To me, a photographer is the most important vendor you will book. Yes, more important than your venue, and because I’m biased I’ll make it tied with a planner on level of neccessity. Your wedding photos will be the only thing you have after your day is over. Your cake will be eaten, the music stopped, your flowers just a memory. Those images though will live on the walls of your home and your future children’s home for years and years. As a planner, your photographer is my king or queen of the day. I build my event day timelines around your photographer. Needless to say, choosing your photographer should be of utmost importance. Today I thought I would share my tips on finding the best phootgrapher for your day. After years of scrolling through wedding galleries, I’ve become rather picky on this subject and I’d say an expert on this topic.
So here we go.
Find the style of the photography you love and set your budget.
Whether it be light and airy, dark and moody, film or fine art, documentary style, traditional, editorial, or black and white. Each photographer has a specific style. Get to know what speaks to you. Go to your venue’s instagram and scroll through their posts and tagged photos. Make a list of the photographers that you like.
Reach out
Ok so you have a list of professionals that you like. Now you reach out. Email them directly or better yet, fill out the inquiry form on their website. Once you hear back and confirm they are available on your wedding date and within your budget ask to see a few full galleries from past weddings at your venue or a similar aesthetic. Why? Because wedding professionals will show their best work on social media and on their website. Not that they have “bad” work, but it’s extremely important to take a look at the big picture and not just a highlight reel.
what to look for
So you have your hands (well, eyes) on a a few galleries. Great! Here’s what to look for!
Consistency- you want to see consistency in lighting. Do all the images flow well together?
How’s the placement of the subjects in the images? Are the images eye pleasing or awkward? Are feet cutoff or worse heads cutoff? Look through the gallery and look for these things. For me, these things if repetitive are deal breakers.
Are their distracting objects in the background of photos? Sometimes this is unavoidable, but a good photographer will pay attention to what could potentially distract from the subjects. There is nothing worse that scrolling thorugh a gallery and seeing light poles or other people in the back of bride and groom or family and wedding party portraits. Things that if are easily avoidable. You want to book a photographer that pay attentions to these kinds of things.
Extra tip- ask for the email address of past brides and reach out for more in depth reviews.
Do your personalitites mesh?
Ok, so you found a photographer you love. You’ve done your homework and now you have a phone call scheduled to chat. This is an important step. Your photographer is going to be with you more than any other person on your day so you need to love them. Go with your gut on this one. Do they answer your questions with patience? Are they excited about potentially booking you? Are they open to your suggestions?
Compare packages
Ok, so now you have done your homework. and have “interviewed” probably 2'-4 photographers that are a great fit so far. Now is the time to compare what they offer.
How many hours of coverage. Usually photographers have different packages each with different hourly coverage lengths.
Do they include an engagement session?
Do they include an album or how much are their albums typically?
Do they include a second shooter? This is important. A second shooter is a must have to ensure your wedding is photographed well and nothing is missed.
What are their policies on print releases?
What is their turn-around time for images. There is a lot that goes into getting images back to you and this can take sometime. Typical length of time is 6-8 weeks, but be sure to find this out beforehand so you’re not caught off guard when you’re waiting 10-12 weeks.
Extra tip- Ask about Covid postponement policies and fees.
Are they licensed and insured?
Simple yet important!
Extra advice
Please don’t think that because you are having a smaller wedding because of Covid or because that is just your vision that your photographer should be less. Guest count des not typically effect the amount of shooting and work on a wedding day. You will still want getting ready photos, detail photos, portraits, ceremony, and reception photos.
Don’t not book a photographer just because they haven’t shot at your venue before. You could be missing out on the perfect one.
Do not tell the photographer exactly what to shoot. It’s completely fine to give a short list of photos you must have, but after that leave it to your pro. This is what they do. You don’t want them so focused on checking off your list that they miss some exceptional candid moments.
You do not need your photographer to stay until the very end of yoru wedding. If you are wanting a grand exit photo ot 2 with sparklers or what have you, do a fake exit. A fake exit is just a few of your favorite people, sparklers, and you two. It’s quick and easy and you get that dream shot without having to spend hundreds more on extra time for your photographer.
Follow these steps and it will ensure you have found the perfect photographer for you day and one that will give you those timeless images your craving as well as a pretty wonderful experience along the way.
Warmly,
Michelle