Find Your Style
Now, more than ever, there are so many distinct styles of wedding photography. There is the “traditional,” as well as photo-journalistic and editorial styles, however, there’s now much more out there, like “light and airy” (bright with pastel colors) and “moody” (filmic) styles. You’ll likely find yourself identifying strongly with one particular look, even if you’re not quite sure what to call it. Whatever you decide, look for photographers that excel in your ideal style. It takes years to hone the skills to develop a cohesive aesthetic and you’ll want to ensure your photographer is going to come through for you on the wedding day!
Look at Their Reviews
Once you narrow down your list of potential options, look at their reviews. This may seem obvious, but it’s important to take a careful look before you even speak to them. How’s their communication? Did they deliver the final photos in a reasonable timeframe? Did they act in a professional manner on the wedding day? All of these questions will be answered in one way or another in the reviews. Most photographers use The Knot, Wedding Wire, Google, or Yelp (you can see our reviews on The Knot). If you find little or no reviews, it may be a sign the photographer is inexperienced, or worse – they could have a poor history with couples.
Get Them on the Phone
I know in today’s world it can be common to communicate solely through email or text message, but before you book a photographer you should make an effort to speak to them on the phone, through video chat, or meet up in person. You’ll get so much out of a 30-minute conversation that’s impossible through email. Besides getting all your questions answered, you’ll get a good sense of their personality – which is important since you’ll be spending your entire wedding day with them! Ask them about their philosophy and approach to shooting weddings. Some photographers like to stay out of the way and be hands off, while others like to get right in the middle of what’s happening and direct the action. After a short conversation, you’ll easily know if the photographer is a good fit for you and your day.
Ask About Printing Rights
In years past, it was common for wedding photographers to include a selection of prints in their package. These days, it’s becoming less common because of the number of online printing options now available and ease of ordering for couples. Even so, many photographers contractually require their couples to order prints through them. In other words, couples are not allowed to order prints on their own and must go through their photographer. These photographers institute this requirement so they can mark up the price and make a significant profit on prints.
We don’t agree with this practice and allow our couples to order prints from wherever they’d like – the photos are theirs after all! In addition to hosting the photos in a private online gallery, we deliver full resolution images and give couples the option to order prints on their own or go through us if they want an easy experience. Either way it’s totally up to them and we’re here to make things as easy as possible.
