Choosing your photographer is arguably one of the biggest decisions in your wedding planning journey, because of the lasting memories that will be captured in your gallery! Here are our top 5 things to consider when searching for your photographer. We chatted with Heather, from Heather Crump Photography to get her insight on these important topics.

1. Style

Style plays a huge part in the wedding gallery you receive and will reminisce on for years to come! It’s super important to know what style of photos you like best in order to find a photographer that captures and edits your day in that perfect way. There are a few common styles we see in the wedding industry, but every photographer has their own personal touch. Heather states “You could be a bride looking for a gallery that is light and natural- showing off the true colors of the day. Maybe you chose a bright and colorful palette for your wedding and you want photos that will showcase your decor, florals and venue in a way that you experience with your naked eye! You would then lean towards finding a photographer whose photos and edits are true to color.” She also notes that another popular editing style is the warmer and moodier look, “these photos are warm and some edits can come off almost vintage! Some people really love the feel and look of a warm toned edit. One thing I noticed with edits like this is it really tunes you into the emotions of the image!” 

Maybe you’re a bride that values feeling over lighting or posing and want your photos to bring back all the emotions of the shot. In this case, a documentary-style photographer would be a good fit. Heather comments “You are looking for those photos of your grandmother standing in the corner admiring you getting ready, those fleeting moments of parents crying at the ceremony and those wild moments on the dance floor! In this case you would want to find a photographer specifically gifted in capturing your wedding day documentary style!” Deciding on the style you like best is a key stepping stone in narrowing down your photographer prospects!

2. Personality

This may not seem like a big deal, but it another very important aspect when searching for your photographer! “Brides often don’t realize how MUCH time you will end up spending with your photographer. From planning phone calls, making shot lists, engagement session, bridal session to your wedding day for anywhere from 8 to 11 hours… That’s a lot of time! You need to really enjoy who you are working with!” states Heather. How can you get to know a photographer before booking them? We recommend starting with their website, specifically their “About Me” page, and potentially even scheduling a meeting with them to just chat about your day and their style to see if they’re compatible! Heather notes the importance of the photographer’s personality with “You need to find a photographer that vibes well with EVERYONE! The bride, the groom, the wedding party, the other vendors… heck even Grandma. Taking some time to get to know your preferred photographer could help really seal the deal for you!” 

3. Venue

Most photographers are always excited to photograph at venues that are new to them, but its helpful when you find a photographer that has photographed weddings at your venue before, especially if their personal style compliments that of the venue! Heather states “Style will impact your wedding day images GREATLY so take your time considering the overall look of the venue and what you want that to look like!” One way you can find photographers that shoot at your venue often is by checking out both the venue and the photographer’s social media pages. You could even reach out to your venue to request a preferred vendor list to see which photographers they recommend! Your wedding planner can also be super helpful in finding photographers that shoot at your venue often and offer editing styles that you prefer to curate the wedding gallery of your dreams. 

4. Budget

It’s important to have an idea of what price range you’d like to be in when beginning your photographer search, but if you’re just pricing out options to evaluate the typical costs of photography, Heather suggests inquiring with photographers with “I am in the beginning stages of planning my wedding and I really love your work. We are creating a budget and laying the foundation of the day out right now but I would love to get pricing and booking information from you! This will help us to make final decisions in the coming months! Thank you for your time and I look forward to your response!” This is another area where your planner can give insight as to industry standards for pricing and photographer options to fit your budget.

5. Add-Ons

The final item to consider when searching for your wedding photographer is additional services or add-ons. Are you wanting an engagement shoot? A bridal session? Photography at your rehearsal dinner? Each photographer has different packages, some of which include things like engagement and bridal sessions and some that offer discounted rates for these additional services. Lots of photographers list out their packages on websites but it’s always helpful to have a conversation with them to find out if what they offer fits your needs and desires for your wedding season. 

Wanting more information or assistance in choosing your photographer? Reach out to us to see how we can help!