Matrimony Monday: 6 tips to find the perfect wedding photographer

 

Your photographer is undoubtably the most important person you will hire to be part of your wedding day. He or she will be in charge of capturing photos that will last a lifetime. You don’t want to show your grandchildren wedding photos that you aren’t totally in love with, right? I didn’t think so. Here are a few tips to ensure you are getting the best possible wedding photography.

1. Use the Internet: Photographers are more accessible now than they ever have been. Between beautifully laid out blogs, stunning websites, Pinterest, and Facebook, seeing a photographer’s most current work is easier than ever. Before you choose who will photograph your wedding, follow your top three photographers online for a while to make sure their style perfectly fits into your vision.

2. Talk to your friends: Have married friends? Ask them about their wedding photographer. The great thing about brides is that I have never met one who hasn’t done her research. Another bride probably has a wealth of knowledge she can share. Ask her what she liked and didn’t like about her photographer. She may bring up issues you probably never thought of. For example, I had a friend whose photographer left in the middle of her reception because “time was up”! After learning that, I made sure I found a photographer who was willing to stay the whole night.

3. Don’t be scared to reach out: Torn between two photographers? Ask them out for coffee dates if you can! Now, I don’t recommend doing this with more than two or three photographers. Photographers tend to be very nice people and you don’t want to confuse yourself. However, going out with two potential photographers can really help you make your choice. Bonding with your photographer is important and can make a difference in the type of photos you get.

4. Don’t be afraid to spend some coin: Modern day brides plan their wedding on a budget. After all, there are many more important things to spend your hard earned money on, right? If you are working on a very limited budget, don’t skimp on your photographer. A good photographer will capture the magic of your day, even if David Tutera wasn’t your planner.

5. Do an engagement session: An engagement session is like a rehearsal for your big day. You may have stalked your photographer online for months, but an engagement session is the time when you can truly see what it is like to work with your wedding photographer, and know what to expect on the big day.  An engagement session is also a great time for your fiance. Boys usually aren’t as excited about pictures as we ladies are. An engagement session is a great time to get your guy prepped for what the wedding day will be like.

6. Let your photographer do her job: You did your research, picked your favorite photographer, and your wedding day is here! Now it is time for you to relax and let your photographer do her job. Don’t tell her that she is “too close” or that the location she picked is “weird”. Just relax and go with it. Embrace the locations she chooses and the poses she puts you in. Have fun and relax and I promise your wedding photos will be everything you dreamed of.