How to Choose a Wedding Photographer
When hiring a wedding photographer, there are several factors to consider. Make sure they offer your style, pricing is within budget, and they have received glowing reviews from past customers.
To ensure you find the ideal match, it’s best to start with either an in-person meeting or video call. This will give you the chance to assess chemistry and observe their style firsthand.
1. Look at Their Work
When selecting a wedding photographer, one of the most essential things to look at is their work. Visit their website or Instagram and see what they are most proud of; this will give you an indication of their photography style and what type of images they capture.
Next, request to view full weddings from their portfolio. This will give you a better idea of how they photograph an entire event and if you like their style.
In addition to inspecting their work, you should also inquire for referrals from past clients. Doing this will enable you to secure more bookings and keep your name in front of potential brides-to-be.
2. Ask for Referrals
Referrals are the lifeblood of most photography businesses. They’re the quickest, most cost-effective way to acquire new clients and incredibly easy to turn into paying clients. Referrals are truly invaluable for any photography business.
To increase your referrals, reach out to wedding planners in your area who share your photographic style. This will enable them to become acquainted with your work and demonstrate how it can assist them in providing better service to their clients.
Maximize Happy Moments: Utilize the natural joys in your relationship as an opportunity to ask for referrals, such as after you’ve finished a great session, sent them preview images or delivered the final product. They’ll likely be more receptive and you’ll feel more comfortable asking knowing they are contented.
Once you’ve identified several photographers whose work you admire, ask them to send you samples of their full wedding galleries. This will give you a more in-depth view of how they capture different aspects of a wedding day from getting ready to the ceremony and reception.
3. Look at Their Portfolio
Wedding photographers’ portfolios should be an expression of their artistic style, featuring a range of images from light and airy to moody, sombre, and dramatic.
Selecting a wedding photographer who shares your style is essential. After all, they are shooting the day of your dreams – so make sure they capture all of the moments in their photos that tell the story you wish for them to capture.
A great way to determine whether a wedding photographer’s portfolio accurately reflects their style is by asking for samples of their work. This could include either an entire wedding album or representative galleries from their website.
4. Check Out Their Pricing
When reviewing photographers’ portfolios and websites, be sure to pay special attention to their pricing. This is an integral factor when selecting your wedding photographer since it can have a major impact on how well-run the experience is for both of you.
Ideally, the prices you see should fall within your budget. Doing this helps guarantee that you don’t waste money on an inexperienced or overpriced wedding photographer.
If you’re uncertain about the price, ask to see their rate card and review what’s included in each package. Additionally, inquire when you’ll receive digital files, prints and albums.
Many photographers employ both package and a la carte pricing schemes. If this is your preferred method, be sure to clearly define in your contract what each package includes so clients know exactly what they’re getting and avoid any confusion due to too many choices. It would also be beneficial to include any extra fees associated with different packages.