Quick! Name one thing you’ll still have after your wedding day is over and done. If you said–photographs–you’re one million percent correct! A few of those photos may hang on your wall for 50, 60, or even 70 years! So I think you can see that thinking through how to pick the perfect photographer is worth your time. (Not to mention all the time you spend with your photographer on your ultra, super, giant, potentially stressful, important, amazing day!)
I have been in the wedding industry for lots of years. And I’ve seen a lot of vendor areas grow and change (think back to cake only–now the sky’s the limit for sweet treats to share). But I think the vendor area I’ve seen grow the most is photographers. There are more photographers now than EVER!
So, how do you pick the perfect photographer for your wedding day?
I cannot even imagine sifting through websites, Instagram pages, and filling out all of the contact forms to find a professional photographer that you think may be perfect for you. In fact, my most recent bride was in tears explaining how difficult the search had been and how thankful she was to have found the right one for her.
Although websites and social and other small glimpses of a photographer’s work can be helpful, it is still SO daunting to know if you’re making the right decision. So here are three questions to ask yourself to determine if your photographer is up for the job and the one for you.
1. Do You Feel A Connection With That Wedding Photographer?
After 7+ years as a wedding photographer I cannot emphasize connection enough.
Your connection with your photographer is so important because you will spend more time with them than anyone else on your wedding day. Yes, more time than with your spouse-to-be!
To make sure my bride and groom get an opportunity to assess this, I hop on a call before I book any couple. I want to feel comfortable with my bride and groom and for them to be comfortable with me.
That connection helps my clients:
- feel totally comfortable in front of the camera,
- know they can count on me to always have their back, and
- even gives a chance to become friends!
That relationship is important leading up to the big day and especially on that day. I’ve encouraged brides through bridesmaid drama, emotional struggles, reminded them of truth, and offered reassurance and laughter when needed.
And I’ve realized that the connection I have with my clients helps me photograph my couples more for who they are because I know them. I really know their likes and dislikes and who they are. Their connection with me makes my clients feel more at ease on the biggest day of their life. And that comes through in their wedding photos.
2. Are You Drawn To The Wedding Photographer’s Style?
There are so many styles of photos out there–dark and moody, light and airy, natural and warm, filmy, retro, lifestyle to name a few. Phew!
What style do you love?
How do you find the type of photos you’re drawn to? Start watching what you consistently favorite, pin, bookmark, save, like, etc.
Follow accounts you like and bookmark specific photos on places like Instagram to start to see what you love in your search. You could also use Canva to create something like a “mood board” with screenshots of your favorite images. Look for commonalities between the images, colors, tones, moods, expressions, etc. to find your style.
For instance, my favorite photos are the ones that make me feel. I am drawn to images with emotion paired with natural edits and pops of creativity.
You see this style in images I take when I capture a day honestly and unique to my couples.
Find photos you love. It’s often fun to ask others what styles they think you enjoy. Sometimes our friends know us better than we know ourselves.
3. Do They Have Plenty Of Experience As A Professional Wedding Photographer?
Oh boy, I cannot state this enough. You need an experienced photographer for such an important event with so many moving parts.
I don’t mean this to freak you out, but sometimes what you see on that Instagram grid can be really deceiving to the total gallery.
There are photographers out there who don’t know how to work camera settings and light. But you may never know from looking at an adorable grid. That’s why I strongly encourage couples to ask about the experience photographers have.
You’d be surprised about how quickly that may narrow down your search. After shooting over 150 weddings, I’ve learned that things may not go as planned. Sometimes lighting may be poor, or the weather decides to be tricky. Rolling with the punches and creating beauty and quality regardless of the situation is second nature because I’ve been dealt lots of surprises and made it work great. Experience is imperative in choosing a photographer.
You want photos you can use in a million ways…photos that print great. You want photos you will LOVE.
If you think you can worry enough to make sure your day is perfect so your photographer has the ability to capture it perfectly–that is unrealistic. A professional photographer’s job is to be prepared to capture it all. And create opportunities for any day, at any time to look its best.
Think Of It This Way
Think of it this way, who drives a car better, someone who just jumped behind the wheel or someone who has experience maneuvering around other drivers rain or shine?
Experience makes a huge difference especially when a curveball can either throw everyone off or can be knocked out of the park by a lot of practice and experience.
Hire someone you can trust so you can relax and enjoy this special day–that only comes once.
I want your day to be perfect, with the team you’ve always dreamed of, so as you search for photographers, ask yourself these three questions to pick the perfect photographer and feel confident in your decision.