Your wedding photographer will be the one person you spend the most time with on your wedding day. In fact, you’ll spend more time with this person than you will with your new spouse! So, when you’re choosing the right wedding photographer you don’t just want to seek the most skilled artist, you want someone who will be a great fit with your friends and family, and who will happily join in on your special day.
How Do You Know You’ve Found the Right Wedding Photographer?
The second most important decision you’ll make for your wedding day is hiring the right wedding professional.
If you think about it, your wedding photographer will be there for your whole day. For example, when you’re getting ready, while your mom arranges your veil, or when your best friend pours another mimosa. They’ll be there at the end of the evening while you hug your grandmother goodbye or kiss your flower girl before she heads home to bed. You want this person to be able to fit seamlessly into your day while also being someone who you actually enjoy spending time with.
If you need some guidance making sure your photographer is a good fit for your day, look no further. We’ve got some great ideas of ways you can tell you’ve picked the best choice for you.
Figure Out How They Take Their Coffee
Ok, maybe you don’t need to know about their coffee preferences. But, you should totally take some time to get to know the person you might be hiring. Grabbing a cup of joe is just an idea to get the conversation flowing. You’ll want to have a conversation so that your potential photographer can get to know you, gather information about the images you’re hoping to capture, and have a good grasp on the type of wedding you are hoping for.
Not only that, but you will also be able to flesh out some personality details regarding your photographer. Do they make you laugh? Were they professional? Did they make you feel calm? Or did you find them to be too stand-offish, or overly chatty?
First impressions are often very accurate. If your photographer doesn’t immediately put you at ease or doesn’t seem like the kind of person you’d want dancing with your niece during the reception–then they are not the right wedding photographer for you.
Get the Dirt
Check out their previous clients. (You can even ask them for referrals.) You should be able to find a list of reviews or be provided with a list of happy couples who are just dying to show off their wedding albums and gush about their photographer. If not…you should probably consider looking elsewhere.
Look for the Flower Girls
And the grandmothers, and the puppies and the sunsets…in fact, you will want to ask to see photos of an entire wedding album. What images are going to be most important to you? Are you interested in a photographer who can make you look like a bridal catalog model or are you wanting photos to show your authentic happy giggles? Either way, ask to see photos that represent what you want in your own image collection.
If a photo with your grandmother is important to you, make sure you ask to see samples of family portraits or candid pics featuring people that are not in the wedding party. Basically, you want to be sure your photographer can beautifully capture the entire day from start to finish.
They should be able to handle all different types of lighting, weather, locations, and poses. Your wedding day will go by in a blink of an eye, and you want to be able to remember the whole day, not just the posed portrait moments.
[a lifestyle photographer]
Ask Them Why They Are the Right One
Really. Simply ask them. Say “Why are you the right photographer for my day?”, and see how they respond.
If you’re having a circus-themed wedding they should be able to tell you how they intend to capture the joy of such an innocent, fun theme. If you are planning an elegant Gatsby style gala, they should be able to explain their plan to capture the romance and the sparkle.
Find the Right Wedding Photographer for You
The bottom line is, any talented photographer can take beautiful photographs. But, will they capture the essence of you and your spouse? Finding someone who is skilled is only half the battle.
Give us a call if you’re still wondering what photographer is going to be the best fit for you. We’d love to discuss your vision for the perfect wedding day and how one (or two!) of our talented photographers at Wanderlight Photographer is just the person you’ve been looking for.
