Choosing a wedding photographer can be a difficult task! There are no do overs when it comes to your big day and the pictures so how can you ensure you pick the right person? A lot of times we’ll rely on our gut instinct and we’ll know immediately whether we like someone on a personal level. This is a great start for choosing your photographer. They’re going to be by your side for an entire day that just so happens to be one of the biggest of your life. Add to that the consultations, engagement session, and album design process, and you’re now talking about a relationship that could span up to two years. So trust your gut and if you like someone, they’re definitely worth considering!
But liking the person isn’t enough. You’ve also got to love their work. If you view their images and find yourself oohing and ahhing over each one, that’s a good sign. It’s even better if you can envision yourself in the photos. On the other hand, if you find yourself saying something like “I like this image, but I’d change this…” then that’s a sign that you might not be a good fit for one another. Trust me when I say that you want to find someone whose style matches your own. It doesn’t really work to hire someone and ask them to change the way they shoot. You’ll both end up disappointed in the end.
As you’re reviewing someone’s work, ask to view an entire wedding that they have photographed. Portfolios and web sites are going to include only the best images. But to get a true picture (no pun intended!) of what your wedding day photos will look like, you’ll want to look at a wedding day from start to finish. Ask to see a wedding at your venue if they have one, or one that is similar. If you’re having your ceremony in a dimly lit church, than looking at photos from an outdoor ceremony isn’t going to be helpful. Look for consistent, well exposed images throughout the day.
If you’ve found someone that meets these criteria, you can feel confident in your decision to work with them and know that together you’ll create beautiful images!
