It takes way more than having an expensive, camera and taking a lot of pictures to cover all of your bases when it comes to wedding photography. Today most people who have a camera phone believe that they too are already a seasoned professional when it comes to taking wedding photos. But I’m here to tell you, that’s not true. So how do you find a GOOD wedding photographer? Well, my main reason for writing this post is to help you avoid choosing the wrong photographer, or even worse, that one friend.
I understand how tempting it is to compare wedding packages offered by various wedding photographers. And it’s perfectly natural to believe that the more features you get for a lesser price, the better.
But I know for sure that there are couples, on the other hand, who don’t care how many pages their free wedding album has if the images inside aren’t what they had hoped for. They know exactly what they want: beautiful wedding photographs and the outstanding experience of working with a true wedding professional. And since you’re reading this, I know that that person is you too! Having said that, here are 5 steps to find a good wedding photographer.
5 Steps to Find a Good Wedding Photographer
Step 1: Find Your Venue
Booking a venue is important to finding a good wedding photographer because they, typically, have some photographers who have photographed weddings there before. So asking them, and looking at your budget, is a good way to narrow down the list a bit.
Step 2: Ask Social Media and Your Friends
If you have friends who were recently married, and who had photos that you loved, be sure to ask them. Other great sources are social media. Be sure to post in Facebook groups, post on Twitter, or browse Pinterest. There are so many different avenues on the internet that can help populate your list of potential wedding photographers.
Step 3: Photography Style Analysis
While looking for photographers, you’ll find that there are many different types of wedding photography. At the same time, you’ll start to realize which styles you enjoy and which ones you don’t. Looking at the photographer’s blog or website rather than a few photographs on Instagram will give you a better indication of their artistic style. Investing the extra time to investigate the entire portfolios of your top candidates will pay off in the end.
Step 4: Photographer Interviews
I can’t stress enough how important this is. At this point, you’ve got a list of photographers who, you know, have skill behind the camera. But you’ll be spending your entire wedding day with this person, and you want someone that you’re comfortable with to have that important role. Because, ultimately, if you’re relaxed, you’ll not only have a great time, but they’ll get some great pictures too.
You also want to make sure you know pricing. Some photographers charge a fixed, or hourly, rate and then charge you à la carte for any pictures or albums you want. Meanwhile, others will charge a rate that contains everything (albums, prints, and high-resolution images). Many photographers provide a price list that lists the many packages they provide at various pricing points. Make sure you’re aware of everything that’s offered.
Step 5: Make the Choice (and Schedule an Engagement Shoot!)
It’s time to make your choice once you’ve assessed each photographer’s work and costs and limited down your alternatives. Remember that you’ll be spending your entire wedding day with this individual, so you’ll want to make sure you’re fully comfortable with them. Do you and your fiancé have a true fondness for this individual? Do you think the three of you get along? Then get an engagement shoot scheduled! It’s an awesome chance to get to know your photographer’s style and start to feel at ease having your picture taken, especially if you’re camera-shy.
