"There are nearly 200 wedding photographers on The Knot in your area!"
Bri's mom exclaimed on the phone, "How can someone pick a photographer with that many choices?!"
Great question, right?
There are so many wedding photographers out there, and each one is super unique! With resources like The Knot and Wedding Wire, finding photographers is easy. The hard part: picking one!
The big question is always: “How do we choose a wedding photographer?”
And that is such an important question. We’ve created a list of 5 steps to take when you’re searching for your perfect photography fit.
1. Consider Photography Style
When you’re scrolling through The Knot or WeddingWire’s list of photographers, you’ll likely see a lot of different styles of photography . Over time, you’ll find yourself gravitating toward one or two styles, which will help you narrow down your search. While looking at styles, take the time to go to a photographer’s main website. This will give you a bigger picture into their style of photography, as well as themselves!
2. Read Reviews
If you find a few photographers you like based on their style, take some time to read reviews of them. Previous brides & grooms are a great resource and will give you their first hand experience. They’ll likely give you key insights you didn’t think about - like whether the photographer was organized, answered emails promptly, or helped relax them on their big day. If the review really hits home for you, it’s time to reach out to that photographer and ask some key questions to see if they’re your match.
3. Ask Questions
Once you’ve narrowed your list down to a few photographers, take the time to put together a list of questions that are important to you. This is an interviewing phase, where you will find out if they are a good fit for you. Questions you might want to consider are:
How long have you been a wedding photographer?
How would you describe your photography style?
What does a typical wedding day with you look like?
Do you have backup plans? (in case of emergency)
If we have specific shots we’d like, can we request them?
What is included in your wedding packages?
How long does it take for us to receive our wedding photos?
What are the next steps?
4. Personality Match
Just as important as physical/creative skills is the photographer’s personality! You want to feel comfortable around your photographer(s) and know that they are easy to interact with. Are they professional and personable? Could you hang with them all day? You’ll want a for-sure YES to that last question, because you’ll be spending all day with your wedding photographer! Finding a wedding photographer who has a similar personality to your own is key to a great overall experience for your big day.
5. Photographer's Overall Experience
After you go through all of these steps, the last thing to think about is the photographer’s overall experience with weddings. There are many photographers who have a great deal of experience, but not specifically in weddings. We sometimes refer to Weddings as “combat photography” - not that it’s dangerous, but things happen quickly and a photographer must be ready for it. Having an experienced Wedding Photographer will ensure timelines are followed, groups are wrangled, and key shots are photographed. Don’t be afraid to ask your photographer how many weddings they have photographed before.
If you add all of these things up and you really like what you’ve seen and heard from a prospective wedding photographer…you’ve just found your perfect [photography] match!
Like what you see on our website? Start Step 3 and send us a message to see if we are your match!
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