Finding your Dream Wedding Photographer
Unlike the work of your other wedding vendors, photographs aren't things you can hear, smell, taste or even see beforehand. That means careful research and selectiveness regarding professional skills, artistic style and personal demeanor are extra important when choosing your photographer.
Good news – we’re here to help! We’ve compiled 9 things to keep in mind when hunting for that perfect wedding photographer.
1. Determine the style you like.
Before you begin researching photographers, you'll need to first decide what type of photography style you prefer, as that will help determine which kind of photographer you'll want shooting your wedding. Get inspired! Spend time pouring over any kind of imagery you love, from décor shots to a fashion blogger's Instagram feed. Once you have a good collection of inspiring photographs, try to narrow in on what draws you to them specifically and what feels most authentic to you and your fiancé.
2. Do your research!
Start your search by reading reviews from recent newlyweds and browsing local listings, like the ones on The Knot. Carefully review potential photographers' websites and blogs to check out photos of other weddings they've shot, which will give you an idea of their style. How do they capture the moments important to you, like a mother helping her daughter put on her dress or an emotional first look? The design of the website may also have clues about the photographer's personality and sensibility. Check out their social media pages too. How do they interact with their Instagram followers, do they seem friendly and personable?
3. Set up a consultation.
This is not a decision that can be made on looks alone—you must meet your potential photographers in person. If you like what you see on their site—and their fees are in your ballpark range—call to see if they're available for your wedding date. Set up in-person meetings with three to five potential photographers who are available on your wedding date to look at more of their work and assess whether your personalities mesh. Be prepared to talk about your venue, wedding style and what you envision for your photos.
If you are unable to meet photographers in person, FaceTime, Skype or even a phone call are all options for consultations.
4. Make sure your personalities mesh.
Don't underestimate the importance of liking and bonding with your photographer. Is the photographer excited by your vision when you describe it? When they make suggestions, do they present them in a clear and respectful way, or are they timid? Are their mannerisms off-putting? In order to get the best photos, go with a pro who has a firm grasp of social graces but is bold enough to go out hunting for great images and who, above all, puts you at ease and doesn't irritate you in any way. Remember: They'll be shadowing your every move, and the more comfortable both of you are with the photographer, the better the photos will turn out.
5. Browse a full wedding gallery.
Don't base your decision solely on what you see in a photographer's highlights gallery or album. For good reason, photographers show prospective clients a portfolio of their best pictures, all from different weddings, so you're seeing the best of the best. The problem with that is you won't get a well-rounded idea of their work. If you see that the full gallery photos are just about as good as the ones chosen in the highlight gallery (that is, they're all so good it's impossible to choose!), you're on the right track.
6. Compare collections.
When interviewing, ask for a general price range. It's important to find out what's included in each package they offer, plus the basic range for any extras you may want. In particular, find out exactly how many hours of coverage are included. Ideally, you want your photographer to be there for your full wedding day—from when you start getting ready until after you make your grand exit from the reception. While packages vary, most include about 8 hours to cover everything from pre-ceremony events (getting ready with your bridesmaids or first-look photos) to the end of the reception.
7. What happens post-wedding?
On average, it takes 6 to 12 weeks to receive your edited photos. Sounds like forever, right? Keep in mind, your photographer is likely shooting other weddings before and after yours which they need to process as well. These days, most photographers will send you a few edited sneak peeks a few days after your wedding to wet your whistle.
8. Find out how they do their prep-work.
Remember that your photographer is the pro, so while it’s helpful, you shouldn’t spend too much time putting together a detailed shot list for them. Instead, pass along your day-of timeline, give them an idea of what images you’d like captured (like a shot with each of your bridesmaids in addition to wedding party portraits) and let them do their thing. This is also the perfect moment to give them a heads up on any familial or friendship intricacies they should be aware of, like divorced parents, a grandmother that needs to remain sitting for portraits or a groomsman and bridesmaid that don’t get along (hey, it happens!). If you’re hoping to get your wedding day published online or in a magazine down the road, be sure to relay that to your photographer. This way, they’ll put extra emphasis on snapping shots of all your amazing details and will likely come armed with gorgeous styling accessories, like ribbons, linens and more, with the goal of helping your wedding aesthetic truly stand out.
9. Know your rights!
Most contracts stipulate that the photographer owns the rights to all photos taken at the wedding, even the ones of you. In other words, the photographer can use them promotionally (on their website or blog, submit them for publication and even place them in ads). That also means you can't just post the digital proofs they send you—most photographers have a policy that you can only share watermarked images or images with their credit on them. Also, unless you negotiate otherwise, if you want to print the images yourselves or order an album from another source, you'll have to buy the rights to the images.
We provide ALL hi-res edited photos and print rights to ALL of our couples.