Curious on how to go about choosing your wedding photographer to make sure you’ve got the perfect fit? A wedding photographer is arguably one of the most important vendors you’ll have on your special day. A wedding photographer will document memories from throughout the day that you will be able to look back on for years to come. The photos from your wedding should remind you of exactly how you felt on that day and will hopefully be passed down to future generations.

Choosing your wedding photographer is a big deal, and it should be! Sure you could hire a friend or family member to help you save money and capture the day for you, but know they will not be able to replace a professional wedding photographer. Your wedding images are an investment, so don’t skimp out on your photographer!

Choosing Your Wedding Photographer

I’ll say it again, wedding photography is an investment. It’s important to do your research and make sure you find a someone you trust will do a great job! So let’s talk about how to do that. Here are five things you should do to help you choose the perfect wedding photographer.

Plan Your Budget

The budget for your wedding day will help you determine where you can spend your money and how much. Think about what is important to you on your wedding day. After the day is over and you’ve celebrated your marriage, what is left to remember the day? Let me tell you, it is worth it to invest in your wedding photos. You’re not only paying for someone to show up and simply take the photos, you’re paying for the experience. A professional wedding photographer will come prepared knowing how to handle different situations throughout the day: lighting changes, posing, angles, etc. You want to be able to trust that your photographer will capture your wedding photos the way you want them to, so don’t hire just anyone. You can expect to pay anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000+ for your wedding photographer. Just remember you’ll get what you pay for and cheaper doesn’t always mean better.

Choose An Editing And Shooting Style You Love

There are many different editing and shooting styles so it’s important to find a photographer that produces images you love! Editing style and shooting style are two different things, so let’s talk about them.

Every photographer has a different editing style. There’s true to color, moody, light and airy, warm, cool, etc. So what style speaks to you the most? Finding a photographer that edits in a way you love and know you will continue to love when you look back on your photos is crucial! Do you like their editing style because it’s trending or do you love it because you know it will stand the test of time?

A photographer’s shooting style describes how they go about taking photos on the wedding day. Are they more traditional, editorial, or documentary? Will they pose you or will they give you prompts to evoke true emotion? Many photographers will also use a mix of styles throughout the wedding day. Your photographer may start the day using a documentary approach to capture candid moments while you’re getting ready. Later they may use a traditional shooting style for family photos. For couples portraits of you and your partner they may use a combo of editorial and documentary to produce genuine moments as well as creative images.

View Their Work For Consistency and make sure they know how to work in different lighting situations

It’s common for photographers to only show their best work, I mean why wouldn’t they? However, it’s important to make sure your wedding photographer knows how to handle different lighting situations. Be thorough when looking at galleries on their website and if you feel the need, ask to view a full wedding gallery. Pay attention to the details in their work. Do the bride and groom look stiff and uncomfortable? Did the photographer capture special moments that often go unnoticed? Ask yourselves which moments are important to you on your wedding day, then look at their work and see if it’s something they’ve captured.

Make sure you vibe with them and love their personality

I cannot shout this one from the rooftops enough! You, your partner, the wedding party, and your families will spend the entire day with the photographer. Choose one whose personality you love! The best way to do this is to schedule a phone call or meet in person with the photographer before booking them. Pay attention to how they answer your questions and interact with you. Do you like their personality? Do they care about what you want on your wedding day? Are they providing solutions to your problems? You need a photographer that will listen to you, help you, and will pay attention to the little details on your wedding day.

Read Reviews from past clients

Do your research and vet your photographer. Do they have a credible website? Can you easily find them on Google? Do they have reviews from past clients? It’s so important to trust your wedding photographer and to know they will do what they say. Reading past client reviews can give you a better idea of what to expect from them and how your experience working with them will go.

Questions To Ask Before Booking Your Wedding Photographer

Feel like you’ve found the best photographer for you? Make sure to ask THESE six questions before you book them!

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