How to find your wedding photographer
Choosing your wedding photographer can seem pretty daunting, however there are a number of things you can do to refine your search before you even begin.
SET A BUDGET
Decide on how important the images are to you. If the fairytale venue, perfect dress, delicious food and dream honeymoon are all higher priorities, then you may be left with a smaller figure to spend on your photography. Just remember, once you’ve invested in the areas that make your day special, the images that capture them will become pretty important.
TALK TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Do they have any recommendations or experiences to share? Recommendations from people you know are really important, so try and find out what makes those suppliers stand out. In addition, check out Google reviews as they tend to be most accurate and can give you a good idea of how the photographer conducts themselves from start to finish.
Search social media
Instagram is usually the best platform, with most photographers having a strong portfolio on there. It’s easy to search with keywords and hashtags to find images you like. From there, it’s a case of selecting their profile, looking at their website and reaching out. Most properties get tagged in images, so visiting your chosen venue’s page and viewing images they’ve been tagged in will give you an idea of what photographers have worked there before.
decide on your style
Do you like natural/documentary style photos, where the day is captured as it happens with little posing or do you prefer contemporary images that look more editorial and can often be more dramatic?
Your chosen venue
Do you know if the photographer had worked at your chosen venue before? If so you can discuss with them their experiences and you’ll likely be able to see some of the work they have done there before. They will likely know good spots for cartain moments and have ideas for backup plans if the weather isn’t playing ball. However, don’t be put off by a photographer who has not been there before - very often the first time a wedding photographer gets to work at a new venue brings out their most creative side and they aren’t looking to recreate the same shots time after time.
Contact and talk with photographers
That’s right, plural. Don’t just talk to one, as every photographer offers something a little different, whether it’s their style or the packages that they offer. It’s important to compare what makes them stand out to you. Once you feel you are getting close to a decision, arrange a call or meeting to discuss your plans and ask as many questions as you need to decide if they are the right fit for you.
What about experience?
It’s not vital that the photographer you choose has a long history in the industry, but you do want to feel they have done more than a handful of weddings. A wedding day is totally unique and demands a lot from the person capturing it, so it’s good to know if they have a complete understanding of what’s needed and can adapt to curveballs thrown at them on the day. In addition, with experience comes some support, very often photographers are able to offer advice for key points in the day to help aid the timeline and keep things in order for you
meeting in person
Once you feel you have found the right photographer for you, it’s a good idea to meet. Most offer an engagement session as part of a package or for an additional fee. This will give you the chance to spend some time with them and get a feel for how they work. In addition, you’ll get some great images which will help calm any nerves ahead of your wedding day!
backup plans and insurance
In the unlikely or unfortuante event of the photographer falling ill or being unable to attend, can they offer a backup plan? Do they have access to a group of photographers who can step in and work on their behalf? What do they have in place if the worst was to happen? Also, you’ll likely need to know if they have insurance and many venues now ask for this as part of the agreement for a photographer to work there on the day, so it’s worth asking.
