Hiring a wedding photographer is such an exciting experience, but I know it can also be a bit overwhelming to know where to start your search to find a wedding photographer that you absolutely love.
As a Virginia wedding photographer, one of the most valuable pieces of advice I can offer you in your search for your wedding photographer is to find a photographer who truly gets you! Someone who’ll fit right in, keep things fun and lighthearted, and give you photos you’ll be admiring for years to come.
Read on to discover my top tips on how to hire a wedding photographer you’ll adore!
How to Hire a Wedding Photographer You’ll be Obsessed With
Decide on the style of photography you want
When I talk about style, I’m referring to both editing and photography style. To find your dream wedding photographer, you’ll first need to sit down and look at different styles. Just like you found your partner and determined they were the one, you’ll need to do the same with your photography style – find the one that’s perfect for you!
So, where do you start? You can begin by looking for inspiration on social media or with a quick Google search. However, my favorite place to find inspo is Pinterest!
You can type in keywords like “wedding photography” or use the search bar to look for specific styles like “light and airy wedding photography”, “dark and moody wedding photography,” “editorial wedding photography,” and so forth.
Create a board and start saving your favorite photos to it! After saving several images, I’m certain you’re going to start to see a pattern emerge both for the editing and photography style you like the most.
Some of the most common photography styles that you’re going to come across are editorial, documentary, fine art, and traditional. However, with that being said, a wedding photographer might not just specialize in one of these options but offer a blend of different styles.
When it comes to editing styles, some of the most popular are light and airy, dark and moody, and true to color (my editing style)! Want an in-depth guide to different wedding photography editing styles? Check out the blog I wrote here!
Do you research online and look through their websites
This is where you are going to get a ton of information on different photographers and get some of your questions answered. Plus, you’ll be able to get an introduction to them and their personality before you even hop on a call.
Make sure you really commit time to going through their photos on both their website and social media. I always recommend looking through at least three full galleries. If they don’t have any shared on their website, make sure you reach out to them and ask if they will share galleries with you.
If a wedding photographer you’re considering doesn’t have any full galleries to share with you, it can be a red flag. The only exception to this would be if they are a brand new wedding photographer and they are just starting to build their business and portfolio.
Full galleries are super important as they give you an accurate picture of how they handle different lighting and moments throughout the day, their consistency with editing, and how they capture your entire wedding story from start to finish.
Find a photographer you vibe with
Once you’ve decided on the style of photography you want, the next step is to find your wedding photographer! The most valuable piece of advice I can give you during your search is to find a wedding photographer whose personality you truly vibe with.
Your wedding photographer is someone you’ll be spending your entire wedding day with. They will see you at your most emotional moments and capture the day as it unfolds, so you need to be totally comfortable with them and trust them fully.
Furthermore, the truth is that if you don’t connect with your photographer, it will affect how your photos turn out. If you are uncomfortable in a pose or with a photographer, it’s going to show – remember the camera lens captures everything.
To determine if you’ve found your dream wedding photographer, schedule a consultation call with them. When you’re chatting with them, get a feel of whether your personalities match well and that you could envision yourself spending your entire wedding day with this person by your side.
Also, if you really like the photographer you speak with, another way to determine if they are the perfect fit for you is to book an engagement session with them!
An engagement session allows you to see how they will pose and guide you, and to get comfortable in front of the camera before the day of your wedding.
Read their reviews
Reading reviews is going to give you a behind-the-lens look and see how other couples’ experiences have been working with the photographer you’re considering. You may even find some surprising facts that help make your decision!
You can read reviews on their website and social media. Also, check out Google’s business page reviews and see if they have any additional reviews on Facebook, The Knot, or Wedding Wire.
Come up with a list of questions that are important to you and your partner
Your consult call is the chance to ask any and all of your questions! If you come up with a list of questions beforehand, this will ensure that you’ve covered all the bases and that you and your partner are on the same page about what is most important for your wedding.
If you don’t know what to ask your wedding photographer, here are some essential questions I would definitely encourage you to ask:
- Do you have an assistant and/or second (associate) shooter?
- What happens if you become ill or have an emergency on our wedding day?
- How long after the wedding will we have to wait to see any photos?
- Do you have any backup equipment?
- Do you have liability insurance?
- How often will we meet prior to the wedding?
- Have you worked at this wedding venue before?
Now You’re Ready to Hire Your Wedding Photographer
I hope you found this guide on how to hire a wedding photographer helpful! Your wedding photographer will be one of the most important investments you make. A year from now, the cake will be long gone, the wedding outfit will be tucked safely away, and you’ll have settled into married-life rhythm.
But every time you glimpse at your wedding photos, that day all comes rushing back. The joy. The magic. The love. Every glance, laugh, and heart-flipping moment—captured forever. That’s why it’s so important to hire a wedding photographer who is the ideal match for you and your partner.
And…if you’re still looking for the perfect wedding photographer for your day, I’d love to learn more about your love story. You can click here to get in touch or click here to learn more about my services!
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