How to Choose Your Wedding Photographer

Apr 21

Choosing your wedding photographer is a daunting task because finding a wedding photographer isn’t just about finding someone who can take "good photos." This is because:

Style is deeply personal.

Just as your wedding dress is chosen based on your style preferences, photographers have different styles to choose from. Some photographers are light and airy, others are dark and moody, some are documentary-style, others are super posed. Even if someone’s work is "good," it might not feel like you.

Trusting your vendors is crucial.

You’re literally spending your whole wedding day with your photographer. They’ll see you in emotional, unguarded moments and you have to like them and feel safe around them.

Photography is an investment.

Photography is one of the biggest chunks of the wedding budget for a reason. It’s not just about photos — it’s memories, family history, heirlooms, so there’s pressure not to "get it wrong." Even if you have a high budget for a photographer, you still want to do your due diligence to make sure you are getting your money’s worth.

Social media is curated.

Anyone can curate an amazing Instagram grid. But how many full wedding galleries have you seen from each photographer? The difference between a great highlight reel and full-day consistency is huge.

Fear of regret.

You know you can’t redo your wedding day. So there's this intense anxiety like, What if I pick someone and later realize they missed moments or didn't capture the feeling?

Overwhelm of choices.

There are so many photographers out there, all at different experience levels, pricing, approaches. It’s easy to get choice paralysis.

So, how do you choose your wedding photographer? Here are some questions to consider:

What kind of style do you like?

“Light and airy” or “dark and moody” are the two most common extremes of wedding photography. Know what kind of style you like to help narrow down your options further. Editing style is not something you cannot change once booked.

Do you like their work?

This should be the first question you ask because ultimately the photographer’s editing style and what you see in their portfolio is what you will get. Pay attention to their photos outside of the “posed”, and if you’re having a reception dinner, ask to see how their reception photos turn out.

Are you looking for someone local, wanting to have a photographer travel, or do you not care?

You will have more options if you’re not limited to local vendors at the extra cost of travelling your photographer to you. As a destination wedding photographer, it is my client’s responsibility to pay for travel, accommodations, etc. if I am being flown out.

That being said, a big benefit of hiring someone local will be their knowledge and expertise of the local area, such as beautiful photo locations or local vendor connections.

Do you like their approach?

Some photographers are more hands-on, wanting to produce the wedding day and shots to be artistic and creative, while some photographers are hands-off, letting you go about your day with minimal interference. As a documentary wedding photographer, I have an unobtrusive approach by letting your day play out while also getting being aware of the details and flattering angles.

Will your venue and decor match the photographers style?

This is an overlooked question but it’s something to consider. If you like the modern photography style but are getting married in a rustic venue, your expectations may be misaligned. Your wedding day will be beautiful and memorable as it is, however if there’s a specific aesthetic you’re going for, you should pay particular attention to the photographer’s editing style.

Is the photographer available for your date?

Most photographers book out 12-18 months in advanced, however some popular photographers can be booked out a few years in advanced! If you’ve narrowed down your photographer choices and have some time before your wedding date, you can always ask the photographer directly how quickly they get booked so that you can prepare!

Do you get along with the photographer?

Since you’ll be spending a lot of time with your photographer on the day of, try to start a conversation where you can figure out the person behind the scenes. Your wedding photographer should be someone you can be comfortable to be around, has excellent communication and very flexible and understanding.