10 THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN HIRING A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
There is so much detail and love that goes into planning a wedding. One of the most important parts of the wedding planning process is hiring a wedding photographer. The imagery from your special day will be what you go to when you want to relive your union. When choosing a wedding photographer, there are some key things you want to look for. It is essential to look for a style you not only love but a photographer's personality that will put you at ease.
viva's recommendations:
I. FIND A STYLE YOU LOVE
There are many different styles of photography. For example, bright and airy, dark and moody, true to life, bright and colorful, and film photography. I recommend choosing a photographer who style you fall in love with. Narrow down the kind of styles you find yourself drawn too. Once you determine the style you want, you'll be able to find a style that you and your partner are most drawn to.
II. CONNECTION
I believe it is so vital to connect with your photographer for your wedding day - the reason for that is because your photographer will probably spend more time with you than anyone else on your wedding day. You want to find someone whom your comfortable around, and enjoy their presence. This is why I always offer no-obligation consultations for brides-to-be because I want to connect and get to know one another better. I also feel this helps me tell my clients love story better because I learn about them the way their friends know them. I believe in finding a photographer who you can lean on.
III. CHECK THE PHOTOGRAPHERS AVAILABILITY
After you secure your date, venue - the next vendor you want to secure is your photographer and videographer. You'll want to reach out to your potential wedding photographer as soon as possible. The reason for this is because many wedding photographers typically book up to two years in advance. Nothing is more heartbreaking than your dream photographer already being booked for your special day.
IV. KNOW YOUR BUDGET AND COMPARE PACKAGES
Finding a wedding photographer doesn't have to be hard, one of the things that help make the search easier is knowing your budget to avoid disappointments. It's important to have a clear understanding what is included in your wedding package. For example, some photographers include all images in your final wedding gallery and other photographers only promise a certain amount of wedding images. Another option to consider is the photographer offering one or two photographers with their wedding collections. Do you like the idea of having two photographers? For example, your doing a first look and we want to capture both of your reactions. Having two photographers will make that go more smoothly than just having one photographer. Plus, as a wedding photographer myself, I love having a second shooter to capture special moments from different angles and perspectives. Are you open to just allowing one photographer to capture your day in detail? These are questions that you want to ask yourself to help you narrow down what your looking for. If your photographer includes an engagement session in your wedding package that is a BIG plus. Photographers that include engagement sessions in their packages truly want to get to know you before your big day. They want to learn how you love story, the unique connection the two of you have and all your best angles. This helps your wedding day to run smoothly - because they already know you.
V. READ THEIR REVIEWS
You have found a photographer who you like, you love their style, and now it's time to do some research. Take the time to read through their reviews. It is important to read the experiences of people who have worked with them in the past. Most photographers will have reviews on their websites from real clients but you can see if they have been reviewed on google, facebook, wedding wire, or other platforms.
VI. FIND SOMEONE WHO ISN'T AFRAID TO TAKE CHARGE
Wedding days tend to go by faster than you may think and sometimes you have those strict timelines to follow. Every loved one is filled with an enourmous amount of joy that sometimes it can get difficult to get people to listen and follow directions because there is so much going on. I am not saying you are looking for someone who is going to be rude but you want a photographer who is able to command a room, being assertive but polite. This is why I find no-obligation consultations important, they give you an opportunity to get to know the photographer and their personality. You can ask questions and how they would handle the situation.
VII. Wedding Collections + Packages
What do you want to be included in your wedding packages? Not all photographers offer the same things. Some offer just digital images, some offer prints and albums, or both.
VIva's recommendations:
VIII. FIND SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE
This is an important one - your wedding days is one of the biggest moments of your life. You want someone who has had experience. One who knows what they are doing. This isn't the kind of moment you leave in the hands of someone who just got their first canon and wants to get into wedding photography. Don't get me wrong, everyone starts somewhere, and thats necessary. But when it comes to your wedding day, you want to be able to trust the person you hired is going to capture those moments that make you feel how you felt in that moment. I am not saying you have to book with someone who shoots 20+ weddings a year - but it's important to be explicitly clear. When I shot my first wedding, I explained I was just starting out. I quoted her at a low price that reflected my level of experience which she was comfortable with. As long as you both are on the same page, everyone will be happy. Communication is key.
IX. ASK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER TO VIEW A FULL GALLERY
Once you have narrowed down your choices and found a few photographers you like. Now it's time to ask the photographers to view a full gallery. Typically what you see on a photographer's website, blog or social media will feature their best work. A wedding day includes multiple different settings and lighting situations. A wedding photographer should be able to handle all different kinds of lighting situations and if a full wedding gallery looks cohesive you are on the right path. This is what you are looking for.
X. DOES THE PHOTOGRAPHER HAVE INSURANCE?
This is an important one - all professional photographers should have insurance on their equipment + liability. You want to make sure that they are covered in case anything goes wrong. Some venues also require that all vendors provide proof of insurance.
