Obsessing over every little detail during wedding preparations is not unheard of. There’s the stress of looking for a wedding dress, booking a venue, and finalizing your guest list.
There’s also the stress that comes with the anticipation of a major life development, which psychologists say translates into an obsession with wedding planning itself.
However, you can make a perfect wedding without much stress by taking it one step at a time. Today, we’ll discuss how you can find the best wedding photographer who can capture the best moment in your life.
Keep on reading to know the steps of finding the right photographer.
1. Find Your Style
Before you go looking at portfolios, you should first decide on what kind of results you’re expecting.
Wedding photographers have different styles. Some specialize in dramatic photos, while others may have a bright and airy feel to their shots. Some like their photos soft and matte, while others prefer having their colors pop.
Avoid picking photographers only because they’re good. The reason they’re good is that they’ve already mastered their techniques and style.
If you want an idea, look at wedding blogs and websites. See which style you’re liking more.
Other than the editing style, photographers also approach a wedding in different ways. Some wedding photographers capture the candid or funny moments of a wedding, while some like giving directions.
It’s also helpful to remember that you’ll be looking at these photos for the rest of your life. Make sure it’s something that will make you happy years after your wedding day.
2. Consider Your Wedding Venue
Photographers may produce different results in different venues. This explains why you should also take into account your wedding venue when looking for the right photographer to capture your perfect moment.
Knowing in what setting you’ll shoot will help you find your style and find a photographer for that setting.
If you’re having a beach wedding, for example, look at the photos of a beach wedding and pick which one suits your style. Then, look for photographers who have experience in shooting in such situations.
3. Search for Wedding Photographers
When finding a wedding photographer, Google is your friend. First, search for photographers in your area. If you’re having a destination wedding, you may also find photographers in that location, too. You don’t have to pay for the travel and accommodation expenses of your photographer.
Facebook and Instagram are also great platforms to find photographers on. The latter is better as its purpose is for photo and video sharing. Don’t worry, these platforms will show you ads of photographers when they notice you’re searching for one.
You may also look for photos of the previous weddings in your specific venue or similar ones. You may find the blogs of the couple or a guest, who may have mentioned the who the photographer is on their post. You may also come across the blog of the photographer itself.
Your wedding planner is also a good resource as they have a lot of connections. Ask him/her for some names you can consider.
4. Look at Their Past Projects
Once you have a good list of the best wedding photographer candidates, take some time to look at their past projects. See if their style fits yours and if they have experience in shooting weddings in your chosen setting.
Don’t get sold on one incredible photo; look at all kinds of pictures they upload. Did they capture the couple’s first kiss? Did they capture one’s reaction when he first sees the other walking down the aisle?
These moments are the most important, so they should have great shots of these.
More than that, however, they should also have beautiful shots of your family and friends smiling. If the venue is this beautiful garden, then they should also have good shots of it.
5. Ask for a Quote and Compare Prices
By now, you should have a shortlist of photographers whose style you like. This is the time to contact them and ask for a quote. Mention your wedding date, the location, and any inclusions you might want in your package.
When you’ve received a quotation, don’t decide yet, even if they tell you they’re getting booked fast. Compare the prices and package inclusions that might make them a better deal than the others.
If you have a budget, choose the ones that fit your budget. But if there’s one photographer that stands out but is too expensive, consider increasing your budget.
Your wedding pictures are going to represent one of the best moments of your life. For this reason, you must get the best photographer you can get.
6. Meet Up for an Interview
This is when you can gauge their personality. If you can’t meet up in person, set up an interview via Skype.
While speaking to them, what impression do they give you? Do you feel like you can work with them on one of the best yet stressful days of your life? If they make you feel secure and at ease, then that’s a good sign.
This is also the time to ask the important questions, like how long will they be able to deliver your photos after the wedding. You may also be able to haggle the price or ask what adjustments they can do to make the budget work.
Make sure to make it clear who owns the photos. It’s usual for photographers to own the rights to photos, but the couple will be able to get high-quality copies for personal use. Know what you can and can’t do with the photos.
Choose the Best Wedding Photographer
Once you’ve chosen the best wedding photographer for you, the only thing left to do is to sign a contract. Make sure it outlines all the details you’ve talked about, including the deliverables, timeline, and cancellation clause.
When you’re done with this step, you can now move on to looking for other suppliers or making sure the rest of your wedding preparation is going well. If you don’t know where to start, check out our other guides now!