Picking your wedding photographer is a big decision and they play a major role in your wedding and how you remember it. But you may be wondering how to pick a wedding photographer.
What questions do you need to ask yourself and how do you go about actually picking one?
Well as a photographer myself, I have a ton of experience going through this process with couples and have some tips and questions you can ask yourself to make sure you are picking the perfect photographer for you and your partner.
So, let’s take a look at what to do when you are figuring out how to pick a wedding photographer!
What to Consider When Picking a Wedding Photographer
First, there are a few big questions that you can ask yourself as you are looking at photographers to figure out if they are going to be a good fit for your wedding.
What is their editing style?
First, you want to take a look at their editing style. Each photographer is going to have their own editing style and at the end of the day, photography is an art and that is the type of art that they specialize in.
You wouldn’t go to a musician and ask them to paint you a portrait because that is not the type of art they do. In the same way, you want to make sure you find a photographer who edits weddings in the style you want instead of asking them to edit in a different style.
Now, before you even start reaching out to photographers, it is important to do some research on the different editing styles and what style works best for you and your partner.
Once you know the style you want, you can narrow down your photographers and have a group that you know will edit your wedding exactly how you envision!
What is their photography style?
Next, you want to also look at their photography style. There are a ton of different styles out there, but some that you may see come up often in wedding photography are documentary style, cinematic, and candid.
Just like editing styles, each photographer is going to have their own photographer style that they use to capture your wedding. You are generally able to tell what style a photographer uses by looking at their website (most photographers will say what style they prefer), but if you don’t know, just ask the photographer you are thinking about.
It’s important that you vibe with their photography style because it is a big part of how your day is going to be represented and even what is going to happen on your wedding day.
For example, a photographer who does a more posed or cinematic style may take more time taking portraits with you meaning that you may have to leave more space in your wedding timeline for this.
On the other hand, documentary style or candid style wedding photographers tend to lean more on capturing the moments as they naturally happen throughout the day with little to no posing. This means you may have more time to enjoy the different parts of your wedding like your cocktail hour!
Does their personality vibe with yours?
This is a major question to ask yourself when you are picking a wedding photographer. Your wedding photographer is going to be with you ALL day. This means they’re going to be with you when you get ready, your first look, your entire ceremony, and throughout the whole ceremony.
They are probably going to be one of the people you have around you the most during your wedding so you need to make sure that you and your partner’s personality vibes with them.
For example, if you are a really introverted person and the photographer you are looking at is very extroverted, this may cause you a bit more stress and anxiety on your wedding day having someone around who is so outgoing.
This is also a big reason why it is a great idea to get on a call with a potential photographer before you book them if you can. This will give you a better insight into their personality and what it is like to be around them so you can decide if it is the best fit for you.
Engagement sessions are also a great way to get more comfortable with your photographer and help both of you figure out how to best interact with each other before your wedding day!
Can you see yourself in their work?
Finally, when you are thinking about how to pick your wedding photographer, one question you should ask yourself is can you see yourself in their work. Take some time to go through their portfolios and look at all of the different weddings they have been a part of.
Can you imagine yourself in their photos and what your wedding would look like through their lens? This also ties in a bit with the different style questions you can ask yourself, but also think about how they tell the story of the wedding.
Is that how you want your wedding captured? If those were your wedding photos, would you be happy looking back at them 30 years down the line or do you think you would like something different.
At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong answer to this and each person is going to have a personal preference, the important thing is trusting yourself and your vision and finding a photographer who can capture that!
Tips for the Decision Process
When it comes to how to pick a wedding photographer, it’s not just about the questions to ask yourself, but also the process of inquiring and choosing your dream photographer. Here are a few tips to make this process less stressful and transparent.
Only inquire with 1-2 photographers at a time
First, only inquire with 1-2 photographers at a time. Picking your wedding photographer is a big decision and if you are inquiring with 5-10 people on the same day, you are most likely going to be overwhelmed.
There is a lot that goes into inquiring with a photographer and you are most likely going to get lots of information about their services, the different packages, how they do things, and more.
If you are inquiring with more than 1-2 people, that is going to be so much to take in and keep organized that it can seem way too overwhelming. Instead, start small and if you find that the first person or two you inquire with aren’t a good fit, then you can reach out to 1 or 2 more after!
Follow up with everyone regardless of who you choose
Finally, always follow up with any photographer that you inquire with regardless of what your answer is. Let’s be honest, no one likes being ghosted and the same goes for your photographer.
There is so much work that is put into each and every inquiry and if you know that you are not going to book with them, just let them know that. It is not going to hurt their feelings, but it is going to close the loop and free up their time to allow them to pursue other couples who may be reaching out.
It is also important to do this because most photographers are only going to take one wedding a weekend. If they are holding a date waiting for you to get back to them, they may not be able to book another person on that day who does want to sign.
So, regardless of your answer, it is very important that you take the time to follow up and close the loop whether you want to book with them or not!
Final Thoughts on How to Pick a Wedding Photographer
Hopefully these tips and questions help you as you work out how to pick a wedding photographer. This is a big part of your wedding planning process and it’s important that you take your time with this decision and find the perfect photographer for you and your partner.
If you think I may be that person, I’d love to connect! You can check out my wedding photography services here or reach out to me here to get in touch about your big day!
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