Wedding Ideas

Your Guide to Choosing a Wedding Photographer

Posted on November 28, 2021 by Allison Dupree

your guide to choosing a wedding photographer.
Photo: Natilyn Photography on Unsplash

You’ve picked the venue and now it’s time to choose who will immortalize your wedding day in photos forever. That’s where the photographer steps in!

What to do beforehand

  • Research wedding photo styles. Do you like light and airy? Simple journalistic? Or dark and moody? Look into many examples before narrowing down your photographer list.
  • Figure out your budget. Determine what you’re comfortable spending for a photographer. Photo packages can range drastically, so decide what you’d be comfortable with from the start as well as what your must-have add-ons are (ex: two photographers, wedding album, etc.)
  • Read reviews. As with researching any vendor, reading reviews is part of the process. Also, take a look at their website and social media to get an idea of the photos they’ve taken. Then, ask family and friends (or our private Facebook group of brides!) for their opinions. Maybe someone you know or are connected to has used the photographer you’re considering and will be able to give a first-hand opinion.

What to bring

  • All the inspo. If there’s a photo on Pinterest you keep coming back to, show it to your photographer! The more examples you have, the better the photographer will be able to figure out if they are the right fit for you.
  • Cash or a check book. If you’ve been dreaming about this photographer forever and know they’re the one, bring a check book or cash and so you can put the deposit down then and there. One thing done off your checklist!

[RELATED: This Wedding Planner Shares the Essential Questions to Ask Every Vendor]

What to ask

  • How many hours do you typically offer for weddings?
  • Is a second shooter included? If not, is there the option to add them?
  • Do you shoot on digital, film or both?
  • When will we get a sneak peek of our photos and how many will we get?
  • When will we have all of the photos?
  • Is there a travel fee?
  • Are engagement photos included in the package?
  • Is it possible to alter the package?
  • When receiving the photos, will they be all in color or will they have edited colors (black and white, sepia, etc)?
  • When is the full payment due? Do you offer payment plans?
  • Approximately how many photos will we receive of our entire wedding?
  • Do you create wedding albums?

After your appointment

  • Keep researching and reflecting. Take a look at their social media and website again now that you’re armed with all of the information from your appointment and see if everything is still just as you imagined! Reflect back on the important things they discussed (second shooter, time allotted, etc) and decide if what they offer matches your vision. If more questions arise, reach out to get your answers.

Still looking for a photographer? Continue your search here!

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