How to pick a wedding photographer that’s right for you

How to

Jan 29

I’ve said it a hundred times and I’ll probably say it a hundred times more: planning a wedding is hard. But picking your wedding photographer doesn’t have to be! I was recently asked to help some dear friends in their search for their wedding photographer. They’re getting married this year in Montana and were very candid about feeling out of their depths when it came to photography and what they wanted for their day, and it made me realize that this is probably a very common feeling. And that’s OKAY!! As a photographer, I understand that most of the couples that come to me have never hired a wedding photographer before, let alone had their photos taken professionally.

5 things to keep in mind when hiring a wedding photographer

Luckily, you don’t need to be an expert to hire your dream photographer. In my experience, here are five things to keep in mind while you’re searching for and talking to photographers about capturing your wedding day.

You should like their style of photography
You should like their personality
Do they offer what you’re looking for?
Are they within your budget?
Still not sure? Start with an engagement session

1. You should like their style of photography

This is, in my humble opinion, the most important and most overlooked item on this list. In my time as a wedding photographer, I’ve seen and heard of many couples prioritizing budget over style and sadly being disappointed with how their photos turned out. And I know that I might sound biased when I say this, but one of the things you shouldn’t cut costs on for your wedding is photography. While your florals will get thrown away, the food will be eaten, and the dance floor will slow down, it’s one of the few things from your wedding day that will last for the rest of your lives together.

And I’ll be honest, I have a lot of thoughts on this topic alone, but for the sake of this blog post and brevity, I want to highlight the importance of hiring a photographer who is already producing the type of work that you like. With social media - Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok especially - wedding trends can be very fast paced and ever changing. In the last year, I’ve had many people reach out requesting blurry photos and film edits. Neither of which I really do and neither of which I’m confident doing. In a lot of ways, wedding photography is what I would consider to be art in real life. For example, you wouldn’t commission a water color painting from someone who only works with oil pastels. And it’s the same for wedding photography. Photographers spend years refining and perfecting their styles, the same as other artists, and these styles are often the best way for us to distinguish ourselves and create a brand.

So the long and the short of it is, if you like film photography, hire a film photographer. If you like the blurry image trend, hire a photographer who is showcasing that work. And if you like my style of photography, hey hi hello - hire me!

Stay tuned for a future blog post where I go into more detail about what different styles look like! That way you can identify and better communicate what you’re looking for when searching with your partner.

2. You should like their personality

Out of all the wedding vendors you hire, your photographer will probably be one of the vendors you work the most closely with - especially on your wedding day! I often describe myself as a professional third wheel, because that’s exactly what I am. I will be with you two the entire day, from getting ready to the last dance, watching and celebrating every single moment right along with you. That’s 8 to 10 hours straight of being together - that’s a lot. As a result, it is super important that you vibe with your wedding photographer! Though, I recommend you only hire vendors that you get along with. It’ll make your day so much less stressful and it’ll feel like you have a few new friends at the end of the day.

This was something my husband and I prioritized when we were searching for our vendors. From working in the industry, we knew we wanted vendors that would feel like friends by the end of it all. This way we weren’t just comfortable with them, but we could trust them to put our needs and priorities first. And let me tell you, it was wonderful! We loved every single one of our wedding vendors and wouldn’t have changed a single one - we still follow them on social media, celebrating their business wins and fanning over their latest weddings.

Beyond the fact that hiring someone you work well with will decrease your stress levels, if you hire a photographer that you aren’t vibing with or just don’t like, it’ll be reflected in your photos. Your wedding photos should show you two in love, happy, and comfortable, and part of that will come from your interactions with and directions from your photographer. If you’re not feeling it, that discomfort will show up in your photos.

3. Do they offer what you’re looking for?

You shouldn’t just hire a photographer because they meet your budget, they’re local, or they’ve shot at your wedding venue before. You’ll find as you start your search that there are a lot of different services offered by photographers and they might not all be for you. For example, some offer engagement sessions with their wedding packages, some offer boudoir shoots or trash the dress sessions, some allow you to select you final photos or request additional edits, and some offer physical products like prints, albums, and flash drives. It’s important when you’re looking for and chatting with potential wedding photographers that you understand what is included in your wedding package and clarify anything that might not be clear in their contracts.

My friends spoke with several different photographers while looking for their perfect match, and there was a large variety between what was offered by each one. And to be perfectly honest, some of the things that were being offered even I as a photographer was unfamiliar with! That said, the most important items we determined for them were:

How many hours of coverage are included in the package?
How are the final images are selected (will they be determined by the photographer or by them)?
How will the final photos be delivered?
Does the package include of an engagement session?
What are the copyright and social sharing parameters?

Before chatting with a photographer, determine what you’d ideally like included in your package, review their investment guide or package guide if they have one available, and come prepared with questions! This way you can ensure you’re not going to miss out on anything you might want.

4. Are they within your budget?

When it comes to hiring any wedding vendor, I recommend doing a little research about rates and then setting your personal budget for each wedding vendor before reaching out. The last thing you’ll want to do is speak with a vendor, fall in love with them, and find out that you just can’t swing it.

It’s also important to remember that if a wedding vendor is out of your budget, that doesn’t mean they’re overpriced or too expensive. They’ve likely done a lot of work to determine a rate that is appropriate for their level of experience, services offered, and what will allow them to best service their clients. And if they’re not in your budget, then they may not be the vendor for you. Again, that’s okay! There are a lot of wedding photographers out there that would love to work with you.

If you have a budget that you’re trying to stick to, make sure you clearly communicate that when inquiring. Some vendors may have customizable packages that will work with your price range while others may not, and some may also offer payment plans to help. By communicating your needs and budget, you’re helping your potential vendors better serve you from the start!

5. Still not sure? Start with an engagement session

It’s okay to still be on the fence! It is a big commitment and if you’re not a photographer it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all of the different styles and techniques. If you’ve found a wedding photographer that you like their style, vibe with, and they fit in your budget, but you’re still not sure, I recommend starting simple with just an engagement session. It’s a great way to meet and get to know your photographer, understand how they will guide you throughout the day, and you’ll get to see your cute faces with their work first hand!

Some photographers, like myself, may also offer a discount on your wedding package if you hire them for your wedding after doing an engagement session! It’s a win-win.

Bottom line: You should like your photographer’s style, personality, and packages

At the end of your wedding day, you’ll be walking away with a lifetime’s worth of memories in wedding photos. This is why it is so very important that you make sure you like their style, you like who they are as a person, and you understand what’s included in your package. In doing so, you’ll ensure that you love your wedding photos.