Your wedding is going to be one of the biggest days of your life. As a result, you want to ensure that you have as many beautiful mementos of the event as possible. Part of guaranteeing that is to be careful when choosing a photographer. Photography isn’t as simple as picking the first available name you find. Each studio can have their own unique style, and you’ll want to find the one that best meshes with your plans. Follow our guide to find the perfect photographer for your big day!
Set The Budget
The very first step to choosing the right wedding photographer is setting your budget. Like other wedding decisions, there is no point to falling in love with a choice you can’t afford. This will also give you an idea on what packages you can consider, and what add-on options you may want. Perhaps you want a drone for aerial photos or an extra photographer on hand to record getting married! You’ll also likely want a photo album, like the carefully compiled ones offered by Michael T. Davis Photography. Everything is clearer when you have a budget in place.
Michael T Davis Photography
Compile A List
Ask family, friends, and coworkers for their recommendations, and look for highly rated photographers online. Putting these names on a list lets you take notes and track who you have spoken with. Additionally, you may be able to snag the photographer who did such an amazing job on your third cousin’s wedding photos!
Look At Different Styles
You can streamline this and vetting potential photographers by looking through the portfolio available on most studio websites. A photographer with a crisp, modern style may not be the best fit for your rustic barn wedding, so consider each photo in two ways. First, do you like the style? Second, could you picture your wedding in their frame? Completing this step will likely let you cross a few names off of your list.
See The Full Gallery
Reach out to the names on your shorter list and ask to see the full gallery from a wedding. Naturally, photographers are going to post the best photos publicly. Seeing the full gallery lets you know that you will have plenty of gorgeous options. You’ll also get a better feel for a studio’s style – and some inspiration for special photos you want included.
Describe your wedding
Set up meetings with your three favorite options. Describe your wedding to each photographer – in detail! You may even want to bring pictures of the venue, fabric samples, or any other elements you already have. This gives the photographer an idea on lighting, things to highlight, and more, so that they can do a better job for you. A wedding in a barn needs different lighting than one in a well-lit ballroom. A professional like Mitchell Bahr Photography, who specializes in unique lighting situations and has over a decade of experience, can make the difference between blurry, grainy, dark shots, and a romantic sunset kiss caught on film.
Mitchell Bahr Photography
Ask Questions
The meeting is also your chance to ask questions. These can range from how many photographs you’ll receive and how long the editing turnaround is to how will your photographer ensure they don’t miss a special moment. Will they do both styled and candid shots, like Inspired Images does, to make sure that you have every moment captured, down to Grandpa hitting the dance floor? Make sure you finish with a clear idea of what it would look like to hire that studio.
Inspired Images Photography
Book An Engagement Shoot
It’s nice to have beautiful engagement photos, but an engagement shoot also gives you the chance to have a trial run with your first-choice photographer before you commit to a costly package.
By the time you have the final images back from your engagement shoot, you’ll likely have made your decision. The important thing is to go with your gut instinct – you want someone you get along with at your wedding, someone you trust. No one wants to have to micromanage when you’re trying to celebrate your nuptials! Choosing the right photographer is the best way to be able to reflect on your wedding when you’re celebrating your twentieth anniversary so choose carefully.
