Hiring vendors for your wedding is hard work, so I’ve compiled a guide to making hiring your wedding photographer easy as pie.
Chances are, you’ve never planned an event larger than your grandma’s birthday party, and you feel lost. Whether you end up hitting it off with me or choosing another photographer, I want you to find the perfect fit… and stay sane doing so!
I’ve listened to my couples’ struggles over the years, and I’ve come up with 5 no-fail tips for hiring your wedding photographer.
Married couples: what do you think? Is there any other advice you’d add to this? Sound off in the comments!
1. Find the Right Style
Be clear on what style of photos you’d like. Do you like trendy VSCO filters? Or do you prefer the dreamy grain of film photography? Would you rather have candid moments of your wedding guests boogieing down on the dance floor and nix the cheesy portraits?
Make sure your photographer’s work is what she/he says it is—a newspaper photojournalist skilled in capturing unexpected moments probably won’t be too jazzed to photograph mason jars. And a fine art photographer who specializes in stunning portraiture might not be excited to let things happen candidly.
Get clear on your preferences and have your photographer do the same. Then look at their work to make sure they practice what they preach.
Katherine + Caley loved my natural light portraits, so we budgeted enough time to snag a few dreamy sunset shots at magic hour. Check out their full wedding gallery to see more of what they wanted in their photography!
2. Find the Right Connection
Do you feel a connection to your photographer? They’ll be with you for the entire day, so if you hate the perfume she wears or can’t stand those terrible Dad Jokes, then you may want rethink your choice. Picking a vendor is a bit like picking your partner—you want there to be a connection.
Here’s a behind the-scenes moment from a fall wedding of my intern Ali and I making sure we got the perfect shot. Photo cred to my fab associate Lis Tyroler for capturing this cute moment.
3. Review Their Work
Look through their work—lots of it! (This is the fun part… especially if you’re having a boring afternoon at work). Already know your venue? Chances are your photographer has shot there before. Ask to see a wedding album from your venue! Even if you’re getting married in a backyard bungalow, they probably have something to show you that will help you visualize the space.
Adrienne + Matt planned a backyard wedding at their family’s home in Aberdeen, NC. While planning for their wedding photography, we looked at plenty of my samples from similar backyard shindigs to help visualize their space.
“Courtney was such a competent, warm presence during our day! We talked to other photographers before we found you that had expectations about our wedding and our needs before they even met us. But you totally heard our desires, and respected our wishes (like our short list of posed shots!) while making us feel comfortable and content. We’re so grateful!” –Adrienne + Matt, married April 2016
4. Communication is Key
Hiring a photographer isn’t that different than online dating. 🙂 Does your photographer really listen to your wants and needs? or does she have preconceived notions of what your wedding should be? Is she excited to hear your ideas? It’s your photographer’s job to guide you, help you feel at ease, and clearly communicate with you.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at a unique Rock Quarry wedding! Associate photographer Bri Brough and I LOVED Jenn + Kennedy’s idea of having a “first jump” into the quarry instead of a traditional first dance. We all put our heads together to figure out how to capture that unique moment in an unconventional way…and decided to rent underwater gear + flotation devices and get in the water. Here are some of the shots captured of that special moment! What do you think? (To view all the photos from this wedding and learn more about how we got these shots, visit the full blog gallery from Jennifer + Kennedy’s wedding!)
5. Pick a package with prints
I can’t emphasize this one enough: print your photos. Invest in wedding albums and large canvas prints for your home. There’s something magical about holding a tangible photograph in your hand. You notice details that, when left on a cell phone LCD screen, are obscured by smudges and dust. You step inside the scene and feel the ambience in a way digital images can’t offer. Photos are meant to be printed because YOUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER is too valuable not to be seen. Beheld. Remembered. You worked hard to build a relationship that will last. Commemorate that.
Leave a Reply