Ask the Experts: Choosing a Wedding Photographer – What You Need to Know

A wedding photographer is one of the most important, if not THE most important thing you will book for your wedding. They will capture the lasting memories of your Big day, being one of the only things, apart form your rings that you actually keep for ever after the wedding is done. Therefore, it is imperative that you book the right photographer with the right photography style for you.

Today on the blog we are looking at at how to make that decision easier.

photo by Nick Patton Photography – full wedding here 

Your Vision

The first thing you need to do is to figure out your vision. Do you want multiple cameras and angles of the big moments, or do you want intimate photos of yourself, your family, and your friends?
This is an important step as you will need to compare your vision to the photographer’s portfolio, and see if they do, or could potentially match.

Specific Photos

Another detail to figure out is if there are any specific, unique photos you may want. While the photographer should be fine with them, you still need to clarify to ensure they have the time, equipment, etc.

Photo by Ivy Bencheck Portraits.– full wedding here 

Your Budget

Wedding photographers are not always cheap, so it is crucial to know your budget. Photographers will typically charge for their time, as they will send you a digital file with all the photos in them.

But you also need to know if editing, for example, is part of the cost or an additional extra. If you are using a photographer who shoots on film, you need to know if they charge to develop the photos, or if it is up to you.

Understand Their Style

Once you start looking at photographers, you should take the time to analyze their style and see where they shine. Some photographers will be great at action photos, while others are incredible at capturing the small moments others would miss.

Considering you will know what your wedding will be like and what it will include, you need a photographer who can match the energy.

photo by Nicola Thompson – full wedding here 

Share Ideas

You also shouldn’t be scared to share your own ideas and insights. Save or print out some photos that you love that you would like to copy, or use as inspiration for your own photos. The photographer won’t know if you like a specific look unless you say so.

Look at Their Portfolio

As mentioned earlier, you need to take the step to analyze their style, but taking it a step further, you should browse their portfolio, too. This will give you the best idea what to expect and to see how your photos will turn out.

If they have an Instagram account, look through that, as well as all the photos they are tagged in that have been uploaded by clients. This is a small but important step as you can then look through a variety of photos, and not just the ones carefully chosen by the photographer themselves.

photo by Liam Collard – full wedding here 

Meet Them

Once you have narrowed your choices down to one or two photographers, it is time to meet them. You want to find out more about them, their work ethic, what they are and aren’t willing to do, etc.

This is the person who will be in charge of capturing all the memories and moments from potentially the biggest day of your life, and you don’t want to entrust that to someone you haven’t met and don’t know.

Do They Know Your Venue?

Finally, find out what they know about your venue. If you are getting married somewhere in your area, there is a good chance a local photographer has shot weddings there before, and this is a huge plus.

They will know the best places to take photos, the best light, angles, etc. This is a small detail that can take your photos to the next level, and it’s information you probably wouldn’t know yourself.

photo by  The Love & Roll. – full post here 

Additional Tips

Now you know a few of the main factors and questions to consider, here are a few additional tips that you may not think about or consider.

Added Extras

Firstly, find out if there are any extras the photographer can offer. This can range from extra photos, to a discount on a videographer they may work with. Simply put, you won’t know what else you can get unless you ask.

Equipment

The brand of equipment they use isn’t of much importance, but it is necessary to find out what backup equipment they have. Cameras malfunction, batteries die, and you want the peace of mind of knowing that the photos won’t stop if equipment gives out.

Illness Policy

A small detail is to establish what the photographer’s illness policy is. Photographers are typically booked months in advance, and you want to know what happens if they are sick and can’t make it to your big day.

Contract

Finally, it is always best to choose a photographer that has a contract, or one that is willing to sign and commit to one. Fill it with your requirements, the agreed cost, timeframe, etc, and ensure both parties are happy with it.

Photo by Ashley Griffin Photography – full wedding here 

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