Finding the right wedding photographer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your wedding planning journey. Your photographer is the one who will capture the memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime. But where do you start, and how do you ensure everything goes smoothly before, during, and after the big day? In this guide, I’ll walk you through the entire process, from the first steps of finding your wedding photographer to what happens after the wedding, all while helping you set realistic expectations. Let’s dive in!
Define Your Style & Preferences
Before you begin your search for a wedding photographer, it’s crucial to have a clear vision of the kind of photography that resonates with you. Do you prefer candid moments, traditional poses, or something more artistic? Your wedding photos should be a reflection of your unique love story, not a carbon copy of someone else’s day. This isn’t about recreating a Pinterest board; it’s about finding a photographer whose style and approach align with your vision for how you want to remember your wedding day. Think about the specific moments you want captured – those that truly reflect your love story.
Set a Budget
Photography is an investment in your memories. Establish a budget that reflects the importance of your photos. Keep in mind that additional costs, like albums or travel fees, might come up. Educate yourself about professional wedding photography if you’re new to it. Understand what is considered quality, and what the average range is price-wise when it comes to photographers delivering images and an experience that resonate and are important to you.
Research Photographers
Once you’ve defined your style and budget (and they match each other’s expectations), it’s time to start researching. Look for photographers whose work, values, personalities, and even approach to how they market their business resonate with you. Review portfolios, social media, and client testimonials to get a sense of their style and consistency. A photographer’s final product—your wedding gallery—is extremely important, but their personality and whether you’re on the same or similar wavelength must also be at the top of your criteria to have the best results and experience.
Create a Shortlist & Schedule Consultations
Narrow down your options to a few photographers and schedule consultations. These meetings are not just about asking questions—they’re about finding a connection. You’ll be spending a lot of time with your photographer on your wedding day, so it’s important to feel comfortable with them. Consultation calls also provide you with an opportunity to really see how passionate the photographer is about their craft. If you prioritise working with someone who genuinely cares about their art, they invest a lot of energy in getting to know you and bringing value as well as joy to your wedding day—you do need to meet them (virtually with video or in person) before committing. Wedding photography is such a delicate, emotional, and high-pressure profession. You want someone who truly cares and doesn’t make you feel like just another business transaction. Your photographer also should place a huge emphasis on connecting with their couples and working for someone who values and trusts them. Working with couples who are willing to put in the work or respect photographer’s feedback when planning how their day can be documented.
Review Full Wedding Galleries
Don’t just rely on highlight reels. Ask to see full wedding galleries to understand how they handle different parts of the day, including tricky lighting situations. This will give you a realistic idea of what to expect. It will also provide you with an opportunity to learn more about wedding photography and set the right expectations. You’ll see what kind of mood the light, the location, the colours, the setup, and other details create in your images. Understand that you can’t expect golden hour tones in the middle of the day, that light and airy photos are hard to achieve in certain environments, and that if you want a lot of documentary-style images with your guests, you actually need to spend time with them. So, what about planning a first look and doing most of the portraits before the ceremony? And I’m talking family formals too! Unless you want to fully skip family formals and come up with another creative idea to ensure the closest people to you are documented celebrating your love!
Legalities and Protecting Yourself
When selecting your wedding photographer, it’s not just about style, budget, or personality. It’s also crucial to consider the legalities and practicalities to ensure you’re working with a legitimate professional who can deliver as promised. Start by verifying that your photographer operates as a legitimate business – review their online presence, and ask for references. Ensure that your photographer has both liability insurance and equipment insurance, which protect you, your guests, and the photographer in case of accidents or equipment issues. Finally, protect yourself from scams by requesting a detailed contract, being wary of extremely low prices, and using secure payment methods. By taking these precautions, you safeguard your investment and ensure a smooth experience.
Understand the Contract
Before booking, make sure you thoroughly review the client agreement. Clarify payment schedules, deliverables, cancellation policies, and backup plans. A clear contract protects both you and the photographer. Ask your photographer questions if there’s anything you’d like to clarify. Discuss with your partner if you’re comfortable with your photographer sharing images from your wedding on their website or other social media platforms. Make sure you receive a copy of your contract to reference if needed.
Check Availability for Engagement Sessions
Engagement (or pre-wedding) sessions are a great way to build rapport with your photographer. They’re like a trial run that helps you get comfortable in front of the camera and gives your photographer insight into your personalities. Engagement sessions are incredibly valuable not only for beautiful photos of the two of you that you can use for wedding invitations, seating charts, or just as a beautiful memory hanging on your wall during the engagement season, but also because come the wedding day – your photographer will feel like a friend. Less pressure, more creativity, and more fun for everyone! Whether the engagement session is included in the photographer’s package or not – I highly recommend scheduling/booking one.
Finalise & Book
Once you’ve found the right photographer, re-confirm their availability, sign the contract, and pay the retainer. Booking early is key, especially during peak wedding season. Booking early also allows you to schedule your engagement session well in advance to receive images back in time if you’re incorporating them somehow in your wedding.
This post is just the beginning of a comprehensive series designed to help you navigate every step of working with your wedding photographer. In the next instalment, we’ll explore everything you need to do before the wedding to ensure a smooth, stress-free experience on your big day. Stay tuned for PART 2: Before The Wedding, coming soon. You won’t want to miss it!
This post is just the beginning of our journey together, helping you navigate every step of working with your wedding photographer. Next up, we’ll dive into the exciting (and sometimes a little nerve-wracking) part of preparing for your big day. Stay tuned for PART 2: Before The Wedding, where I’ll share all the insider tips to ensure everything runs smoothly, leaving you free to soak in every magical moment. It’s going to be fun—promise!
P.S. If you’re looking for a Wedding Photographer – I might be your person! I’m based out of Ottawa, Ontario, but also travel to Europe often (born and raised in Lithuania!). Let’s connect and chat about how we can document your love story in a way that’s uniquely you—whether it’s in your hometown Ottawa, or halfway across the world.
Love, Ina
