10%

How To Find Your Perfect Wedding Photographer

from a wedding photographer

By K. Renee Photography

August 13^th, 2019

It might sound biased coming from me, but your wedding photographer is one of the most important decisions you can make about your wedding day (don't worry, the person standing next to you on the alter still comes first). The most obvious reason is that old cliché that I'm sure you've heard a thousand times by now: 'pictures are the only thing that you can take with you'. But another, just as important, reason is one you may not realize if you've never been in a wedding before. Your wedding photographer is with you a lot. They will be there through the whole process from engagement to the big day. Your photographer is easily the most involved vender outside of an actual wedding planner. So hopefully these tips can help you find your perfect match, even if it's not me.

How To Find Your Perfect Wedding Photographer

1. choose a STYLe

This should be done pretty early on in the game to help narrow in your searches. There are two branches of style you should look at: their shooting style and their editing style. To non-photographers, they might sound like the same thing but knowing how to tell them apart can help tremendously.

Shooting Style

This effects what the pictures look like before any editing as well as your experience during the day with the photographer. Photographer's shooting styles tend to fall into three groups. The first is very traditional and posed. They often times work from a detailed shot list and focus on getting all the boxes checked. The second is more photojournalistic: raw and relaxed. [I 100% fall into the second]. The focus here tends to be more on the couple and the event as a whole and less working from a list. For example, a picture of you dancing with your niece and nephew would be more important to them than a still posed picture of the same group. The third is more of a fine art style. This is often times very similar to a traditional photographer but with more dramatic poses, settings and lighting. Think back lit couple kissing under a clear umbrella in the pouring rain in the middle of the night: probably done by a fine art photographer.

Editing Style

This is where you may see words like 'moody', 'bright and airy', 'warm', 'natural', etc. Sometimes this is a lot easier seen than explained. Just know that when you hire a photographer, they don't generally change their editing style just for your wedding. If you want moody and edgy images, then don't hire a photographer that only posts bright and airy images. 'What you see is what you get' is a good rule of thumb here. Word of advice: your wedding is a timeless memory so be cautious of trendy editing styles that won't stand the test of time. Looking back on your wedding photos and cringing is not the goal, that's what prom is for.

The different combinations of these things is why there are so many photographers to choose from and yet most of us still manage to make a living. There's someone out there for everyone, it just sometimes takes a bit of hunting to find them.

2. set a Budget

Now that you know what you're looking for style wise, it's time to set a budget. Wedding photography is expensive, but not without cause. Don't worry, I'm not going to sit here and argue why photographers charge what they do, that's a soapbox for another day. Just know that no one's prices are 'unreasonable', they just aren't right for you. Be careful when reading around about ways to save money on your photographer such as having a friend do it, not feeding your photographer, asking a photographer to not edit your images, etc., these sorts of sites are not acknowledging photography as an important part of your day and are often just trying to save as much money as possible. Just remember, you often get what you pay for.

Exactly how much a wedding photographer costs depends on a lot of things - what's included, where you live, how much experience they have, whether they're full time or if they have another job, etc. Often times the photographer is the third most expensive thing of your day after the venue and food/alcohol. Though this varies that should give you a good idea of the price point you could potentially be looking at. Typically, couples spend between $1000-$3500, with exceptions on either end of course. Figure out what you can afford and write that number down.

3. do your research

Now's the time to start putting in the leg work. Photographers hide in all corners of the internet, so finding the perfect one can be a bit of challenge. But, on the plus side you get to look at tons of pretty pictures in the process! Instagram is a great starting place as you can see plenty of images right away from one search as opposed to clicking on a bunch of individual websites/pages, search for popular tags like #[yourcity/state]weddingphotographer, #[yourweddingvenue], #[yourregion]weddingphotographer. You can also ask for recommendations on Facebook from your friends and family. Additionally wedding sites like The Knot and WeddingWire often have photographer lists but keep in mind that those photographers have to pay to be listed so often times lower budget or newer photographers aren't an option on those types of sites. Finally, there's always just good old fashion googling.

While looking, remember what I mentioned earlier - what you see is what you get. Find photographers whose style matches what you're looking for, don't expect anyone to change their ways for you. If you find someone in a style that you like often times checking who they follow on Instagram or Facebook can lead you to other similar photographers. We like to follow each other to keep us inspired and motivated and often times those are people that have a style similar to our own. Or they are local to the same area which might be helpful as well. Don't count someone out just because they aren't from the city you're getting married in, sometimes you can find cheaper photographers out of town who, even with travel fees, are a better value or fit than someone local.

Once you've done all that start sorting through ones you like, make a list of websites or usernames and their packages. List all of their packages, sometimes throughout this process what you're looking for changes. This way you don't have to look everything up again. Cross off anyone way out of your price range. But it's okay to wiggle a bit to get that perfect fit or get a little more included.

4. Know what you want and what you need

Once you start looking at packages you are going to realize instantly that there are countless combinations of choices and prices. It can be a bit overwhelming. If you have the money to invest in all the bells and whistles that weddings photographers can offer, I highly suggest it. Every little piece is another memory for you to hold onto. Most often though this isn't the case and every penny counts. So, I'm going to quickly cover a lot of the common choices and why you may or may not want or need them.

Engagement Photos

I highly recommend these for so many reasons. One, you get pictures before the wedding that are great for save the dates, invites, count downs on social media, and decorations for the wedding and showers. I love showing up to a wedding and seeing all the engagement pictures we took spread all around. It makes my heart happy. But I digress, after all, this isn't about me. The second reason engagement photos are a great idea is because they give you a chance to work with your photographer before the wedding. You learn a bit about how they shoot, how they deliver images, and just get a little more comfortable in front of a camera - or at the very least their camera. The photographer also gets a chance to get to know you a little better, get a feel for how you work as a couple, and what sorts of images you really like. This is often why photographers offer 'complimentary' engagement sessions with their weddings. It's beneficial for everyone involved to do a shoot before the wedding.

Coverage

You want the fastest and easiest way to save money? Have the photographer there less. Some photographers only offer full coverage options, so this won't work for them. But for those that do have it broken down this is important. Keep in mind most of the time you can't break up a photographer's time with little random breaks here, once they start the clock is running. This means that the best place to shave hours is on the ends. Here are some ways to do that in order to stay in your budget.

If you want Getting Ready photos, consider having the photographer arrive towards the end of your hair/makeup instead of the beginning. This way, you can still get a couple shots of the last minute touches to hair and make up as well as putting on the dress, the shoes, jewelry, party/parent reveals. But you just saved up to an hour or two on just hair and makeup shots. A lot of detail shots can be recreated as well if need be. If you don't want Getting Ready pictures, you still need to have the photographer on site and on the clock before your ceremony start time. I recommend a half hour to an hour depending on the size of your wedding. You want them to have a chance to introduce themselves to the wedding party (maybe even the bride and groom depending on the situation), go over any last-minute details or questions, scope out the location/lighting, and have everything ready to go before the ceremony starts.

If you're looking to maximize what you get out of your reception time, consider setting up your timeline to make sure the 'photo op' events occur towards the beginning. This is also nice for guests who can't stay late for whatever reason. If the only thing you want photographed is the first dance and the toasts, do those before dinner. This way, you can still feed your photographer, but they're free to leave when they're done and the dinner hour isn't cutting into your time. Even if you want your whole reception photographed most photographers will suggest their ending time be no more than an hour after the last scheduled event. Dancing shots can get repetitive, people get sloppy, and a lot of the time it's just unnecessary. Keep this in mind when drafting your timeline.

Remember Murphy's Law is almost always in effect when it comes to weddings. Be aware when trimming your hours as close as possible that often times photographer's charge more for overtime the day of then if you pay for extra hours in advance. Leave yourself a bit of cushion just in case of that 'what if'.

A Second Shooter

A second shooter is essentially another photographer brought by your primary photographer to help capture more images. Often times, photographers have a list of other photographers with whom they work regularly and they will try to find one who is available for your wedding day. Other times they will seek out beginning photographers to hire, as second shooting is a great way for them to get experience . The photos are generally all edited by the same person so that they all flow together and you can hardly if at all tell which photographer took what. These are helpful for one major reason: one person can't be in two places at once. The two big points in the day where they come in the most handy are during Getting Ready shots when the bride and groom are getting ready in different locations and during a large ceremony to get shots of the back of the dress/couples, and grooms expression with the bride in the photo. Depending on the set up and size of the venue it's possible for one person to get both front and back shots of the bride but not the whole bridal party. For smaller, more intimate weddings, they aren't as necessary. If they are included in the base package, then by all means take advantage of them regardless of the wedding size because they offer a different eye and often more images overall.

Wedding Albums and Prints

In today's digital age fewer and fewer people are purchasing prints. BUT PLEASE DO. There's something different about holding a photograph in your hands versus looking at it on a screen. I mean why do you think everyone is getting obsessed with polaroids again? Having photos printed out is special. A high-quality album is something you can potentially look back on for the rest of your lives, show your kids and your grand kids, and of course laugh at in 50 years when you see all these young folks flossing. Some photographers have a large mark up on albums and prints or only offer fine art albums that can cost upwards of $300. If that's out of your price range then it's totally something you can skip. However, there are plenty of places where you can order one yourself for a cheaper price that's still high quality. You may also consider printing individual prints and putting them in a sleeved album.

All Final Images and/or Printing Rights

Sometimes photographers up-charge their initial prices in two ways. One will only guarantee you a certain number of pictures included with your initial fee and any you want after that number cost extra. The second is they'll require that you only buy prints and albums through them, sometimes both. Each of these options might make a package look cheaper up front but may end up costing you more in the long run. Be sure to ask what the average total investment people tend to make with them is, how much each additional image costs, and how long they have access to make orders. You don't want every single image that the photographer takes that day edited or not, trust me, but you may not want to be limited to just 50 an hour.

5. look at a whole gallery

Have you ever heard someone say you shouldn't compare your life to someone else's based on what you see on their social media because it's a 'highlight reel'? Photographers are no different. We post our favorite and best photos to appeal to future clients, it's just common sense. But this doesn't mean that you can't see an entire wedding gallery, you just have to ask. Don't be shy, we won't be offended, you wouldn't buy a car without looking at the whole thing first and not just a picture of one side. Seeing whole albums gives you a chance to see how photographers do in different lighting situations, events, people, all sorts of things. You may also be able to ask for an album from a wedding in the season you're looking to get married in if you live some place where those change. Maybe even the same type of venue if they have it. A January cabin wedding is going to look way different than an October barn wedding in Indiana.

6. make sure you mesh with their personality

This is one of the things that I would have never thought mattered until I started shooting weddings, but it turns out it's incredibly important. Unlike other venders who simply drop something off or do their own thing out of the way throughout the day, your photographer spends the entire day with you. They're with you from you getting ready to your send-off. If you don't get along well with them, it will slowly sneak its way into your pictures and into your experience. When I shoot I'm basically an honorary bridesmaid. I've wiped tears, set up flowers, gotten drinks, bustled dresses, cracked a thousand bad jokes, cried with moms over how gorgeous a bride looks: we're there for it all. Now imagine your least favorite person in the world doing that.

Often times, little bits of personality are sprinkled throughout a photographer's social media and website. Most also have an About Me page or a bio that lets you see a little more about them. Additionally, I have yet to meet a photographer who doesn't love meeting with or at least phone calling with clients. We don't want to work with someone who hates us anymore than you want to work with someone you hate. Meet up and talk about wedding details, how you and your partner met, what you want out of a wedding photographer, whatever. See how you feel spending an hour with them before you book.

7. Know their experience

One really fast way to save money on a photographer is to hire someone who is newer to the game. But this also comes with a big risk. Weddings throw curveballs all the time. Lighting is weird, moments happen fast, camera batteries die, memory cards freak out, sh*t happens. The longer you've been shooting weddings the more you're prepared to handle. If you're okay with possibly missing some things here and there, then finding an up and coming photographer could be a good fit for you. Either way you should know what level of experience your photographer has going into the Big Day. If you're working with someone who's done 100 weddings already you may feel more comfortable just putting everything in their hands, while if you have someone brand new you might want to give them more ideas of what you want or even an 'important please don't miss' shot list for the day.

My personal advice: it's okay to be someone's first wedding, but you don't want to be their first wedding and their first real shoot. For example, I shot my first wedding by myself with no prior wedding experience (not even second shooting) for $300 for the whole day and I would give myself a solid B on it. It was for a family friend, the wedding was pretty low key so there wasn't much to miss, and the pictures were pretty good overall, but looking back there's a lot I would have done differently. However, what I had done before that was a lot of shooting. I was in school for photography, I had done enough portrait sessions that I knew how to work my camera, I knew how to handle all the lighting situations I would have thrown at me, and I had a portfolio of some work to show them before hand. I would not suggest hiring someone that simply has a DSLR and takes good pictures of flowers in their backyard. Make sense?

8. ask about turn around time

Some wedding photographers can take as long as 6 months to get your full gallery back to you, some as little as 2 weeks. This doesn't necessarily have to be a deciding factor, but you definitely don't want to be blindsided by how long it's going to take. Often times, photographers with other full time jobs can charge less because they aren't as reliant on the money to sustain their way of life but this could also mean that it takes them longer to finish your images because they only have a couple hours a day to work on them. Some photographers offer a few sneak peek images as soon as the same day. These sorts of little details are important to know, as they can affect the overall value of your package.

9. You do not have to hire someone just because you know them

This. Just because your friend/family member does photography does not mean that they're the right photographer for you. When my sister got engaged the first thing I told her after congrats was 'you know it won't hurt my feelings if you don't want me to photograph your wedding right?'. If you like more moody and dark images then I am not your girl and I totally get that. Just be honest with them and they should understand.

10. be comfortable Communicating with them

Really this is sort of the umbrella rule for this whole thing. Your photographer is an invaluable asset to all aspects of the wedding experience. From planning to the day of you should feel like you can talk to them about all your concerns. Not sure if a veil matches a dress? Need to know where you should put the dance floor for the best lighting? Need suggestions on other venders? Ask your photographer. Each wedding is unique, so don't be afraid to give them a heads up on anything you might think will come in handy. Special pieces of your grandparents hidden throughout the day, divorced parents, hand-made features and decorations, out of town relatives you want to make sure you get a picture with. Little things like that can help the photographer know what details to make sure they don't miss, how to phrase things, and what moments to look out for.