Photographers can photoshop just about anything these days, but there is no way to fake a good connection. How do you know which photographer will work best for you? Do you go for price or do you go for editing style? Asking these questions is a great place to start because honestly your wedding photographer will be one of your most important decisions. Your photos will be with you for your lifetime and shared by friends and family year after year.
Do Your Research
I’m going to be real here. You need to research the type of photographers you like, what their reviews say, and what a typical package will cost. If someone has a super cheap “deal” then it is a deal for a reason. I have heard horror stories about couples who never received their wedding photos, got a gallery of blurry dark photos, or even had a different photographer then they hired show up on the day of the wedding! What kind of crap is that? I would be so mad if I hired a dog walker I trusted and then some random person shows up at my house instead. No thanks. If you’re looking to hire someone cheap and quick then this post may not be for you. I promise hiring a great wedding photographer is going to be worth it for years to come and save you a lot of problems after your wedding day has passed.
Style is Not Just About Editing
So you found a few wedding photographers to follow on Instagram that have a really cool editing style. That’s a good beginning, but don’t just look at the aesthetic of the photos look at the people in them. Does the couple seem to be enjoying it or do they look stiff and fake? Does the couple seem happy to be together? Do you have a #relationshipgoals feeling? These are important factors because it’s one thing to like photo editing and another to capture real moments. My goal is always to get the most real version of your relationship. All of the fun in-between moments that make you look back and remember what your wedding day felt like and more. I want people to laugh, cry, and feel the love in the moments – that’s a big goal to achieve from a photo! Look for editing you like and then look for the emotion that you want to feel.
Get to Know Your Photographer
The most important factor to consider when hiring a wedding photographer is actually liking them as a person. Everyone wants those real, raw, natural looking wedding photos, but what they don’t know is those photos are more about connecting with your photographer then being a model. The sad truth is that some photographers just want a paycheck and don’t give a shit about your wedding versus someone else’s wedding. That’s a hard thing to write, but it’s so true. Your wedding is such an important moment in your life and your relationship. There will be emotional and intimate moments during your wedding day where your photographer is the only person in a room with you. You will laugh with your best friend over an old story or tear up as you take that last glance in the mirror before the ceremony starts and remember that very special family member who couldn’t be there. It is so important that you feel comfortable and you aren’t worried at all about the random person in the room with you. Those beautiful photos that you see on Pinterest or in magazines where couples look so happy, relaxed and in love during their portrait session don’t always just happen, they are a result of a professional with a camera and two people that really felt comfortable being in that moment.
Consider What is Important to You About Wedding Photography
What do you value most when you think about your wedding day photography and photographer? Are you wanting those stiff posed photos looking directly at the camera or do you want someone to capture more of your adventure as a couple? Do you want to be able to look back in ten years and feel all of the things and then some as if you are in the moment again? Would you like a photographer that is willing to collaborate and work with your ideas? Someone who isn’t so worried about their equipment that they freeze up at the thought of getting some amazing photos in the waves or an hour hike to a beautiful waterfall ceremony location. A photographer that can handle all weather situations and is there to hand you a tissue as you cry or knows when you need to hear a dumb joke to ease the tension. Your wedding photographer can either be just another vendor on your checklist or someone you will call a friend for years after. These are a few important things to consider before making a decision on one of your most important planning investments.
I hope you find a wedding photographer you absolutely adore and if you’re still looking for your perfect wedding photographer I’d love to talk. For booking information or questions contact me here.
