Where do you start… it is the biggest day of your lives. The day you have been dreaming about since you were little. Everything has to be perfect and the way you want it and that is why choosing your photographer for your special day is SO so important. It really is something you should take a lot of time to consider and not just choose the first person that you see pop up online.
This person is going to be taking your photographs that you are going to look back on for years to come. The photographs that you will share with your family and friends and the photographs that your children will love to look at one day. You want this person to capture all of those special moments, the ones you maybe won’t remember and the ones that you will treasure forever. So how do you go about finding the perfect photographer for your day? Here are a few tips and advice for when you come to make these decisions…
1 - Find your style.
There are so many different types of wedding photographers out there that it may become a bit daunting when you start to search for ‘the one’. So deciding on a style you like before you start looking for a photographer will help to narrow this down. Research as many styles as you can to find the one that will suit you and the look you would like for your day. What is drawing you to them? Many photographers don’t just focus on one particular style so if you like, for example, a documentary-style your photographer will most likely include a mix of portraiture too. This means that you will also get those formal pictures we love and know so well.
2 - Research ‘the one’ and make enquiries .
So you have found the style of photographs you like and this is exactly what you are looking for on your big day. Now research photographers that use this style and explore their websites, social media platforms, blogs and reviews to see what their customers are saying. You want to be reading and seeing all good things as this is your BIG day. You need to make sure that they are available for the date that you are looking to get married on. Can you imagine finding a photographer you really want and then finding out that they are not being available on the dates that you had in mind?! Having a back-up in case this happens is a great idea or it might be that the photographer you initially had in mind will be able to recommend someone that they think would be suitable for you. Are the photographers you have researched within your price bracket? Sending out emails to potential photographers is a good place to start to get to learn more about them.
3 - Organise meetings with potential photographers.
Choosing your photographer without meeting them first could be a risk, but it is good for you and your partner to meet up with them to get to know your photographer that little bit better. You want to have a good rapport with your photographer. Does their personality compliment yours? Do they sound as excited about your vision you have for your day as you both do? Are they going to keep you at ease in front of the camera? Are they going to get you the photographs you want? I would advise to write a list and go to your meetings fully prepared with questions you would like to ask. It’s also a good idea to take notes so you can look back after you have met with all of your options. This is a good way to narrow down your options and to decide on who will be ‘the one’.
I hope these few little tips will start you off on your hunt for finding your perfect wedding photographer. If you have any questions or would like some more advice, please leave a comment below or send me an enquiry over on my contact page. I would love to hear from you and offer you any help and advice where I can.
Claire x