Advice for hiring a wedding photographer

With all the exciting of wedding planning, the day comes faster than you could have ever imagined. You’ll be making memories that last a lifetime but you will also want something tangible to capture the moment and someone qualified to take your photos. With a seemingly endless possibilities of wedding photographer chioices, I know that chosing one can become pretty overwhelming. That’s why I came up with a detailed guide on how to hire your wedding photographer. I hope you find this list helpful.

A photographer who fits your personality

I have stated this in other blog posts and cannot emphasize it enough.   Make sure you LIKE the person who is your wedding photographer.  If you meet with them and don’t get a good vibe from them or laugh at least once during your consult…that photographer might not be a great fit.  You don’t want to be stuck the entire day with a photographer that makes you want to pull your hair out.  Find someone who fits your personality and you can work with – and laugh with – throughout the day.  You’ll be glad you did!

A photographer who has backup equipment

I will admit that I have had things go wrong during the day while I was shooting weddings. If you shoot as much as I do, you are bound to have things go wrong from time to time.  Memory cards dying, flashes not firing, even my camera deciding it didn’t want take pictures for a few minutes.  Sometimes technology doesn’t work like it should.  Thank goodness in all of my situations I had backup equipment to keep me going and I didn’t miss a beat.  I even shoot with a Canon R6 which has dual memory card slots so I am writing to two cards at one time – instant backup! And you know the three bags of stuff I carry around all day? That’s extra flashes, camera bodies, tripods, batteries etc. It’s all necessary. You don’t want a photographer who is at the end of the aisle with a malfuncting camera and no way to capture the moment.  Be certain that the photographer you hire will have backups for every piece of equipment they’ll need that day.

A photographer who is in budget

There are many ways to determine what your budget for photography should be. Once you have a budget set, make sure you stick to it. The last thing any newly married couple needs is to start their new life together in debt. You want to find someone affordable that provides value and has experience.

A photographer who is experienced

Your wedding day is one of the biggest days of your life.  You don’t want to risk not having photos of key moments throughout the day because your photographer wasn’t sure what was happening next.  Go with a professional who has done it before.  I joke sometimes that I could shoot a wedding with my eyes closed because I have done it so many times.  I know where I need to be and when I need to be there.  I will know exactly when the pastor will tell you to kiss for the first time, I know exactly when you will cut the cake and I know where and how to stand to get the best garter toss pictures.  Make sure the photographer you decide to hire also knows what they’re doing.