Hendrick Moy Photography
Planning a wedding comes with lots of excitement and anticipation, often passing faster than you can imagine. This is similar to your actual wedding day, which will fly by as well, making wedding photographers who are in charge of capturing one of the most memorable days of your life all the more important!
To ensure you’re able to savor each precious moment and make them tangible forever, you need to find the right wedding photographer who will allow you to relive your celebration with tears of joy!
Finding the right professional photographer to document this special day depends mostly on your preferred style of photography and initial budget. This is why, in this article, we are providing a guide to hiring the right wedding photographer, and making sure that your most important day is a magical one!
What to Do Before You Book a Wedding Photographer?
First things first- you must decide HOW important wedding photography is, to both you and your partner. Although it might sound obvious, good photographs aren’t necessary for many couples, as having a couple of snaps from their friend’s iPhones can be enough for some. That’s perfectly fine!
However, if you’re looking for photographers who can capture those precious moments uniquely, you should take notice of some of the wedding photos from your friends and family, noting exactly what you would like on your special day.
Secondly, couples need to decide on their preferred style of photography. If their priority is traditionally posed shots and simply looking at the camera, then it’s best to sift through those types of portfolios and consider their aesthetics.
However, if you’re looking for more candid photos that spontaneously capture raw emotions, or photographers who light with off-camera flash, then you might need to look into more expensive options, as great candid shooters and portrait photographers, require more experience and skill.
10 Things You Should Know Before Hiring A Wedding Photographer
When you’re planning out the most magical day for your wedding, knowing how to pick the right photographer might seem overwhelming, especially if you’re having to keep track of every other detail of the event.
Here are seven things you should know before hiring your first wedding photographer –
1. Plan Your Wedding Timeline and Location
One of the most efficient ways to book a photographer is first to book your venue. Once you commit to a specific location, it’s much easier to find qualified photographers. Also, venues will often provide you with a preferred vendor list, which is a great starting point.
It’s important to know that these lists are “pay-to-play”, so these specific wedding photographers are only on the vendor lists because they pay an annual fee/kickback, or simply have connections with the specific venue. Just something to keep in mind, that they offer a fair starting point, but may not necessarily have your best interest at heart.
2. Set a Reasonable Yet Flexible Budget
It’s a good idea to read up on the average wedding photographer cost for your location ahead of time, as this also applies to every other aspect of wedding planning as well.
If you’re unsure where to begin, it’s best to consider setting your budget first. If capturing the emotional moments and having stunning portraits of you and your spouse looking your absolute best is important to you, then set your budget for this line item accordingly. When looking for a team of skilled photographers to capture these candid moments, you might need to extend your budget to find the one that is right for you.
No matter who you choose, we ALWAYS recommend having a second photographer for your day, as this doesn’t just add more images to your collection, but also gives more flexibility to take better shots. It allows one photographer to capture the key moments, while the other focuses on creative and unique composition shots you may not otherwise have gotten with only one cameraman.
Of course, an album is always something of great consideration as well when it comes to your budget, as this is typically a high cost, due to the craftsmanship and work put into the book. Cost aside, it’s truly something special and difficult to put into words, to be able to hold so many emotional moments and gorgeous portraits in your hand, rather than have the images live on your computer’s hard drive forever.
At the end of the day, in an increasingly digital world, this book becomes your new family’s first heirloom, and something for your children, and their children to enjoy.
3. Search Online to Find “Wedding Photographers” In
Your Local Area
Obviously, researching online is one of the easiest ways to find a wedding photographer that shoots near your wedding venue. Reading up on online reviews from unbiased sources can be a great boon in finding the right photographer.
Going through their website, Yelp, or WeddingWire/The Knot, will not only help you find your preferred style, but previous testimonials allow you to truly understand what type of energy the photographer brings to their clients. This is crucial, as they will likely spend more time with you than your maid of honor or best man!
4. Shortlist the Most Prominent Options
Before you begin short-listing options, it’s best to make a list to explain your specific needs/wants to your potential photographers. Some wedding photographers in your area may not be able to offer everything you want, especially within your budget.
Here are four important questions to ask before you short-list your photographers –
- Does their photography style/aesthetic align with your specific vision?
- You may love their quality of work, but are you also comfortable with their experience level?
- How is their reputation with former clients?
- Will you be happy with what you receive, given your set budget?
5. Visit Their Social Media Pages
These days, nearly all businesses have an online presence to entice their target audience and bring in potential clients. With a good social media presence, comes proper testimonials, comments, and recommendations.
These reviews are necessary for finding the right photographer for your special day. Photos they post of recent events can also help you gain an idea of their ability to be consistent in delivering the style you want, and comment sections allow previous clients to speak on their experience during those specific portraits during that portion of their wedding day.
6. Meet Photographers In-Person or via Video Calls
Meeting your potential photographers face-to-face, not only helps get a better idea of your expectations but also gives you insight into their personality, which is also crucial, given the amount of time you’ll be with them on your wedding day and/or engagement sessions.
Engagement sessions can be a tremendous way for everyone to get to know each other, in addition to helping you and your future spouse get comfortable in front of the camera (and helping the photographer understand what works best for you)!
7. Compare the Value You’ll Receive
As you search for that perfect photographer, short-list a couple of your favorites according to their price with your specific criteria (hours of coverage, additional shooter, album, parent albums, etc.), and narrow down the one that fits everything you’re expecting within your set budget.
There are plenty of professionals that offer similar packages at around the same price points; so it’s always best to weigh all the pros and cons before you finalize your hiring process.
8. When to Book the Wedding Photographer?
Consider your wedding timeline before you start the booking process. Similar to most wedding-related things, high-demand wedding photographers are typically booked well in advance.
Most couples book their venue, then photographer, then cinematographer, and eventually entertainment and other aspects.
9. The Date Of Your Wedding Matters
Keep in mind that highly sought-after wedding dates also mean greater competition for your wedding vendors.
Dates in May or September will always book WAY faster than January or February. If you really love the work of one of your wedding photographers, just be aware that they may be booked years in advance!
10. Early Booking Is Often More Affordable
Booking your ideal photographers early in advance can also be cheaper, as prices only ever get higher with each passing year. During these crazy times, it may change on a monthly basis, given the current rate of inflation.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best photographer to capture those emotional moments during your wedding day is definitely subjective, as it may not be at the top of everyone’s list.
However, it’s best to remember that your wedding photographer will be one of the few vendors you will spend your entire day with. So, finding someone who works well with your energy, and placing trust in them is crucial in having an amazing wedding day experience, in addition to receiving incredible images to cherish for the rest of your life!