What to consider when hiring a wedding photographer

Planning your wedding is an exciting, if occasionally stressful, time in your life. From touring venues to tasting cakes to nailing down your seating chart, a myriad of decisions come with creating your perfect day. And I may be biased, but for my money, choosing the right wedding photographer is one of the most crucial decisions you’ll make.

These photos are your key to lasting mementos of your beautiful celebration, so it’s natural to be overwhelmed by the decision. There are a vast number of wedding photographers out there. To make your wedding planning a touch easier, start with these three essential factors to help you discover the ideal wedding photographer for your special day.

Wedding photographer cost

There’s no denying that budget can be a deciding factor on every step of your wedding planning. Your wedding is a significant investment, and keeping your budget in mind helps ensure costs don’t spiral out of control. It’s also important, however, to remember that you get what you pay for. There are unfortunately no do-overs when it comes to capturing the candid, heartfelt moments of your wedding day, so make sure you allocate enough of your budget to a wedding photographer you can trust to capture the memories you’ll treasure for decades.

Once you’ve nailed down your budget, you can easily start filtering out wedding photographers that don’t align with your financial situation. Just remember that experienced photographers bring a level of skill, expertise, and artistic vision that can make all the difference in capturing your magical milestone. Some wedding expenses will last a few hours, but high-quality photos will last beyond your lifetime.

Wedding photographer styles

Your wedding day is a culmination of Pinterest boards, diary notes, and late nights dreaming with your sweetheart. In every detail and every wedding planning decision, you are finding ways to represent and honor your unique love story, and your wedding photographer’s style must align with your vision.

Wedding photography comes in various styles – from glamorous fairytale candids to dark and moody shots to black and white and film images (see the gorgeous shot below!). My style is fresh and true. I intentionally avoid an overly processed style so that my clients can look back on their images fondly and remember the day exactly how it was.

If you aren’t sure what style is right for you, I encourage you to take the time to explore different portfolios and galleries and find a style that resonates with you. Consider the mood you want to capture, how you want your wedding day to feel, and how you want that to be reflected in your wedding photos. How do you hope to use your photos? Do you imagine them as framed on your wall, in lovingly-decorated photo albums, or even as beautiful canvas prints?

Your wedding photographer should not only be skilled, but they should have a style that meshes seamlessly with your wedding vision, complementing your personal taste and the theme and venue of your big day.

Wedding photographer personality

A wedding photographer is more than the person behind the lens; they’re your companion during every step of your journey. From capturing those intimate getting-ready moments to freezing the joy of your first dance to recording every emotional tear and heartfelt laugh, your wedding photographer is going to be spending a lot of time with you two.

Since you will be spending so much time together, be sure you feel comfortable with them and truly feel you can be yourself in front of them. I always encourage my wedding clients to take advantage of the free engagement shoot we offer them. This is a great way for all of us to get comfortable with each other, learn how how each other communicates, and for you and your loved one to feel confident in front of my lens before the big day.

Feeling comfortable and at ease around your wedding photographer is vital for capturing authentic moments. They are not just another vendor at your event, but a friend who can blend seamlessly into your day, making you and your partner feel relaxed and allowing your most confident selves to shine.

Find the right wedding photographer

As you navigate the process of hiring a wedding photographer, remember that it’s not just about finding someone with experience – it’s about discovering a creative collaborator who understands you and your unique style and is dedicated to capturing your authentic love story. Take your time, explore your options, and trust your instincts.

To explore my wedding photography style, check out my portfolio of past wedding shoots. If you’re interested in connecting to see if we’d be a good fit, reach out today and secure a spot on my calendar.