The wedding photographer is one of the most important parts of your wedding day. The pictures will be with you for years to come, so it’s worth doing some research before hiring someone. Here are some tips for hiring a good wedding photographer:
Get at least three bids
When you’re looking for a wedding photographer, it’s important to get at least three bids. Ask each photographer for references and check their portfolio. Make sure they have professional liability insurance, and ask about their experience with your type of event—if you’re getting married in a church or synagogue, that could be important. Also consider things like the style of photography they do (is it more traditional or modern), their equipment (point-and-shoot or DSLR), and their package options (do they offer open-ended packages or does each hour have to be booked?). Don’t forget about pricing either: make sure you know what’s included in a given package before committing!
Look for references
The next thing to do is to ask for references. The best way to find out if a photographer will be the right fit for your wedding is by getting in touch with previous clients. If a photographer refuses to provide you with their past customers, it’s probably best not to hire them!
You can also talk with other photographers, as well as other professionals who work in the industry (such as caterers or florists). Ask these people about their experiences working with the photographer and whether or not they would recommend them.
Meet the photographer in person beforehand
One of the most important things to do when trying to find a wedding photographer is meet them in person. This can be done in two ways:
- Email them, and ask if they’d be willing to meet up with you for coffee or lunch so that you can get to know each other and they can show off their work (and vice versa).
- Find out where they live, then go visit them! If you’re feeling adventurous, try doing this on foot or by bike instead of driving. You’ll have more fun and see more cool stuff along the way.
Ask about the intended location
Knowing the location of your wedding can also have a big impact on the pictures that are taken. If you’re getting married in a church, for example, it’s important to ask about whether or not your photographer is a member of that church. This is because many churches require photographers to be members in order to be able to take photos there.
Inquire about how many people will be on the crew
If you’re looking for a wedding photographer, ask about the size of the crew. The more people there are on your photographer’s team, the more expensive it will be. Large crews also take longer to get everything done and tend to be less flexible with scheduling because they have to coordinate with other people.
Discuss how much time your photographer will be there on your wedding day
The first thing to discuss with your photographer is how long they will be there on your wedding day. Ask about the time that he or she plans on being at the ceremony, reception, and any other events in between. Once you have a better idea of what the schedule looks like, it’s time to talk about how many people will be assisting your photographer during those events. Wedding photographers typically work alone or with an assistant so it’s important to know if they plan on bringing someone else along with them and how this person will affect the flow of things throughout the day. If you don’t like having people around while taking pictures (or especially if you do), make sure that this person isn’t going to cause problems for anyone else involved in getting everyone into position for group photos!
Also be sure that your photographer knows exactly when he/she needs to show up at each location as well as where parking might be available nearby.
Ask to see a full wedding portfolio in addition to portraits and other shots
Ask to see a full wedding portfolio in addition to portraits and other shots. You might be surprised at what you find, so don’t judge a book by its cover. A website is always helpful for getting a feel for the photographer’s style, but it’s also important to look through their work on social media as well. If they don’t have an online portfolio, ask if they can send you some images of previous weddings—you’ll want some variety in what you see! Ask them if they have a blog where they share tips or behind-the-scenes info on their shoots too.
Some photographers won’t have portfolios because they haven’t shot enough weddings yet (or even any!) so it’s good practice to check out reviews from previous clients. The best way to do this? Reach out directly via email or phone call with questions about the experience, whether the photographer was accommodating during changes that arose last minute and how flexible her/himself was when working within your budget parameters.
Wedding photographers can do amazing work but you’ll want to check them out thoroughly first.
Wedding photographers can do amazing work but you’ll want to check them out thoroughly first. It’s important to ensure that your photographer is someone who will capture the spirit of your wedding day as you want it to be remembered, and not just someone who can take a good picture. The more you know about wedding photography, the better able you’ll be to find one that suits your style and budget.
Conclusion
Wedding photographers can be an important part of your wedding day, so you want to make sure that you are hiring the right one. We hope these tips help you find the perfect photographer for your big day!