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Wedding Photographers: How to Pick One

6/10/2019

19 Comments

 
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.
19 Comments
Eli Richardson link
1/28/2021 01:14:36 pm

It's great that you mentioned it's important to check the past work of your wedding photographer. My sister's getting married in a few months, and she's going crazy because she just remembered she had to look for a wedding photographer. And now she's worried about hiring the wrong person because she's in a rush. That's why I think your article will help her ease. I really appreciate your tips about how to select the best photographer for your wedding.

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Robert Michael link
9/15/2021 04:23:34 am

I have understood "how to choose wedding photographers" by simply reading your post. Thanks for sharing

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kate hansen link
9/24/2021 01:19:58 pm

My sister is wanting to find a wedding photographer. I like how you said to check out their past work. I'll pass these tips along to her as she searches for a wedding photographer.

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Kate
9/24/2021 01:25:25 pm

We would love to be considered. Please let us know how we can help!

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Ishmeet Khanna link
12/7/2021 09:28:52 am

The content given is very precise and sleek. I would love it if you can check out my Blogspot too. There are a lot of similar topics with different knowledge about the subject

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Tayler Friesen link
12/20/2021 02:32:32 pm

I absolutely love that you added the shot list! Alot of people over look such a crucial part and suffer dramatically because of it. Myself being one of those people for awhile in the beginning there. 😬

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Olivia Smart link
1/17/2022 10:20:46 am

Thank you for your suggestion to look at as much of their photos as you can so you can get a feel for the photographer. My daughter is getting married this year and has been wondering what she should be looking for in a wedding photographer. I'll be sure to pass this on to her soon so that she can start doing her research.

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Jon Adams Photography link
2/6/2022 10:43:30 pm

Nice Blog Post

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Troy Clark link
7/30/2022 12:44:52 pm

For us, as photographers ourselves, photography was a HUGE part of our wedding. We had the best photographer we know shoot our wedding. Thank you for sharing your great post!

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Afton Jackson link
8/14/2022 05:20:59 pm

Setting a meeting appointment before the event itself could really help us plan things out better. This way, we can tell them if there are specifics that we want addressed such as the lighting and the backdrop for most of the photos, as that could really affect the way the album looks. When I find a wedding photography expert I can hire, I'll make sure we talk about these things beforehand.

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Bhawna link
8/16/2022 01:06:16 am

These tips for hiring a photographer for your wedding are very helpful. You've taken a lot of burdens off while deciding on a wedding photographer.

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John Carston link
9/12/2022 11:20:01 pm

I like that you said that photos from your wedding would be in you for the rest of your lives. My best friend mentioned to me last night that he and his fiance are planning to have an extra memorable wedding, and he asked if I had any suggestions. Thanks to this helpful article, I'll be sure to tell them that it will be much better if they consult a professional wedding photographer as they can help provide memorable photos.

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Genieknows conference call link
9/16/2022 07:32:23 am

I'm preparing for a conference call with my boss and a half-dozen other colleagues. It's my first big presentation, and I'm a little nervous. What do I need to do to make sure the conference call goes well?

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Iris Smith link
11/6/2022 11:41:04 pm

We appreciate you making it clear that your photographer will capture your wedding in the same manner and that you can find another photographer if you don't like what you see. My sister wants to get married the following month. I'll advise my sister to research the quality of the wedding photography services before hiring them.

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Olivia Smart link
1/3/2023 09:24:32 am

I really appreciate how you elaborated about telling the photographer about locations and ideas to help them with formulating the best plan. My sister has been wondering what kind of things she should be discussing with her wedding photographer. I'll be sure to share this with her so she can be sure to try it out.

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Photo Booth Hire link
2/21/2023 02:11:22 am

For those engaged and looking for guidance on selecting a wedding photographer, this post is a great resource. The author discusses how to get the most out of your session with a photographer by taking into account the photographer's style, level of experience, and personality, as well as providing useful tips for communicating effectively with the photographer. The post is well-written and full of useful information, and the comments section adds insight and suggestions from other readers.

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DJ Wedding Services link
3/19/2023 07:03:19 pm

This post provides great insights into how to pick the right wedding photographer. The tips shared in the article are practical and helpful, and I especially appreciated the emphasis on finding someone who can capture the couple's unique style and personality. As the post highlights, wedding photographs are a cherished memory that will last a lifetime, so it's important to invest time and effort into finding the right photographer to document this special occasion.



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Millie Hue link
3/23/2023 08:02:01 pm

I totally agree when you said that we should look at the work the wedding photographer has done in the past to see if the style they do is something we would like for our event. I will follow your advice when my partner and I start looking for suppliers and vendors now that we finally got engaged this month. We will start planning in April, since we want to be married on January of 2024. So I guess we can list down these tips for our own benefit as well.

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wedding photography Toowoomba link
4/28/2023 02:39:30 am

The essay offers helpful advice and suggestions for couples to think about while they search for a wedding photographer. Particularly useful was the direction to look at portfolios, meet with prospective photographers, and talk about packages and price. Readers can open up about their own experiences and raise new questions in the comments area, making for a lively and thought-provoking dialogue. This article is a great reference for engaged couples who want to choose a professional wedding photographer.

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