There are so many photographers, how do I pick ONE?!
This was the question my younger sister just asked as she was working to choose her wedding photographer. When I sent her a text with all of this info, she immediately responded that I should use this for my blog hahaha! So here we are, I hope that this is as helpful to you as it was to her and I truly want you to find the perfect wedding photographer for your BEST DAY EVER!
Narrowing it down
Style
Is style important to you and you like their style? Style is both the way that they pose/interact with you during the day and how they edit.
There is a wide range of editing styles that vary from warm colors, true to color, dark and moody, light and airy, and so on.
AND how they pose you. Do you want the traditional okay everyone stand here, here, and here look at the camera and smile (heavily directed)? Do you want documentary/candid where they don’t pose you at all the literally capture it as it happens? Or a mix of both? Choosing these comes down to a person preference and one of the best ways to decide which you like the best, is to go through Pinterest or instagram, save the photos that speak to you, and see what they have in common.
Personality
Do you like the photographers personality? You are going to spend a lot of time with them throughout the whole entire day so they can really have an impact. Do you need someone high energy/loud to keep everyone in line, on time, and organized? Or do you want someone more go with the flow that falls into the background? Not only that but their communication and availability throughout the entire process. You don't want to be left in the dark or confused about what is coming next. Do they email you along the way? Are they available for questions throughout?
You cannot redo your wedding day (I mean not really), so I think important they capture it well and are prepared for “any” situation.
Questions you may want to ask your photographer:
1. What type of equipment do you use/do you have backups?
Things happen with equipment and so you don’t want a technical error to be the reason you have no photos. In my opinion, at a minimum they should have a camera with dual SD slots so that there is always a backup of your photos. (I know this is a lot and you may be like what?? But if so let me know and I’m happy to help)
2. Do you work with a second photographer?
Does your photographer have the option for a second shooter? Do they feel comfortable working on their own? For second shooters, your photographer should have other photographers who they work with that match their workflow and style. It is important to know if they regularly work with a team of photographers or if it will be someone random. Typically the second photographer comes to capture the day only and then the main photographer will collect all the images and be the one to edit them. (More on if you need one malachiwestbrookphotography.com/blog/second-shooter).
3. Can we see a wedding gallery?
This is important! You may see the highlights on a photographers website/social media. The best of the best, and the gallery they send is likely their best gallery, but it will give you a good idea of what all they will include in your gallery, if they are good in different lighting scenarios (dark reception/night time exit like sparklers), how many images are included, etc.
4. How long does it typically take to get our photos back?
While this may not be make or break when choosing your photographer, it is good to know. Some photographers take twelve weeks or more and others deliver quicker than that! My standard is six to eight weeks with wedding previews or sneak peeks within 24 hours.
5. Who will be our photographer?
This may seem wild, because it did to me too, but many large companies actually contract out their wedding to other photographers. This means that day of you may not actually know who it is that is going to be photographing your wedding and it may not be the same person that took the photos you fell in love with on their website. Knowing if the person you spoke with took the photos you see and is the one you clicked with, is super important!
Pricing
Heading into talks about budget, just like with any service based industry prices will definitely vary. Primarily based on experience, including the equipment that they use, demand, their overall service, and other factors. But like everything that doesn’t necessarily equate to a good or bad experience.
For many photographers, a big factor is going to be how many hours of coverage you need. I personally have found that when you are at the beginning stages of wedding planning and booking a photographer, you may not know how many hours you need. With my package, I include full day coverage and timeline assistance as you get into planning, because I believe that every moment of your wedding day deserves to be captured. However, some factors you may want to consider if you are trying to decide how many hours you need include doing a first look, if you are willing to do a "mock" exit, and what is most important to you.
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I hope this helped! Feel free to ask any questions about photography, clarifying questions or anything else!!!
