Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and you want to make sure that you capture every moment of it. That's where a wedding photographer comes in. But with so many photographers out there, how do you find the right one for you? In this guide, we'll take you through the steps you need to follow to find the perfect wedding photographer for you.

STEP 1: DETERMINE YOUR STYLE

Before you start looking for a photographer, you need to determine what style of photography you want. Do you want a traditional style with posed shots, or do you prefer a more candid and photojournalistic style? Do you want your photos to be light and airy, or do you prefer a darker and moodier feel? Once you've determined your style, you can start looking for photographers who specialize in that style.

STEP 2: SET A BUDGET

Wedding photography can be expensive, so it's important to set a budget before you start looking for a photographer. Determine how much you can afford to spend, and then look for photographers who fit within your budget.

As a wedding photographer, I will always argue that photography and video are one of the most important posts of your wedding budget, and also the only product that you have after the wedding day. So therefor I will always try and convince a future bride and groom to prioritise photos and videos in their wedding budget.

STEP 3: DO YOUR RESEARCH

Once you know what style of photography you want and how much you can afford to spend, it's time to start doing your research. Look for photographers in your area who specialize in the style you want, and check out their portfolios. You can also ask for recommendations from friends and family who have recently gotten married.

If you have hired a wedding planner you are in a unique position to ask them for recommendations based on their experiences with the photographer. 

When you click through several websites and profiles I recommend you stop being logical. That might sound a bit counterintuitive but hear me out. You are not shopping for an iPhone, so you are not comparing photographers against each other looking at the features.

Don't look at what is included. I want you to look at the photographer's work and choose with your emotions instead of your logic. 

Does it speak to you? Do you like it? Does it evoke your emotions? Can you see yourself hanging this style of photography in your home?

If the answer is no to any of these questions move on to the next photographer. That is a quick way to find a few photographers that have a style of photography that you like.

STEP 4: NARROW DOWN THE LIST

At this point you will probably have a few photographers on your list that you like, so now it is time to narrow it down. Here is a list of positive and negative signals to look out for to help you narrow down the list. 

POSITIVE

Reviews! - How many do they have? Do they seem legit? - A photographer with many good reviews is a testimony to good work.

Do you see many former weddings on their website? - Photographers love to showcase their work, so on their website, you should be able to see all their former clients.

Are they focusing on wedding photography or are they also doing different genres? - A photographer that focuses only on weddings shows a photographer with more experience in his/her field and is good enough to support themself financially only through weddings.

WARNING SIGNALS

Awards - Awards can be a great indicator of a photographer, but beware, most online awards is given out daily and have a pay-to-win concept - in short, not all awards a created equal.
None of the bad reviews - Or even worse you get a feeling that the reviews are fake.

Showcase of little to no prior wedding work. No two weddings are the same, and only with experience, a photographer will know how to handle whatever comes on the day. Because of that, it does not mean anything that a photographer is showcasing 1 good wedding. Make sure that they have several.

STEP 5: MEET WITH POTENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS

Hopefully, at this point, you have narrowed your search down to 1 or 2 photographers. Now it is time to meet your photographer.

Why is this so important? Think about it. You are going to spend the entire wedding day with this person. 

It does not matter if you have bad chemistry with your catering manager, as long as he or she does a brilliant job. Because you are properly not gonna speak with that person at your wedding.

But the photographer is there to capture everything and not only that. 

The finest job of a wedding photographer is to make you feel comfortable in front of the camera. 

If you cannot laugh, smile or be serious with your photographer then it is not a good match. No matter how skilled they are, you will properly end up feeling awkward during the day or looking less than happy in your photos.

It is always best to meet in person, but the next best thing is to do a zoom meeting and talk with the photographer.

STEP 6: ASK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER THESE QUESTIONS

As mentioned before the most important thing is that you are having good chemistry and that you feel like a good match. Bot now you need to make sure that you get the package that you want and that whatever concerns you have is being dealt with.

A good photographer will help you through the first meeting - Asking questions to you that gives the photographer the information needed to be able to best serve you, and create a package that best fits what you want and needs.

I RECOMMEND YOU ASK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER THESE QUESTIONS:

What happens if the photographer is sick? - Do they have plans for what they do if they can’t make it? 

Will there be a contract? - This is so important to make sure that everything that you agree on is written down. 

Will you meet before the wedding to plan out the timeline and ensure that the photographer understands your vision for the day? 

What exactly is included in my packages? If I want to buy anything extra like prints or Albums, what is the cost?

Do I own printing rights to my photos? - Am I allowed to print out the photos you deliver? 

What is your delivery time for the photos?

Will the photos be delivered digitally? - Is there a set number of photos that I get, or do I get all the good ones?

Think about it. If you don't have a contract your photographer they can cancel the job whenever they want if they get a better-paid job. Leaving you without a photographer for your wedding.

I have also heard stories of Clients that have paid more than 3000 € for the wedding photographer thinking that the digital photos were included, just to realise that the money only covered the photographer's fee to photograph the wedding, and if they want their photos they need to pay another 3000 € to get the photos.

I don’t want you to be involved in any of these stories that give our industry a bad name.

STEP 7: BOOK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

Once you've found the right photographer for you, it's time to book them. Make sure you read and understand their contract before signing, and pay any deposits required to secure your date.

Finding the right wedding photographer takes time and effort, but it's worth it to have beautiful photos that capture the magic of your special day. Follow these steps, and you're sure to find the perfect photographer for you.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about how to find a wedding photographer you are welcome to comment below or contact me via my contact form.