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With an abundance of wedding photographers in the market, a boatload of prices and styles, choosing the perfect wedding photographer can be a cumbersome task.
The internet does make things easier since you can check a variety of photographers and their methods of work side by side.
But remember, there’s more to it than just styles, so make sure you check out these 10 top tips to help you make the right decision.
Whoever you choose, you should click with them.
Ideally, the photographers’ website is designed in a way that you will be able to get a good feel for their style but also who they are as a person.
Make sure you meet your wedding photographer in person before booking them in.
They are going to be with you all day; you want to make sure you vibe, that they make you feel comfortable, laugh and feel like they’re going to add value to your day, not just be there taking photos.
Understand that wedding photography is more than just taking pictures; it’s a business as well.
Professional wedding photography is one of the toughest and draining disciplines in the photography game.
You have to choose a person who is extraordinary in photography, but the business also.
You need to know that they are organized, do they respond to questions quickly, can they recommend other vendors, are they professional.
The last thing you want is a photographer rocking up to your wedding wearing shorts! Do you think they will still be around in 2 – 5 years if you have accidentally misplaced your photos and need them replaced.
Decide what style you like.
There are various styles of wedding photography ranging from formal and posey, through fly-on-the-wall documentary.
There are various styles of wedding photography ranging from formal and posey, through fly-on-the-wall documentary.
Some photographers bring in facets of other photographic disciplines, for example, fashion, fine art, futuristic, to name a few. So, decide the style that suits you.
Get a recommendation.
There’s nothing better than getting a first-hand recommendation from a friend who was very happy with their photographer.
If you attended the wedding, you would have seen them in action as well! There’s always a risk hiring someone you don’t know, so if a friend can refer a photographer to you, it will make your life a lot easier.
Portfolio shots are not the same as general wedding pictures.
Generally, a photographer’s portfolio is made up of all their best work.
So you’re looking at the handpicked best shots, of the most attractive couples, in the perfect weather conditions.
Before hiring your wedding photographer, make sure you ask to see a few weddings from start to end.
You want to know how the photographer performs under different conditions, in the sun or rain, from the beginning of the day to the end.
If after looking at a few weddings from start to end and you’re still pleased with the quality of their work, then you’re onto a winner!
Award-winning photographers.
There are countless awards, and every photographer is claiming to be an award-winning photographer.
If you’re choosing a photographer based on the awards they claim to have, make sure you ask them which awards did they win.
Was it the Australian Wedding Photographer of the Year through the AIPP (Australian Institute of Professional Photography) or was it from a weekly photo comp run through a local councils website?
Make sure they are the real deal.
Latest gear.
If they are professionals, the wedding photographers should have all the latest camera equipment, either top of the line DSLR or mirrorless cameras plus all the appropriate lenses and lighting gear.
On top of that, they also need to have the right software to convert and edit your wedding photos.
Pricing & packages.
Ensure that the photographer that you will choose offers photography packages that are within or close to your budget.
They should be paid for what they are worth, but if you have a budget of $3000, there is absolutely no point even looking at the $10,000 photographer.
Most photographers will also offer payment plans, for example, 4 payments of 25% each leading up to the day.
Contracts & copyright.
All professional photographers will ask you to sign a contract before booking them.
If they don’t have a deal, it’s an immediate red flag! But make sure you know what you’re signing. Some questions you may want to ask are:
- Are the images watermarked?
- Do I get high-resolution photos and if so, what does that mean?
- Are you going to use my images for marketing?
- What happens if you get sick on the day?
Lastly, when you meet your photographer, make sure that it will be them who will be the photographer on your day.
Is the person you’re meeting, actually going to be your photographer?
Lastly, when you meet your photographer, make sure that it will be them who will be the photographer on your day.
It’s common for photographers to have a team, so if they are unavailable, they will send one of their teams.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, make sure you are aware and if this the case, make sure you meet with the actual photographer who will be there on the day.
There would be nothing worse than a random rocking up on your day who you don’t get along with, and they make you feel uncomfortable.
Conclusion
There are a lot of things to take into consideration while choosing your wedding photographer so, hopefully, these 10 tips have helped you to make better and more informed decisions.
Yes, find the perfect wedding photographer is a challenging task; you don’t know how and where to find. But to you to share these tips. I am from Melbourne and looking for a wedding photographer for my wedding which is held on the date – 27 Sep-2019.
I appreciate that you mentioned that we will need to consider the gear that a photographer has before we would hire them. That sounds like the best way to determine the quality of the pictures that will be taken. My wife and I have been talking about finding a photographer to help our daughter when her wedding day comes. It should be in just a few weeks, so we will need to hurry to find one. When we look for one, I will consider the gear that they have.
Nice post