Tips to help you find your perfect wedding photographer.
Check their work.
Do you like their style of capturing a wedding day? I have a background in journalism and so I approach weddings with a goal of telling the full story of a wedding day. This includes details, emotion, connection, unscripted moments, scripted moments, formals (although not really storytelling, still important on a wedding day!). I also like to capture the day from many different perspectives. You’ll find me in the middle of the dance floor, outside the venue, high up and down low, up close and off in the distance. Photographing a wedding is a full hustle with not a lot of downtime, but I don’t ever want to miss a moment!
Other styles of photographer are fine art, editorial, traditional… find a style that you love and find a photographer that you love based off that style.
Are you happy with the editing? I describe my editing is true to life with a slight color pop. There are many different styles including light and airy, dark and moody, bold and vibrant. Take some time to look at different styles so you have a good feel for what you like. Instagram and Pinterest are great resources. You might also want to check your venue’s social media to get examples of wedding photography at your own venue (also a good opportunity to see what photographers frequently work at your venue.)
Is their work consistent? Scroll instagram to confirm that their style isn’t constantly changing with industry fabs. You want to make sure that if you hire a photographer for a certain style, you can expect to receive that work when your gallery is delivered to you following your wedding. Interested in seeing more of my work (I recently lost 15 years of blog posts, so sadly you won’t find that here) please check my instagram account: carolinecolvin_weddings
Does the work shown represent the type of wedding you are planning? If you are planning a small micro wedding check their portfolio to be sure they show that kind of work. If you are planning a large traditional wedding, look for someone who demonstrates that they can cover a wedding with many guests. If you are most excited about a really bumping dance floor at your reception (by the way, this is me!), look for that when you check a photographers portfolio and social media.
Read reviews.
Are there any red flags that come up for you while reading reviews? If so, this might be worth mentioning during your call.
Do you feel excitement from the reviews that you’ve read? My favorite reviews from client convey excitement, connection and trust. I want this to come through loudly with my reviews because I strive to achieve this every time I work with any client. You want to feel that love when you read the reviews.
Check their packages and consider your budget.
Do you know your budget? If not, take some time with your partner to figure out what that is for your wedding in general and also each of your vendors. Some photographers publish their pricing on their website (I do because I find that it saves time for both the couple and myself) and others like to share pricing with you over a call or zoom meeting. Make sure you narrowing in on photographers that show professional work within your budget. Also, be sure to have a clear understanding of what is offered (products, hours, 2nd photographer, travel, engagement session are all examples of what might or might not be included).
Contact them about availability.
Is your date available? If all checks out so far, now would be a good time to reach out to the photographer to check their availability. I love these calls because it’s an opportunity to education prospective clients about my work and the process of working with me, but also it’s a good chance for us to get acquainted with each other. I like a lot of contact throughout the planning process so that when I arrive on a wedding day my clients feel a sense of ease. I want to feel like a supportive person on your day (because let’s be honest, it can be stressful!) I create this by making myself available to my clients when road blocks come up…. your hair and make up person had to cancel? No problem, here are my favorites in the area. Are you struggling with your timeline? Let’s hop on a call and talk through it. This might not be for everyone, but it’s how I show up for my clients. I use these calls to solve problems, answer questions, learn more about you and your love story and also share more about how I approach a wedding day.
Decide what you’d like included.
What’s included? By now you should have what you need from your photographer in terms of pricing and packages. Requesting a quote from a few different photographers should help you to narrow in on who is the best fit for you. Start with your hours of coverage. Next look at whether you’ll benefit from paying for a 2nd photographer (I recommend one if you have more than 100 guests) and determine where this is included or not. Finally, decide whether you’d like an engagement session and an album and determine whether there will be an additional cost. Most photographers offer several packages so that you can have options base on the size and length of your wedding.
Ask for a quote and contract. Get it all in writing by asking for a quote and contract to review. By now you should be narrowing in on your perfect fit. If you are struggling with the decision and it does not feel clear to you, I encourage you to see more work, ask more questions, or even widen your search. My hope when a couple hires me is that they are 100% certain and excited to have me on their wedding day team. If you aren’t feeling this, your search may not be over.
Do you feel a connection?
I put a lot of emphasis on this because I think it’s very important. Your wedding photographer will be with you at some pretty emotional and potentially vulnerable moments throughout your day. You want that person to be someone you can trust and someone you feel supported by on your wedding day. I try to build this relationship during the planning process, but also try to be very clear during the call that I’ve got your back. If you find you are struggling with some aspect of your day, I am available to work through that with you. I love being part of the whole journey… you found a dress? Great! Please text me a picture! You have a surprise for your partner, yes, I want to know about it! You have some concerns about your family members getting along, let’s talk through it can come up with a strategy. If you both feel comfortable with me and in front of my camera, that comes through in the photos. Hire someone you trust and feel supported by.