so you’re engaged. and you have no idea whats out there photography wise, or even what look you’re into. this position can sometimes feel overwhelming and ive seen some couples even rush into picking someone just to get it off their list and move on to the next wedding to-do. if you feel this impulse comin’ on— pause. you got this.
i had a few thoughts about picking a wedding photographer that have been swirling around in my head for a long time and its time i get the word out. because truly, my heart breaks hearing stories of couples who got their wedding photos back and somehow they fell short of what was expected. and what happens then? theres not much you can do about a day you cant back!
i feel very passionate about making it my mission to reduce the chances of this happening because well, i think everyone and their mother deserves the most beautimous wedding photos that they’ve ever seen AND ones that reflect whats on their heart.
and it all starts with gettin connected to what you care about.
you might say, “but tiffany! idk what the heck kind of wedding photos id be into!” no worries thats why were starting with…
checking out the talent.
a great place to begin is to do some pre work in scouting out the talent that the wedding photography industry has to provide- all through the magical interwebs. doing this can definitely give you a better grasp on what your eye is drawn to. i say this because ive come across many couples with the means to hire someone perfect for them but, they just didnt know where the wedding photography industry was at these days (spoiler: its impressive.) all because they hadn’t looked, they ended up choosing the person who a friend of a friend told them about. who low-key mainly does car photography and weddings only sometimes. and then they deliver to you an album of your guests cars. okay okay, this is worst case scenario- but my point is, do your research. see whats out there. if i could shout this from the rooftops, i would. but for now ill settle for my back porch balcony. and sidenote, a ‘photographer’ does not mean ‘wedding photographer’ but thats a chat for another day. lol.
again, you’ll be happy you did your research. because then, you’ll get an idea of what you like visually, be able make some choices, set up some photographer dates, meet some rad artists, and actually see if you really jive!!!
but first!!
its really important you resonate with their work right out the gate.
maybe someone referred you to them and yes, it feels good and comfy to know your friend hired them too. you might even feel a deeper sense of trust towards them because of this. but if you have not taken a look at their portfolio before reaching out to them for their services, i strongly encourage you do! ask yourself, does their imagery resonate with what i want for my wedding photos? if youre already going into it wanting their work to be different or change, then they might not be for you! this brings me back to— there truly is a perfect photographer out there for you, promise! One who is already putting out work that you sets your heart on fire! which brings me to my next tip. once you’ve got some photographer dates set up…
ask your candidates for an example wedding gallery.
a good way to discern whether a wedding photographer is for you is to ask for an example completed wedding gallery. this will help you get a feel for what your finished and delivered wedding gallery will look like. then check in with yourself. you into it? trust your gut on this!
a few things you can look for in the imagery
see what values the photographer’s style hones in on.
is it the type of moments you would want? with every photographer having their own way of seeing the world, its important to take note of what themes their photos are centered around and if you align with them. some themes could be- emotional, artistic, storytelling, fun, laughter, stillness, moody, dark, bright, or editorial. and thats just a few! too, much of their style can be dependent on their use of light. which brings me to…
ask how they handle lighting.
something to look for in the gallery and in their portfolio is how the photographer works with light throughout the day. light is the thing that makes so much of your wedding day photos. do they exercise a skillful relationship with tricky light situations? a golden light sunset ceremony is very different than if you’re having a moody ambient lit night time ceremony. check with the photographer on what they have to say about light and how they would be able to support your unique situation!
so, you feel good about the art theyre bringing to the table and their badass skills. but theres something else that i feel can be overlooked that i want to emphasize. and it is…
connection, baby.
i believe connection with someone is more important than we realize. especially if what youre goin for in your photos is to feel calm, at ease, like yourself. if these things are something u wana be when in front of this persons lens, you might need to at least some what feel like they’re a friend. i especially think asking questions about the shooting experience or anything to help you know what to expect can build great trust. for example, if you need to be supported in being directed in posing or feel awkward in front of cameras, (which is so normal btw- most people feel this way) you might wana ask how they would approach this. after all, you deserve to have someone who matches your vibe, and also someone who you feel absolutely comfortable and trust in handing off the role of your wedding photographer to.
from the start we can see that a core theme throughout all this is,
communicate! communicate! communicate!
from the get-go, its important to express your deepest desires, concerns, and needs to your potential photographer so you can really see if theyre gonna show the frick up for you, support your soul and ease your mind. the sooner u get those truths out, you can weed out the ones that aren’t for you and get closer on your journey to finding your perfect wedding photographer!
for instance, make sure if you have any sort of expectations regarding photos you want (whether it be of certain people or moments) you make sure to tell your photographer! Of course theres some photos that we as photographers are expected to get, but those ones that are unique to YOU- we want to know about! we’d love to go above and beyond and capture those for you so you can have them forever. Like an empty chair in your ceremony in honor of a loved one that passed or those matching tattoos you have with your 2nd cousin. or a photo with an aunt that basically helped raise you. its the little things that make your wedding, YOURS. I encourage you to write these down and give that to your photographer- even if the requests seem silly or simple, they’re not. Don’t be afraid to over communicate on this stuff. the right photographer will want to help tell it all. plus, it’ll feel nice to have that peace of mind that you got out everything on your heart of what you hope for in your wedding photos 🙂
your story matters.
this is your wedding day people!! This shit matters! your personal story matters. my hope for you is that you find the wedding photographer of your dreams. one who’s photos feel like magic to you. one that cares. one that listens. one that goes above and beyond what you dreamed was possible for your wedding photos. one that is uniquely yours.
my intent in sharing this is to above all- help lovers like you, navigate choosing a wedding photographer when it comes time. that way, you’re confident in knowing how to go about this crazy process. and if that means one more love story told through photos that match the people, how it felt, and how they love, then im one happy girl.
