Almost as much as getting the wedding dress of your dreams, the wedding photographer can make or break your wedding. Your wedding photographer will be there for every moment of your big day, and he or she will be in charge of making sure that you’ll be able to look back at your wedding for decades to come, so you’ve got to love your choice. Here’s how to choose the wedding photographer right for you by asking yourself these questions:
How to Choose Your Wedding Photographer
Do I love his recent work?
Seasoned wedding photographers will easily be able to show you their recent work, and from there you’ll be able to get an idea on what their style is. If most of his recent work is for celebrity clients, ask to see more of his work for non-celebs. Celebrities are excellent in posing in front of the camera, so it’s better to see how his non-celeb couples did in their shoots.
Do I like the photos, or their reputation?
There’s nothing wrong with going for the photographer who’s been doing weddings for thirty years and has made a name for himself or herself, but only go for them if you’re absolutely in love with their work, not their famous name or clientele. The best way to decide on this is to take away the name from the photos. Choose two shots each from the photographers on your shortlist, and without knowing who’s photo it is, choose the best photo from the pile. It will take out the bias that you have for the more famous photographer, and you’ll go for the photographer that you really love.
Does his wedding photography style fit our personality?
Wedding photographers, like couples that strive to make their wedding as unique as possible, have also developed their own style of photography. Their style, just like the designer of your wedding gown, can only stretch or accommodate your own style. You can’t expect a photographer who uses heavy lighting, props, and a ton more drama to suddenly change his look to something more traditional, and vice versa.
Do I know of anyone that they’ve shot before?
Usually, seeing the photographer’s body of work is enough for the couple to book them. But going the extra mile by asking around for referrals will give you a better idea on how he’s like behind the scenes, or when he’s shooting already. There are some photographers who are bit too rough that they’ll be ordering you around during the wedding, while others will be more laidback and friendly. Make sure that their personality will be something that you would like to deal with on your big day.
Can I afford him?
There are a few things that you should scrimp on when it comes to your wedding, and your photographer is one of them. And whether the photographer’s been doing weddings for 30 years or 3 months, please do not ask for a discounted rate or offer an ex-deal of sorts—everyone has the right to be paid a fair wage.
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