4 CRITICAL Things to Look for in a Wedding Photographer
There is a wealth of information on the internet about weddings. You can look up all kinds of articles and find lots of important tips when shopping for your wedding photographer.
That said, it can be quite overwhelming because there is a lot of advice out there.
In this blog post, I’ll share what I think are the FOUR most important things to look for in a photographer.
1. EXPERIENCE
How long has the photographer been covering weddings?
Photographing a wedding is SO different from other forms of photography. There are many incredibly talented photographers out there. However, if they haven’t covered a wedding yet, they won’t be as experienced with the fast pace nature of the day. They might not be prepared to adapt when weather forces the shoot inside, or they might not have the variety of experience necessary to photograph a wedding.
What does this mean?
Perhaps they take gorgeous photos in natural light, but how do they perform when the sun goes down?
Do they have enough flashes to cover low light situations?
Can they adapt to the ever-changing scene of your wedding? This is CRITICAL! Your wedding photographer should be able to photograph all parts of your wedding with utmost care and professionalism. You should expect beautiful photos from the entire day, not just parts of it. A more experienced wedding photographer will absolutely have the upper hand on this.
So, how can you tell how experienced a wedding photographer is?
First, ask how many years they’ve been photographing weddings and how many weddings they’ve covered.
Next, ask them to send you a few full galleries from past clients so you can see a broader scope of their work. As photographers, we love to show off our favorite photos on our website, of course! This means you have to dig a bit to see what a full wedding looks like if the photographer doesn’t already offer that up.
2. STYLE
Beyond experience, does the wedding photographer you are looking at resonate with your style preferences?
This is obvious, but make sure you are in L.O.V.E. with their work. Remember, these photos will be supporting your memories for many years to come. Their style should be something that you are excited to see every time you pull out your wedding album.
Style means more than one thing!
How do they capture people? Is it more natural or posed?
What are some of the things they focus on? For example, do they focus on taking exquisite detail photos or do they focus on finding the best candid moments of cousin Brynn breaking it down on the dance floor?
Do you like their editing style?
And, this is important! Will you like their editing style in 10 years? In 20 years? I tell people this all the time - editing styles come and go, but your photos will last a lifetime. Will you enjoy “dark and moody”, for example, when you’re old and squinty?
3. PHOTOGRAPHER’S PERSONALITY
Feeling comfortable with your wedding photographer can make or break the actual day of your wedding.
Getting to know the photographer during your consultation is important, so I always recommend meeting in person or at least via video chat. Get an idea for how they will operate during your big day.
Are they super hands on? OR Do they take a more fly-on-the-wall approach?
Are they all business or will you also feel like you can laugh with them when your dress gets stuck in the car door?
In my experience, photographers fill a variety of roles throughout the big day.
Will they be forthcoming and help you with something when it’s not photography related?
We are there with you more than anyone else, including family and friends, because we are following your every move and capturing it all. Will it be fun to spend your wedding day with your photographer, and do you feel like they will step up to the plate when plans inevitably change???
4. PREPARATION
How does your photographer prepare for your wedding day?
It’s important that your day goes by smoothly, so I HIGHLY recommend that you find a photographer who does their due diligence beforehand. You don’t want to be answering all their questions about family photos and locations on the day of your wedding. Instead, you should be fully present with your significant other and various loved ones.
I always have my clients fill out a comprehensive questionnaire about a month before their big day, and we will go over it together in person or by phone to make sure we have the best game plan possible.
How much will the photographer be communicating with you leading up to your wedding?
In addition to a questionnaire, I send out comprehensive and helpful wedding guides to help my clients make the most of their day months before the wedding.
I’m there for you and involved in your planning process even when your wedding is far away so you feel like you’re getting the most out of what I have to offer. Sometimes, people will book a photographer and not hear from them until a year later right before the wedding! I have a more hands-on approach to make my client’s experience the best possible.
Obviously there’s a lot to think about when searching for your wedding photographer, BUT these 4 things should be prioritized!
Colorado has a lot of wonderful photographers, so I know you’ll find someone who will take care of you.
And, of course, I practice what I preach. So, my promise to you is this:
As a photographer…
… I will take care of YOU during your wedding day. We will giggle a lot together, I’ll be there to hold your flowers or your doggo when they aren’t in the photo I’m taking. I’ll point out that strange fly away hair, and if the hairstylist is long gone, I’ll help you fix it! The day will go by quickly. I’m a person of action. If you need help, I will problem-solve with you! I will do comprehensive preparation well ahead of your big day so it goes by smoothly and efficiently. Having me along at your wedding will be like having a professional photographer, a friend, a point person for issues that come up, and more. I’ll make friends with the kiddos in attendance and coax out their sweet little smiles. I’ll bounce along on the dance floor while taking photos.
I Care with a big, fat, capital C.
Cheers my dears,
XOXO,
Savannah
