Wedding Photographers - First Steps to Finding the Perfect One.
Finding your perfect wedding photographer takes a little time, but when the end result is the images that will be looked back upon for the rest of your life together, the initial investment of time is absolutely worth it.
Let's start off with the most important thing to remember. Choose a wedding photography style that YOU as a couple like. It’s not about what looks best on Instagram. It’s not about what you feel you should have or what is on-trend, but what you want.
FIND YOUR FAVORITE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS STYLE
Finding the style which naturally appeals to you both actually isn’t that tricky. The first stage is research! If you like one wedding by a specific photographer, have a look at more of their work. Also save specific images you like of details, entertainment ideas, dresses, etc onto a Pinterest board. Once this board starts filling out you will soon see a pattern emerging. It will likely radiate one or two styles more dominantly. You should also start to see a pattern of shot styles that are most important to you. Candid shots of families and friends, stunning couple portraits, formal group shots, inspiring details. Your Pinterest board is now looking surprisingly cohesive, and you’ve been pinning furiously throughout every lunch break, but what actually is this style you seem to be loving?
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER NEXT STEPS
Contact your shortlisted wedding photographers to see if they fit within your photography budget and are available for your wedding date. Meet with your photographer either face to face or virtually to see if there's a personality fit. Can you spend all day with this person? You need to get on, they’re a guest at your wedding and you'll be spending a lot of time together. Are they going to put you at ease? Are they as excited about your vision for the big day as you are? Have they shot your venue before? Dig deeper, ask to see entire weddings, from start to finish, rather than just a carefully curated selection. You should expect to see everything from getting ready shots, to dancing. You want to know that your final edit will be made up of a good mix of people, detail shots, and have a consistent style and colour story throughout. Share your plans with them; your Pinterest boards will help them to really understand what your plans are, and how you anticipate them being captured.
Once you've met with them all, sit down and start the decision-making as a couple. We recommend accompanying this process with something bubbly and/or tasty. Once you've made up your mind, contact your chosen photographer first to secure your date and begin their booking process. We also recommend that you contact those who you have met but chosen not to go with so they know where they stand and are free to meet with other potential clients for that date. Also, it's just good manners.
