Wedding Photographer! | How Do I Possibly Choose?
Congrats! You’ve found the one, set the date, and have begun planning your dream wedding. Whether budget, luxe, or somewhere in between you must ensure you have quality photos that will last a lifetime. Here are 11 tips on how to choose a wedding photographer.
Determine The Style You Want: Photographers are artists and each artist has a signature style. Their style goes beyond how they edit your final photos to how they shoot your images. Yes, you’ll want some candid shots of guests during the reception but determine how you want your wedding album to look and feel. Choose from editorial, vintage, vibrant in color, romantic and dreamy, contemporary, and more.
Ask For Referrals: Reach out to friends, family, and your social network to ask for referrals. Beyond asking for names, ask to see their wedding album. First assess the look and feel of their staged shots and essential moments, such as the wedding party, family photos, the ring exchange, first married kiss, and eating cake. But don’t forget to look through the pre-wedding and reception photos to see how well they commemorate the day as a whole.
Photographing Multiple Skin Tones: Not every photographer excels in shooting biracial couples, couples of color, or family and wedding guests with varying skin tones. They struggle with setting up lighting or with editing that maintains natural skin tone. This is a tip that is often left off of articles that advise on how to choose a wedding photographer and is something many couples don’t realize until they get their photos back—and it’s too late.
A Dedicated Wedding Photographer: You may already have a photographer whose style you love, but they may not photograph weddings. Taking staged family photos or portraits in a studio or picturesque outdoor location varies greatly from photographing a wedding. The key moments in your wedding will only last a few seconds so you need a photographer who is fast, flexible, and understands what moments need to be captured. They must also be able to shoot in crowds without disrupting the flow of events.
Every Detail Matters: Your wedding is a family affair and celebratory event so pay close attention to wedding photos beyond the newlyweds. When browsing portfolios in person, look beyond the money shots to the tiniest of details. This includes close-ups of the ring, bouquet, cake, the bride while getting dressed, mom and dad looking lovingly across the room at the happy couple, and more.
Lighting Matters: Not all venues are full of bright natural light and many wedding receptions take place after the sun goes down. Even if your wedding is outdoors, you need a photographer who can shoot crystal clear photos from every angle regardless of where the sun’s shining. Ask if they’ve shot a wedding in the venue you’ve booked, and pay close attention to those shots. Also pay close attention to how clear shots are in various venues, at similar times of the year, and in similar lighting. If they only show you shots of outdoor weddings in bright light but your wedding is indoors, that’s a problem.
Schedule Engagement Photos: When you believe you’ve found the right photographer for you, give them a test run by hiring them for your engagement photos. This isn’t just to confirm their artistic skills, but to ensure you and your spouse feel comfortable working with them. If all goes well, you’ll likely hire them for the pre-wedding parties and multi-day wedding events.
Personality Match: It doesn’t matter how stunning their shots are, you need a photographer who works well with you. You will be inviting them to be part of the biggest day of your life, so they must be a good fit. Also, a photographer that works well during a day filled emotions. While a day for love, there can be a lot of stress before the wedding begins and your photographer needs to be able to go with the flow.
Budget: I saved the budget for last, for a couple of reasons. First, wedding images last a lifetime so it’s not enough to compile an album from selfies and smartphone photos. Second, most photographers have a variety of packages or offer customized packages depending on your needs. Third, photographers are worth the investment as your photos will be passed down through the generations. By all means, stay within your budget, but be flexible as it may be worth paying a bit more for the lasting memories.
Looking For A Wedding Photographer in the St. Louis area? Or do you need a wedding photographer for a destination wedding?
Now that you know how to choose a wedding photographer, it’s time to start searching. I invite you to browse my online wedding portfolio and schedule a time to meet in person or virtually.