What to Look for in a Wedding Photographer
You’ve said yes to the proposal, you’ve set the date, you’ve found an amazing venue… now what?? It’s the perfect time to find the perfect fit for your wedding photographer!
No matter where you are in the planning stages, it’s never too early to start searching for your photographer. Finding a great photographer might take some time, communication, and research, but once you’ve found “the one,” you’ll breathe a sigh of relief.
It’s important to find someone who you’ll want to have by your side on your big day and can trust with one of the most valuable things you’ll take away from your wedding - the memories! But choosing a wedding photographer can be tricky because it’s SO much more than taking beautiful photos.
Here are some of the top things to look for when choosing your wedding photographer.
Personality
One of the most important things on your wedding day is having fun! Once the day is over, you want to look back on it with your spouse and truly remember it as the best day of your lives. And, since your photographer is with you the entire day, you want them to have a fun and outgoing personality, but also be laid back to ensure you and your wedding party are having a blast. One of the easiest ways to feel out your photographer’s personality is to meet with them, either digitally or in person, before booking. If you leave the conversation feeling excited and happy to have found them, then they’re probably a great fit!
Communication
You can thankfully learn a lot about your photographer’s communication skills right from the onset. When you sent them an initial inquiry, how quickly did they respond? Are they communicating in a professional manner? How well do they respond to subsequent communications or initiate conversations about important information? Is the information they provide clear and concise? Easy communication is critical not only during the planning stages of your wedding, but for any subsequent conversations after your big day when you may need assistance with your photos.
Reliability
Along with being a reliable communicator, you also want a photographer you can trust to be on time, have dependable equipment, and put forth utmost effort on your wedding day. If you find your photographer is missing or not following up on communications, is late to meetings, or is not able to give you consistent information, it might be best to go another route. Ask your photographer about their back up plans in case of emergency, inclement weather, and how they ensure reliability with their equipment.
Directing
Having an awesome personality and great communications skills is just the start for every photographer, but being able to direct is the next step. This includes not only being able to direct you and your significant other, but also your wedding party, family, and guests. There’s a fine line between directing and dictating, so finding a photographer who can guide a group and keep it light hearted at the same time is essential. You will want to find someone who can use their voice when needed to direct a huge crowd and then turn around and quietly direct you and your spouse during those more intimate moments when you’re doing your couple’s portraits.
Calmness
I’ve always told clients that there is no reason to ever worry about anything if you look around and see that your vendors are calm. One of the biggest things that comes with experience is knowing how to remain calm in stressful situations and go with the flow no matter what. You want a photographer who knows how to roll with the punches, can think on their feet, and doesn’t get discouraged by any situation. These are the ones who also know how to keep you calm and deflect any stress that may arise. We’re fine, you’re fine, everything is fine, they can’t start without you, we’ll just move it to later, I’ll go take care of it, sit here and relax… these are all mantras you’ll want to hear on your wedding day.
Experience
We all have to start somewhere, it’s the truth, but there are some risks associated with hiring a budding wedding photographer. I’m grateful for the clients who put their trust in me as I was starting out, but now I can readily say that there are many perks to hiring a seasoned photographer. Beyond knowing what great photos to capture, a veteran in the industry has had almost every situation thrown at them and now knows how to handle just about anything. They can guide you in your decisions based on experience and don't waiver in their judgment on the day of. They show up calm, prepared, and knowledgeable about all things wedding related. They can put in your veil, pin boutonnieres, bustle your dress, and so much more, all while continuing to snap photos, in a rainstorm.
Investment
Hiring a wedding photographer is a big investment but finding out there are hidden costs can cause a lot of frustration before and after your wedding. You will want to ask your photographer if there is the potential for any extra fees you might encounter outside the scope of their general price. This could include any rescheduling fees, archive retrieval fees (this is a fee some photographer’s charge to create a new gallery after your initial one has expired), travel fees, etc. Knowing if your photographer charges these fees upfront can help you plan accordingly.
Team Player
It 100% takes a village to plan and execute a wedding, so having a photographer that wants to be a gracious part of that village can be pivotal. This not only includes working hand in hand with you, your fiance, and your wedding party, but also all your other vendors leading up to and on your big day. Skilled photographers know how to seamlessly blend their services with the other services being provided by your vendors. They want to work as a team to ensure everyone has the same plan and is prepared to ensure the smooth flow of the day. And when needed, they are able and willing to jump in when necessary to help other vendors execute their jobs to make your big day go flawlessly.
