Choosing Your Wedding Photographer ; From a Photographer POV

Here is the thing, hiring vendors for your wedding day is extremely fun, but it is also very overwhelming to making a decision between a lot of people you likely have not met, who are all professionals in their trade. Choosing someone you have never met and trusting that they will show up on your day and meet all your expectations is a terrifying task.. it is kinds crazy to think about honestly. Your dream wedding day has to be surrounded by the right people who you know you can trust.

Now, choosing a photographer for your wedding day should be easy, but how do you choose between hundreds of talented individuals? I have worked in the industry and have chatted with so many brides to know the ins and outs to what should be considered when choosing the right photographer for you, so let me help you!

P.S this blog is not going to be a sales pitch as to why you should hire me. I am a firm believer that you should connect with your photographer and if that is not me – that is okay! But I want to help you think of things you should consider to hopefully help you in narrowing down your search!

So from a Canadian wedding photographer, here are the things you should do, questions to ask and things to to keep in mind when narrowing down your search for the perfect wedding photographer for you.

STEP ONE: THINGS TO DO WHEN LOOKING FOR A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Do your research.

Whether you have a list of photographers you have been following, or are starting from square one, look at all the photographers. This should be the point in the search where you look at all your options. 

During your research you should begin to make notes on what you are liking or not liking! Do you like their style, do you gravitate to things? 

Stalk their website.

After you have found some potential photographers who you gravitate towards, start stalking their website and social media accounts! This is where you should get a feel for what they offer, the experience you would receive, who they are as a person and what their business stands for! 

It is important that you feel connected with who they are and what they offer before you even meet with them! During your website stalk, you should get a heightened understanding for their photography style – do you connect to the way they shoot? If you do, remember that. If you don’t, keep looking!

Look into packages – see what is important to you.

Some photographers may have their packages listed on their website, some may have where their packages start, and some may require you to inquire first. Either way, you should look into all their packages! Some photographers only have one package option, others may have multiple to choose from. As you look at what they offer – do they include things that are important to you?

Meet with them – ask them all the questions.

If you have gotten to this point in your photographer search, you are on the right track! If you have some top contenders once you stalked their websites and looked into their packages – its time to meet them! But, meet with them face to face. Whether that is in person or via FaceTime or zoom. You want to chat with your photographer in real time, not behind a DM, text or email. You may not feel this step is necessary if you have already met your photographer or have worked with them in the past, but if you are just meeting them or learning about them, meet with them!

This is your opportunity to hear more about them as a person, how they shoot, what their experience is like, and so much more! You want to connect with them, jive with their personality, and this is where you will see if that happens!

During your meeting I encourage you to ask them a ton of questions. But if you are not sure what to ask I have created a list of questions to ask! They are questions you should know the answers to before hiring them! (Whether you get the answers via their website, during a meeting, or from emailing back and forth.

STEP TWO: QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER – BEFORE THEY ARE YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

1. Is your wedding date available?
2. How many other weddings will you be photographing that weekend?
3. Will you have a second shooter or assistant with you? if not, is that an option?
4. How long have you been shooting weddings? How many have you photographed?
5. Can we see full galleries of a few of your recent weddings? (This is important! You should see their photos from the entire day not just the highlight real! They may have weddings blogged – so look at all those!)
6. Have you ever shot a wedding at our venue? If not, will you check the venue out in advance?
7. If you have some vendors booked already ask your photographer if they have worked with any of them
8. What is your photography style?
9. What is your working style? Do you blend into the background for candid moments? Or do you like to set up images?
10. Do you shoot digitally? With film? Or both?
11. What is included in your packages? Are there add ons? *** If you have their pricing guide, ask them more specific questions about the package you are interested in
12. Can I customize a package?
13. If it is not stated – as if they include engagement photos.
14. Do you charge a travel fee? If so what distance?
15. Can we order prints or albums directly from you? Are they included?
16. How long after the wedding will we receive the images? How are they delivered?
17. Will we have the rights to the images?
18. Will we receive the high resolution images?
19. Will the images be accessible online? If so, how long will we have access to the gallery?
20. When will we receive the contract? 
21. How much is the deposit? When is it due? Are their options for payment instalments?
22. What is your refund or cancellation policy?
23. Do you have insurance? 
24. Do you have backup equipment
25. What is your backup process for images? How do you ensure my photos are safe?
26. What is the backup plan if you are unable to shoot my wedding for an unexpected reason?
27. Can we request a list of specific shots?
28. Will you be posting our wedding to your website, social media, blogs or magazines?

YOU LIKELY FOUND YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER IF THEY CHECK OFF ALL THESE BOXES

• They are available for your wedding date
• Their personality should jive with yours.
• They have a photography and editing style you love
• They offer packages you like
• Their working style meets your wants
• They are in your budget OR are justifiable for you to increase your budget
• They deliver your images in a way you would like
• They deliver your images in a allotted time you desire.
• They provide you with a contract of services (this protects you as well as them!)
• They have a backup plan incase of emergency.
• They have a backup process for your images and you trust your photos are safe.
• They have backup equipment just incase.
• You feel as though you can trust them on your wedding day.

XOXO Kayla Marie