After the wedding, the cake will be gone, the decorations tucked away and the dress in storage — but the photos from that day will likely grace the walls of your home for decades. Choosing a wedding photographer is an important step to ensuring that those memories are just as vivid as you remember them. So how do you choose a wedding photographer that will create the best memories of your big day? Here are five tips on choosing a wedding photographer.
Identify your favorite photography style.
The industry is filled with good wedding photographers — but as an art, wedding photography is also filled with lots of personal preferences. The key is to find a wedding photographer with a style that complements your own tastes. For example, do you prefer the traditional posed images looking at the camera, candid shots, dramatic images or a mix? When looking for a wedding photographer, choose one with a consistent style across their portfolio that speaks to your own individual tastes. Try searching for lifestyle wedding photographers if you prefer candids, or add that “traditional” in the search term if you’re looking for a photographer with a more formal approach.
View entire wedding albums — not just the portfolio.
A photographer’s portfolio is made up of all their best shots from across dozens of different weddings — their best getting ready photos, their best posed photos and their best reception photos. A good way to determine if the photographer’s skill set matches what you are looking for is to view an album (or two) all from the same wedding, so you’re not looking at the best of the best but what they are capable of shooting in a single day. If the images from start to finish get you excited, you’ve likely found a good photographer.
Meet potential photographers in person.
The photographer is often the vendor that couples are with the longest — from getting ready to the reception, the photographer is there through most moments. While choosing a photographer with good work is important, don’t overlook personality either. Find a photographer you’ll feel comfortable sharing the better part of your wedding day with. Along with helping you to avoid stiff expressions in your photos, it will also make your day even more enjoyable.
Do a trial run with an engagement shoot.
Thinking of getting engagements done? It’s a good idea to hire the same photographer. Not only does this serve as a trial run to help you determine if the photographer is the right fit, but it also helps the photographer. By heading to the wedding day after already working with you during the engagement shoot, the photographer knows what style images you like best and what poses work best for the two of you well before the big day.
Discuss the fine print and photo rights.
Wedding photography contracts can be long and confusing. Discuss all the details so you know exactly what you are getting. A few good questions to ask are:
- Can I share the images online?
- Do we receive digital copies or prints?
- If we receive digital copies, does that include the reprint rights?
- How long does it take to receive the finished photos?
The photographs from your wedding day are one of the few things that last beyond the big day — which makes choosing a wedding photographer an important part of the planning process. Find the photographer that fits your style by identifying a style, previewing albums, meeting in person, scheduling engagements, and discussing the contract details.
