Wedding Photographers: How to Pick One

It was not that long that I was a bride and planning our wedding. It can be a daunting task. So much to remember, plan, pay for, and keep track off all things that are important to you both.

Photography often leaves couples and possibly their parents wondering how to make that final decision on who is going to capture the day. Photos are the one thing about weddings that is not tangible. You get to taste the food, see the venue, see the flowers, try on the dress, and eat all those yummy cake samples. The photography is always up in the air until you actually see the photos.

For us, as photographers ourselves, photography was a HUGE part of our wedding. We had the best photographer we know shoot our wedding. In fact, we asked her to shoot our wedding before my husband asked her husband to be his best man. It was big deal for us, and it may be for you too.

Here are some of our tips for hiring a photographer for your wedding.

1. Choose a Photographer You Like. Liking the person who shoots your wedding is important. You should like their personality, the way they work, how you get along because you will be spending up to 10 hours with them on your wedding day. Always meet with your photographer in person or over Skype before booking.
2. Check Out Their Previous Work. Look at as much of their photos as you can. We always ask our clients how our photography makes them feel. You should have an emotional reaction to the photos. Your photographer is going to shoot your wedding in the same style. If you do not like what you see, move on to another photographer.
   
3. Set an Appointment to Meet. When we work with potential clients, we like to meet with them in person (if they are out of state, we do a video conference call). It gives us a chance to talk to you, get to know about how you meet, the proposal, and some of the logistics of the wedding. We spend at least 30 minutes with our wedding clients. We also complete a questionnaire so that we can give you pricing options. Ask your potential photographer if they do this too.
4. Don’t be Afraid to Talk About Cost. You should have your wedding budget mapped out before contacting a photographer. Typically, photography is about 15-20% of your final budget. Ask about packages. Ask about add-ons. If you love the photographer and see a large price tag for their work, ask if they can work with you on the budget. Do not be afraid to have the conversation. The price listed is never the full story.
5. Communicate Your Ideas. We do not know what we do not know. Tell us about locations, ideas, what is important to you so that we can come up with best plan for you. We love to take pictures as much as you like seeing them. The more info we have, the better the photos will be.
6. The Engagement Session is the Warm Up. This goes back to choosing a photographer you like. The engagement session is a great time to get to know each other, have fun, try new things, and see what works for all of you.
7. Create Your Own Shoot List. Photographers have a standard list of shots that everyone wants. I call them the Mom shots because most moms love them. What else do you want? Check out Pinterest, Google, and Instagram for ideas. Just remember, you are looking for a feeling, not the exact replication of a photo.
   
   Photographers want to take photographs. We love the art and beauty of capturing the moment. These tips will help you find the best person or team to capture your special day. Getting the right person, who takes the best pictures on that day is what you want to find.