Choosing the right wedding photographer is going to be one of the most important wedding vendor decision you are going to make. Why? Because after your wedding is over, all that’s left is the photos. You want to make sure that you are going to love your images for years and years to come. Also, it’s important to note that how your photographer makes you feel is going to greatly impact how you end up feeling about your photos. So today we are talking about what you need to know before booking a wedding photographer.

Where to Start When Booking a Wedding Photographer

Before you begin the process of booking a wedding photographer, you are going to want to talk to them first. To get a list of photographers you would like to schedule a consultation with, start by looking at their social media profiles. Know that these profiles are meticulously curated samples of their work. But it will get you a sense of their style and you can figure out what style you like. From there, contact them via their website to set up a consultation time.

TIP: Things that are helpful to include in your initial inquiry are your name and your parter’s name, your wedding date, venue name, name of your wedding planner (if you have one) and perhaps even why you are interested in the photographer you are contacting.

3 Things to Ask and Understand About Before Committing to Booking a Wedding Photographer

1. Ask to see a full wedding gallery

We’ve already mentioned that wedding photographer portfolios are highly curated. That’s because they want to display their very best images. Can you blame them? That’s just good marketing. BUT, you want to see more than just their very best photos. It’s important that you see a gallery of a full wedding day. This way you can get a better sense of how well they can capture and tell a full wedding day story with their images. It will also show you their understanding of lighting and how to photograph in different lighting (because the light will change throughout the day). Lastly, seeing a full wedding gallery will give you a better idea of their photography style.

TIP: If the photographer you are consulting with has worked with your wedding planner or photographed at your venue before, ask to see one of those galleries.

If you are interested in working with us, we would love to hear from you! Send us an inquiry and we will gladly schedule a consultation to discuss how we can serve you!

2. Find out their “why”

Make sure you know what drives the photographer you are considering booking. It’s good to know what your photographer is passionate about. Why does it matter? Well, their answer may be what truly resonates with you and be what you find important. If you are all about the details and want your wedding to be published, than hiring a photographer that has a passion for editorial style is what you will likely want. You may think that capturing the day as it unfolds, with images focused on all your loved ones around you is the most important thing. If so, you would likely resonate more with a photographer that is passionate about family and friends dynamics and capturing true personalities.

3. Make sure you “vibe”

Wedding photography is about so much more than just taking pictures. Or at least we whole heartedly believe that to be true. Your wedding photographer will be with you more on your wedding day that you will with your own partner. You want to make sure that you are comfortable around your photographer. It’s also important to get a sense that they photographer you hire “gets you”. That they see who you are and will capture your personality and story.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line is that when you are considering booking a wedding photographer that you know their style and personality. You want to have had some kind of interaction with them where you can get a sense of who they are. This means getting on the phone, having a video chat, or even meeting them in person. At the end of the day, you want to be in love with their work and style. And you want to trust them completely.