Picking a wedding photographer isn’t all about budget. Not every photographer is created equal, and not every photographer is a mind reader. It’s important to get the most out of your investment because it will be one of the pieces of your wedding day that will stay with you for the rest of your lives. Here are some tips to selecting the perfect photographer to capture your day.

Know Your Style

One thing I commonly suggest to newly engaged couples is to do a little research on photography styles. This might sound daunting, but it will save you a little grief because it guides your photographer not only on how you want the photos captured, but also edited. For example, I’ve met some brides that wanted the classic pastel aesthetic with soft, bright tones. It’s a very traditional look that’s popular for a reason. I’ve also had a couple who was very much into the outdoors and wanted more of a rustic, filtered sepia tone to their images. And another couple that wanted underwater photography with dark blue hues. It’s all about what YOU like, and conveying that to your photographer. If you aren’t sure what look appeals to you the most, I’d recommend starting with Google and Instagram to see what styles are out there.

Pinpoint Your Budget

You might find a photographer you love and can’t afford, but there are still ways to work with this. I keep my prices generally low because I’m able to get by charging less, but I don’t recommend asking your photographer for discounts or freebies unless they’re openly offered. Photography is not an area that you should ever skimp on. I’ve had brides express their budget to me and ask what I could offer in that range, and I’ve offered to shoot a limited number of hours for the day instead of a full day so that couples could have memorable photos without blowing through their whole budget. If price is a concern to you, your best course of action is simply stating your budget and allowing photographers to suggest packages based on that.

Read The Contract

Before agreeing to hire anyone, look over the contract together. My contract is a couple pages long, but the general idea is that I own the rights to your photos, and you and your loved ones keep the files for personal use. Most photographers maintain ownership rights because it’s part of our portfolio and helps us show other couples what we can offer, but that shouldn’t stop you from being able to share them wherever you want. I’ve seen some photographers include clauses that the photos can’t be shared on social media without proper tagging, and deposits should also be clearly stated. This can vary from vendor to vendor, so just keep an eye on the fine print so you don’t encounter issues later on.

Ask For Details

It’s understandable that after the festivities come to an end, you can’t wait to see the photos. And while it’s obvious you’ll have to wait a little bit, it’s fair to want to know how long you should expect. My turnaround time is stated as 8 weeks for all edited photos, but with every single session I always provide a little sneak peak of about 5-6 photos within a few days of the wedding. And if I’m being completely transparent, most of my photos have been fully edited and delivered within 2-3 weeks. This timeframe is something that can be decided on when you speak with your photographer so that realistic expectations can be set on both sides, and you should ask for it to be built into your contract so that you’re protected.

Pick Someone You Like

This is a no brainer but make sure you enjoy your photographer’s personality because they’ll be by your side for the entire day. You want someone you can be relaxed around for the whole day. Finding a photographer with the right portfolio and price is important, but if your personalities don’t mesh, it might create some awkward moments.