Choosing your wedding photographer
Introduction
As a wedding photographer, I hear the question "How do I choose a wedding photographer?" all the time. And although all of my clients have different personalities, tastes and budgets, there are some key things to keep in mind when hiring a professional wedding photographer for your big day.
Hire a photographer that fits your personality.
When looking for the right photographer, make sure they fit your personality. You want someone who is just as excited about capturing the day as you are. Ask yourself:
What's their style like? Does it match yours?
Do they have experience shooting in your location? If not, what do they suggest you do about it?
Do they have any unique skills or techniques that would be helpful to you on a wedding day, such as drone photography or underwater photography (if applicable). These things can be pricey and require training—but if it's something that excites you and makes sense for your budget, then it's worth investigating further!
Make sure your photographer has the right experience under their belt before hiring them!
Having a photographer with the right kind of experience will ensure that your wedding day runs smoothly and is filled with beautiful images. Not only will they know how to manage the flow of a wedding day so that everyone is where they need to be when it matters, but also how to handle different situations and what shots to take in order for you both look our best on camera. If a photographer has been shooting more than just weddings, they'll have more experience at capturing candid moments between people—crucial when it comes time for family photos or group shots!
Hire a photographer that has real wedding experience.
Hiring a wedding photographer is a major decision, so it’s important to find someone who specializes in capturing the big day. Most photographers will tell you that they do portraits and events, but not all of them offer real wedding experience. Some photographers focus on just shooting weddings, while others may only shoot artistic photography or even seasonal events like birthdays and graduations.
Try to find someone who has photographed at least 10 weddings before yours.
Look for a photographer whose portfolio shows more than 20 images from each season of your year (spring/summer/fall/winter).
If they don't have much experience with photographing weddings, ask if they'd be willing to come along on another wedding or two first so they can see what goes into it and get familiar with your venue before working with you directly as clients!
Hire a photographer that is fully licensed and insured.
Make sure your photographer is fully licensed and insured.
Check that your photographer has the proper licenses and insurance in place before hiring them for your wedding day. If they claim to be a professional, then it's safe to assume that they should have all of their bases covered when it comes to their own business practices. It’s also important because if something happens during the shoot, you want someone who will be able to help you out with any potential problems or issues.
What happens if my photographer isn't licensed or insured?
If you do hire an unlicensed or uninsured photographer, you run into some serious trouble! Not only are they not legally allowed to take photos at all (and therefore can't legally hold any rights over those photos), but they don’t even qualify as professionals in this industry—which means they're probably not great at what they do anyway!
Ask for references.
Ask for references. Wedding photographers should have at least three or four recent references, and you should definitely call them. You want to make sure that the photographer you pick is good at what they do and will capture your big day in a way that reflects how you see it.
Ask questions like:
How long were they with your wedding party? The more time, the better! It shows that they are committed to capturing moments throughout all parts of the day.
Were they easy to work with? This can be tough to determine over the phone, but asking about their personalities and how easy it was to get along with them will give you clues as to whether or not this is someone who would mesh well with your group of friends and family members (and vice-versa).
Conclusion
Don’t worry! You don’t have to do this alone. We know how stressful planning a wedding can be, which is why we are here to help. Just take a deep breath and remember that with experience, you will find the right photographer for you! Nancy and I would love to be your photographer for your special day but whether you do select us or another photographer these topics will help to make sure you get the right person for your special day!
