3 Things to Do Before Hiring a Wedding Photographer
Before searching for a wedding photographer, define your budget, desired photography style, and preferred package inclusions to ensure you find a photographer who meets your needs and vision for your special day. I promise, you’ll thank me later!
Establish your date
It’s definitely good to start following along with potential photographers on social media ahead of time, but before you put in an inquiry – pick your date! A photographer won’t let you book them unless you have a date set in stone, so make sure you’re prepared to tell them exactly when you’re going to tie the knot. If there’s a photographer you REALLY want for your day but you haven’t picked a date yet, you can ask them what dates they have available so you can make sure you’re able to book them.
Establish your budget
Unless you have an unlimited budget (which many engaged brides likely don’t have), you’ll need to establish how much you’re willing to spend on wedding photography before you start searching. To budget effectively for wedding photography, prioritize your needs, research photographer packages and pricing, and allocate a realistic percentage of your overall wedding budget.
Establish your preferred photography style
Like many forms of art, photographers all have a different styles of photography to portray the emotion and tell the story behind an individual’s wedding photos. Make sure you know what style of photos you want before you start searching. Ask yourself these questions:
Do you want rich and lively colors? What about dark and moody? Light and airy? Aside from a photographer’s editing style, also look for WHAT they capture.
Do they focus on candid moments? Do their photos look extremely posed? Do you feel the emotion and story behind the photos? Do they do a good job at capturing unposed moments? To get a realistic idea of a wedding photographer's style and ability to capture an entire wedding day, it's highly recommended to request and view full wedding galleries, not just highlight reels. This allows you to assess their consistency and see how they handle different aspects of the day.
Establish your photography package must-haves
I know I said I’d tell you three things, but I just couldn’t help but give you this final and CRUCIAL tip.
When you’re searching for a photographer, you need to know the things you want to see in a photography package.
An Engagement Session
Coverage (6, 8, 10, 12 Hours?)
Photo Book
Prints
USB or Thumb Drive
Online Gallery
Printing Rights
Do you want an engagement session? Are you willing to pay extra or would you like it to be included in the package? Think about this when you’re on the search for a photographer! You also should know how much coverage you’ll need. Do you want getting ready photos? You might want 8-10 hours of coverage. If you desire comprehensive wedding day coverage, including candid shots of the groomsmen getting ready and reactions from family members, consider a photography package with a second shooter, as they can capture more moments from different angles.
Yes, booking a photographer can be stressful and one of the most important decisions in the wedding planning process, but these tips can help you be prepared to book the best photographer out there! Now, don’t be stressed: these are all things to think about when you’re sorting through the portfolios of dozens of photographers. Hopefully, this will help you sort out which ones are the right fit for you!
