CHOOSING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

1. Choose a Professional  (Technical and Creative)

As a professional wedding photographer, one should be knowledgeable of the technical aspects of photography while being highly artistic and creative. The creative and artistic skills allow the wedding photographer to create a visual story with a unique viewpoint and dramatic impact. The aim is to always to express artistic creativity while being technically sound to create the best images possible in any given situation. They should be able to artistically interpret your vision and create beautiful images. 

2. Choose a  photographer that makes you comfortable (Personality and Charm)

Your wedding photographer’s interpersonal skills is probably more important than their creative and technical skills. Your photographer should try to connect with you and get to know you personally. They should be able to get along with everyone at the wedding, including other wedding vendors. They should be professional, energetic, enthusiastic, personable, and honest. Your photographer will be there with you on the most important day of your life for almost the entire day so it is essential that their personality and charm matches or compliments your own.

3. Value Quality

The quality of the photographer’s work is almost always more important than the quantity of products they offer. It is important that you choose a photographer who will deliver high quality images while providing a truly unforgettable experience. If you are working within a tight budget and cannot afford the add-ons like albums, prints, etc., you can choose a smaller package that will guarantee quality time and images. You can always purchase albums and other items at a later date. 

4. Pay attention to their Style

Different photographers have different approaches and styles that usually set them apart from other photographers. This can be anything from the colours, the composition, the emotions, etc. Ensure that the photographer you choose has a consistent style that matches your ideal expectations of what you want your images to look like. Take a look at their full weddings if possible to see how they handle the full wedding day. This will give you a better idea of exactly how they see and shoot each section of the wedding day. Read more about my style and approach. 

5. Read their Reviews

Everyone can say they are a wedding photographer, however only their past clients can truly tell you what their experiences are. It is easy to curate a good looking portfolio but it takes more than that to handle a full and hectic wedding day while producing high quality work. Seek out reviews from past clients, check websites like Wedding Wire and the Knot, or try to speak to past clients directly for reviews to get a better idea of what the experience will be like.

6. Choose a Photographer with experience

Being experienced enables your photographer to adapt to different situations seamlessly. It also enables them to handle difficult situations better. Your wedding photographer should be a professional (whether part-time of full-time). They should have being shooting weddings for a long time and not just a professional photographer who is new to shooting weddings. As a general reference guide, the number of weddings shot can give you a rough idea of their experience.

• Less than 5 weddings – Inexperienced
• 5 to 10 weddings – Amateur
• 10 to 20 weddings – Knowledgeable
• 20 to 50 weddings – Experienced
• 50+ weddings – Very Experienced (Professional)