Choosing a wedding photographer is not an easy feat when planning a wedding.  This is a person that is going to be with you from the start of your planning process all the way until a couple of months past your wedding day. From helping with planning, an engagement session, check-ins as the wedding gets closer, full coverage on your wedding day, and finally delivering your wedding album you’re going to be seeing and talking with your photographer A LOT. That’s why it’s so important to find a photographer that not only works for your timeframe and budget, but also one that you’ll enjoy working with and will get you the wedding photos that you’ve been dreaming about. To help you with finding the right photographer that fits your needs I put together this list of 7 things to look for when searching for a photographer.

1. Full Wedding Photo Galleries

Instagram and websites are a highlight reel.  Because of the size of images, photographers are unable to post entire wedding galleries on their websites so it is important to ask to see a full wedding gallery if they do not offer for you to see one. This lets you see not only those highlight pictures but all the other photos that you can expect when you get your album. Remember your photographer is an investment so you’ll want to find one that can deliver a full wedding album that you’ll love. After all, it’s your freaking wedding!

2. An Editing Style that Fits Your Vision

A wedding photographer’s process is MUCH more than just showing up and taking photos on your wedding day.  Their editing is an extension to their process so it is important that you like the editing style that they showcase on their Instagram and their website.  A photographer will not change their editing style for your wedding, their editing style is what makes them different from other photographers and is a part of their art, so pay attention to what styles you like when choosing a photographer. After you choose a style that you like, start searching via Instagram hashtags or google images to find a handful of options to contact.

3. Check for Photos in Different Lighting Scenarios

“Natural Light” photographers typically just don’t cut it when it comes to wedding photography.  Your wedding day will have ALL types of lighting used throughout, so it’s important that your photographer knows what they’re doing in all types of lighting.  Indoor lighting, outdoor lighting, bright light in the middle of the day, and even no light at all.  Make sure you like the style they photograph evening photos in just as much as their daytime or golden hour photos. The last thing you want is to get your wedding album and have only one part of the day turning out the way you envisioned it.

4. Reviews

Reviews can tell you a LOT about the experience a potential photographer can offer you.  Check out the reviews on your photographers’ website as well as the reviews that are listed on their google profile to get a feel for how your photographer makes their clients feel and how they take care of them throughout their wedding day. Remember that when you choose your photographer it isn’t just there for the wedding day, they’re there for most of the entire wedding process. Reviews are a great way to get a feel for the person you’ll be working with throughout your wedding experience, and if you’re curious you can check out my Google reviews here!

5. Your Contract Details

Once you do find a photographer you want to work with make sure you carefully read through your contract before signing. I know it’s not the most exciting reading material, but it is so so important. When looking through be sure to look for a few of these things.

With the age of Covid, we have learned that things can change EXTREMELY fast.  Make sure to look over your contract with your photographer and check out their reschedule policy as well as their cancellation policy.  You never know what could come up, so it’s important to know ahead of time what the repercussions might be if you did have to reschedule or cancel your wedding day. 

You’ll also want to check what the turnaround time is for your photos so you’ll know when your album will be getting delivered. These are just a couple of things that’ll be listed in your contract, but there’s so much more so read carefully and make sure everything looks good before signing.

6. What the Experience is Like

What will you receive from your wedding photographer leading up to your wedding day?  Will they help with creating a timeline?  Are they going to work on a family photos list with you?  Will you have access to them the month before your wedding to go over the details?  These are all super important questions to ask. You’ll be working with your photographer for a while before your actual wedding day so makes sure they’ll be giving you the support and help you’re looking for.

Along with questions like those listed above, you’ll also want to know what it’s like to work with your photographer on the day of.  Will they give you enough direction to make you feel comfortable?  Will they hype you up?  You spend just as much time with your photographer on your wedding day as you do with bae, so you need to make sure you will get along! 

7. What does Your Wedding Package Include?

Last but not least, what exactly is included in your wedding package?  First go over everything that is listed on the contract for the package you have chosen.  Look through your contract for what will be delivered and when, along with what other additional services the photographer will provide. Do they offer an engagement session when you book them for a wedding? Do they have your wedding album available online? What sort of printing rights will you have? Do they send sneak peeks and if so when? Look for these things and choose a photographer that offers what you’re looking for in addition to your wedding day coverage.

Choosing the right wedding photographer can be a tough process, think of it as an investment though. You want to find a photographer that is going to get you the wedding album of your dreams in a time frame that works for you, someone who’ll help with the planning process, and be with you from the day you book them until you and your new spouse get to see your album while sitting on the couch. Keep this list in mind when looking for your photographer and check out my portfolio here to see if I’m what you’re looking for!