How To Choose Your Perfect Wedding Photographer

When you’re planning a wedding, one of the biggest expenses and most important decisions in terms of wedding suppliers is choosing a photographer.

I receive enquiries daily with people planning different styles of weddings and they often have different requirements. Deciding who to trust with your wedding photography can certainly be a difficult task.

So I wanted to highlighting two key things to look for when choosing your wedding photographer.

The Two Key Elements

Photographers can have a big impact on your wedding day and as you are likely to spend a decent amount of time with that person, it’s important that you get on with them. Firstly, the photographer needs to match the photographic style that you like, and secondly, I think it’s equally important that you find someone that you can connect with on a personal level.

Photographic Styles

When looking at the work of different photographers, you’re likely to see a range of photographic styles. These may be more or less traditional in style or some may have a stronger fashion or editorial feel to them.

All photographers have their own way of approaching a wedding and whilst it is not the only way to do it, my personal approach has always been to look at things from a documentary mindset. If you want to know more about my style read my style post.

I deliberately focus on taking a series of images throughout a wedding that tell the story of the day.

I try to work as discreetly as possible where the majority of images are unposed and capture wedding couples and their guests enjoying the celebrations without thinking about a camera. Definitely no awkward smiles required!

Other photographers may be more inclined to offer more staged photos or maybe use props or additional lighting for example. There’s nothing wrong with that but it is something to be aware of when deciding what style is right for you.

Choose The Right Person

Once you have chosen the right style of work it’s then time to find the right person for your day. Photographers can help you plan and coordinate the day to a greater or lesser extent depending on your requirements.

I’m often asked to help with timelines for the day and by working closely with my clients I can ensure we’re able to capture all the wedding photos you are looking for, without sacrificing the amount of time spent with your guests and actually enjoying your day.

Finding someone who is specifically experienced as a wedding photographer can be invaluable. I know plenty of great studio portrait photographers who would never want to photograph a wedding.

Having the experience to deal with a large number of guests and work to a precise itinerary, as well as the fact that you only get one chance to capture certain moments makes it a unique experience and one that places its own pressures on a photographer.

I’ve photographed well over 500 weddings and in that time there isn’t much that I haven’t had to deal with. Whether it is a last minute alteration to timings or a sudden change in the weather, I know I’m able to adapt to the situation and still get what we need.

For me, experience is one of the main considerations when choosing the right person for your day. That said, some of the best compliments I’ve received are not just about the images delivered but how I interact with both couples and guests on the wedding day.

Ensuring clients are able to enjoy their day as planned whilst still delivering all the required images can certainly be a challenge, but with correct planning, communication and teaming up with the right professional, you can be sure that your wedding photography is in safe hands.

In Summary

Finding the right person is just as important as finding someone technically capable with a camera.  Couple this with your perfect photographic style and you are well on your way to finding your perfect wedding photographer.