Wedding Planning

How to choose your wedding photographer

Choosing your photographer can be a complicated process and a daunting decision. Of all the suppliers you select for your wedding, the photographer is one of the few who is actually going to be around you pretty much all day, and the one whose work you'll be admiring for years to come. On top of this, there are so many photographers out there, each offering something slightly different at a whole range of price points. So what is really important, and where do you even begin? I've put together a little guide to how I would approach this particular task if I was booking a photographer, with an insider's point of view.

The two key factors

Now, there are obviously some practical things that need to be taken into consideration eg your budget and location of your intended photographer, but aside from those things I think are there two main factors you need to think about when searching for your potential wedding 'tog. If you nail these two things you should be very happy with both your experience on the day and the collection of photos you ultimately receive.

The first of these is style. Your photographer's style is exactly what it sounds like - the look and feel of the photographs they produce. This goes for both the way they take the photograph initially and then how they select and edit them after the day. If you jump onto Instagram or Pinterest and have a scroll through some wedding photos, you'll probably notice they tend to lean towards one look or another. Generally, photographers either edit their photos to be light and airy, dark and moody or bright and colourful. Sometimes it's actually really hard to look beyond the content of the photos and see the photographer's editing style. It's very easy to be drawn to an impressive venue or expensive styling but not notice the tones and colours of the photograph and see how it could translate to your day. These days a lot of photographers advertise their style as being 'editorial', as in something you might find in a magazine, usually influenced by fashion photography. Others say they are more documentary or perhaps traditional in style. (In truth, many photographers fall somewhere in the middle of these categories).

You should also have a look at the poses the couples in your prospective photographer's work have been pictured in. This will be an indication or what you might be asked to do on the day (it's rare that a couple will spontaneously jump into a low dipped kiss without being asked!). If you have a look at which pictures are front and centre on a photographer's homepage or portfolio you'll also get an idea of what they find most appealing in terms of poses and emotion and therefore what your shoot might entail.

What you need to ask yourself is, do I prefer moody, colourful or airy? (There's no wrong answer) How about editorial, documentary, traditional? How will this translate to photos of my venue/styling/me? What am I going to want to put on my wall or continue to look at for years and years? Can I see myself in this photographer's photos? Do I think we share the same vision about how my photos should look and feel?

In my opinion, the other crucial requirement for successfully choosing a wedding photographer is picking someone you vibe with. It's been said plenty of times but it is true - you're going to be spending most of your wedding day with this person so you want to be comfortable around them. That's why it's a great idea to meet up with your photographer or have a phone call before you book or just after booking. Fortunately, we are just normal people and hopefully there aren't too many photographers out there who would actually put you off. A good photographer will put you at ease, won't make you feel like you're being observed and will chat to you like a friend when it's appropriate.

So how should we book?

Great, if you've made it to the stage where you're thinking about getting in contact then that's a brilliant thing. I would suggest reaching out to your chosen photographer and just asking if they have availability on your date and to have a chat about what they offer. Some photographers advertise their prices and packages on their website, others choose to wait until you've made contact to give you those details. Either way, send them a quick message via email or their contact form and let them know where you're at. You can always get a better idea of what your experience might be through having a chat. If you love someone's work but their packages don't align with what you're after it's always worth making contact anyway. Lots of photographers are happy to try to accommodate your particular needs if they are able to.

A little note: I always try to get back to my couples within 24 hours and I 'd say most photographers try not to leave potential clients waiting too long, so check those junk mail folders if you haven't noticed any replies!.

At this point your photographer is likely to offer you a phone call or video chat. I also offer my couples the chance to meet up and have a coffee if we're both in the same location. It's a really helpful thing to do for both parties, and you shouldn't feel an obligation to book after this - the reason you're meeting up is to make sure you're a good fit and you like what's on offer! (But please do always let us know either way!)

If things are looking good but you just want to really make sure you're happy with this person, there are a couple of extra things you can do. I would suggest asking to see a full gallery of their work. Website portfolios and Instagram grids often focus on the big moments or the more impressive shots but you might want to see if this photographer can capture brilliant dance floor snaps and candid moments as well as bridal details and more staged portraits. If they have a portfolio from your chosen venue that might be a bonus in terms of getting a more accurate visual sample, but choosing a photographer who has shot at your venue before is by no means an essential. Take it from me, I LOVE shooting at new venues. I often have a visit before the day so I can familiarise myself with the space, and I feel that new venues often provide new inspiration. Your photographer should be able to walk into any space or lighting situation and handle it like a pro, so please don't be put off if you love their work but the venue is new to them.

Hopefully that has helped you get your ideas a little bit clearer as you approach this potentially complicated task! Try not to get overwhelmed by what's on offer, and if you give yourself plenty of time to get booked up then there shouldn't be any need to stress. As always I'm happy to have a chat or offer any friendly advice so do reach out!

Happy hunting x