Top Three Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Photographer
Selecting who photographs your wedding is one of your biggest decisions.
This post will try to make it easier for you by giving you three things to look for when choosing the perfect photographer for you and your fiancé.
1. Choose the style of photography that you most resonate. Does the photographer show primarily portraits or do they show more real, natural moments of brides and grooms and their guests enjoying their day? There is no right or wrong -- it just depends on the aesthetic of the photographer. Because of my background in journalism, I gravitate toward capturing real candid moments and doing a smaller amount of portraits from the day. My goal is to make them fun and fast and still capture a wonderful selection of portraits and this seems to be the perfect amount for couples that select me.
Caitlin sees herself in a mirror as her hair and make up are being done prior to her wedding to Jake in Milwaukee.
2. Opt for longer coverage of the day. There are so many wonderful (and often quiet) moments that happen throughout the wedding day from the getting ready through the fun and festive reception. Many in the industry offer coverages of various hour groupings (for example 4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, etc.). While a smaller length of coverage might help in the budget department in the short run, it often means that those moments may be unrecorded. Opt for the longest coverage you can so you have the day told completely. This is why I offer my wedding photography coverage in one collection -- from about two hours before the ceremony starts through the planned events of the reception.
Quinn plays with his stepson Landon following his wedding to Jessica and before the formal portraits.
3. Who will be the photographer at your event? Meeting and feeling comfortable with your photographer is paramount to having an incredible wedding photography experience. What level of experience does that photographer have? Have they photographed many weddings or are they relatively new to the profession? Nothing against newer photographers as all of us were the new photographer at one time. To whom do you want to trust your once-in-a-lifetime memories? Ours is a small, boutique studio and we do a limited number of weddings per year and I am the primary photographer on your day and I have been as a working full time photographer for over 30 years (and I still love it!).
Good luck in your planning and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Please reach out with any questions?