5 tips for finding the right wedding photographer for you : a photographer’s perspective
Congratulations on your engagement! Many newly engaged couples find the process of finding vendors that will do your wedding day justice really challenging. I totally get it - last November I married my wife, Louise, and the process was DAUNTING!
To help you out, here are my 5 tips for finding the right wedding photographer for your wedding day!
1: Figure Out The Style You Want!
The best way to figure this out is to work backwards as in ‘what style do you not like?’! This isn’t just just how the photos look but the way you go about shooting the images.
Is their style bright with saturated colours, or more washed out tones with the vintage look? Do they give a lot of direction, or are they like a fly on the wall, shooting more candid?
They might also have a mix of a few styles. Personally, I shoot quite bright and colourful images and do a mix of candid and semi-posed shots throughout the wedding day!
Here are a few examples from a recent wedding of mine edited in three different ways.
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Fine Art
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Bright and Colourful
This is my style and the actual picture delivered!
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Dark and Moody
2: Set Your Budget!
Set a budget! This will give you a shortlist straight away as to who you will be able to go with, but remember you get what you pay for! The average cost of 8-10 hours of wedding photography in Brisbane can be between $2000 and $3000 depending on the photographer and demand. What are the inclusions of their packages and are there any extra travel fees, etc? Do you pay per picture, or do you get all your photos included?
I, like most photographers, can work out a custom package depending on your budget - ask the question!
3: Social Media Is Your Friend!
Head to social media and ask your friends, or post in a bridal group for recommendations. If a bride or groom has had an awesome experience with a photographer they will often be keen to recommend them! Been to a few weddings recently? Ask your recently married friends about their firsthand experiences with their photographers!
Also, check their facebook and/or google reviews. You can gauge a lot from these reviews as to what kind of person the photographer is and how they interact with their clients.
4: Plan A Face-To-Face Or Zoom Meeting!
Meeting with a potential photographer is a must! I often meet with my couples at a local cafe, their home or at a playground if they have kids. This gives you a chance to figure out what kind of person and photographer they are. You can also discuss packages, inclusions and raise any questions or concerns you may have.
A prospective photographer’s personality is a huge deal!
Remember: On your wedding, you often spend more time with your photographer than your new husband or wife. If you don’t vibe with your photographer it might be worth looking at someone else. If you are stressed on your wedding day, it shows in your photos so find someone you click with!
5: Go With Your Gut!
Most people are pretty good judges of character. If they seem genuine, have a style you love and fit within your budget, you’ve found the wedding photographer for your big day!
If you have any questions about finding your ideal photographer, or planning your wedding day, feel free to send me an email, text or call me and I can send through some guides I’ve made for future brides and grooms - goodluck!