How To Find A Wedding Photographer
How to find a Wedding Photographer?
Photographers are everywhere, and each year the number of options grows. Finding the perfect wedding photographer can seem overwhelming so I am here to give you some tips and questions to ask in order to get started and aid your search!
Where to start your search?
Many venues or local search directories will have a list of ‘preferred photographers’ that frequent that area or venue. If you are just beginning your search this can be a great place to start. These are often photographers with a good reputation that have experience shooting your venue. If you find yourself not particularly drawn to any of their styles of photography, you might want to start looking into traveling or “Destination Photographers.”
Instagram, pinterest and google searches for “Destination wedding photographer” can be a great place to start. You can also search by your desired location or venue. For example, if you are having a Yosemite wedding, search “Yosemite wedding photography” or similar.
Destination photographers, unlike the misconception that exists, are usually not only focused on shooting in other countries and exotic locations. As a destination photographer myself, I am looking to travel anywhere and everywhere.
Check the reviews!
Look at the reviews and testimonials to see what past clients have said about their experience with each photographer you are interested in. Many will have reviews on their website, as well as links to read more reviews on a directory such as WeddingWire!
Look at their work, and lots of it.
Once you have found a few photographers that catch your eye and have great reviews, make sure to really look at their work. Look past their Instagram or their home page. Looking at their blog will often give a more overall sense of their work. A wedding day has so many elements that one or two photos could never give a solid representation of one’s work.
If you feel the need, ask if they have any work that they can show from a venue or location that is similar to yours. The goal here is to really make sure that their style interests you.
Personality matters!
Get on the phone with a potential photographer or do a Zoom call. I recommend having a conversation that is beyond photography. Get to know them! This person will be with you all day (or all weekend) on your wedding, you want to make sure that you get along with them and feel comfortable communicating.
Quality comes at a price.
I know planning a wedding is expensive, and photographers are not cheap. When beginning your search and talking with photographers, try not to let price take most of your focus. Some photographers will include a lot of deliverables such as prints, albums and digitals for the same price that someone else delivers just digitals. It is important to remember you can always get prints and albums later on down the road and to really look at the quality of the images and experience over the quantity of deliverables.
Are they a wedding photographer?
Well of course they are, that is why you are looking at them. However, it is good to look around their site and take into consideration if wedding photography is their specialty. A jack of all trades is often a master of none. If you feel the need, it is okay to ask how many weddings they have been a lead photographer of. There are great photographers that have only led a few weddings, but I feel it takes 10-15 weddings to really be confident in your skills and ability to manage a wedding day and deliver a consistent and quality experience. If you love their work but are unsure of their experience, asking to see a few full wedding galleries can be a great way to confirm their ability.
Do a trial run!
Doing an engagement shoot with your wedding photographer is a great way to make sure you have made the right decision. It will give you a better understanding of how the photographer works and the experience they provide. An engagement shoot also helps you become comfortable in front of the camera before the big day!
ABOUT ME: Hi! My name is Nic Hilton. I am a destination wedding photographer based in Los Angeles. I shoot many weddings in the Mammoth Lakes area as well as Southern California but I am available to travel worldwide! Contact Me today because I would love to tell your story.