How to Choose your Wedding Photographer

You’re getting married! HECK YES! Congratulations!! Now is the time to start the planning process, but where to start? There are hundreds of photographers in your area, how do you sift through them to find the photographer that is the right fit for you? It can be quite the process, but I’m here to help!

STEP 1: Find your style

This is a big one! You have a lot of options when it comes to style – everything from shooting style to editing style. Let’s start with shooting style.

SHOOTING STYLE – You have probably heard the terms editorial, photojournalistic, lifestyle – but what do they mean? It is the photographer’s approach to capturing your day which results in the feeling of photos you get when you look at your photos! Photographers will most likely shoot a variety of styles mixed together, but have one main style. For example, I am an adventurous lifestyle photographer – meaning my style falls in the candid and photojournalistic with a little bit of traditional categories. I would also classify it as fun and adventurous too!

EDITING STYLE – Each photographer has their own editing style – film inspired, light and airy, dark and moody, earthy etc… Again, there are so many styles and each photographer has their own signature style that they have developed and perfected over the years. And because of that photographers will usually edit in one style, that is why it is important that you find a photographer who’s editing style you love! — When deciding on a style, create a Pinterest board and just pin any photo that speaks to you.Once you have a bunch, look at the overall theme. Are the images more candid or posed? Are they light, true to colour or dark? Whatever that shows will be the style of photo that speaks to you and that is the type of photographer you should be looking for!

STEP 2: Set your budget

This can be a little tricky when you don’t know what photography is going for nowaday. Before you start contacting photographers, set a budget for your wedding. Think of what is most important to you, not only on your wedding day, but after the actual wedding day. Where does photography come into play? Set your budget based on that. If those photos to look back at are important, you can always find room in your budget, by cutting costs elsewhere.

STEP 3: Get in touch

You’ve got your budget, you’re found some photographers whose style you love, get it touch! A lot of photographers don’t put their prices on their website, but can give you an idea as to what most couples will spend on their photography. The reason being is they may have a pricing guide with more information about their services than just the price. The experience photographers offer is just as important as the photos you get in the end!

STEP 4: Meet some photographers

Will your photographer meet with you either in person, by video call, or even on the phone? They should be! You will be spending a lot of time with your photographer on your wedding day, you need to be sure that you get along. You should be able to tell a little about their personality from their website or instagram captions, but it is important to meet with them! I definitely recommend meeting with your photographer either in person or over video chat before booking with them. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about their personality and style – and to ask them any questions you may have before deciding on a photographer. Meet with a few photographers whose style you like. If you really love a photographer and they are a little out of the budget you originally set, you might be willing to increase your budget a bit to work with them!