well as any add-ons that are offered to customize your day to meet your exact needs. If a photographer is your dream photographer and they are slightly on the higher end of your budget, I recommend still reaching out, explaining your priorities, and seeing if there is a way to work your package to fit your needs and your budget! It could be the case that you think you need more hours of coverage than you actually do to meet your goals, or maybe your wedding is intimate enough to where you don’t need a second photographer! These are all things you can talk through with your photographer to help you make your decision. There’s always the chance that just as they are your dream photographer, you are their dream client and there is a way to make a dream partnership come to life!

Trust your instincts

Our gut tells us more than we’d like to know sometimes. Sometimes it tells us the answer we don’t want to hear but we know we need to listen to. Maybe you thought a photographer was your dream photographer and after your call with them, you’re left feeling unsupported and like your personalities really didn’t mesh. That’s something you need to listen to! It’s also possible that the photographer you weren’t so sure about knocked your socks off and is now the obvious choice for you. Maybe you realized that cutting down a budget for a different category is worth it to get the package you want from your dream photographer because that investment feels like your priority. There are many tough choices to make in relation to your wedding day, sometimes you need to step back and listen to what your intuition is telling you!

In conclusion, finding the perfect wedding photographer may take some time and effort, but the result will be SO worth it! By following these steps you’ll be well on your way to finding a wedding photographer that will give you the experience of your dreams. Your wedding gallery will be something you are proud of and can be shared with generations to come!

I could be your wedding Photographer

I hope this guide on how to choose your wedding photographer was super helpful! If you are looking for a wedding photographer I'd be so happy to be considered! You can contact me here or you can see more of my work here! I can’t wait to hear from you!

How To Choose A Wedding Photographer