These Five Simple Steps Will Help You Choose A Wedding Photographer

 

Choosing a Wedding Photographer

Long after your wedding day has ended, your photographs will be a testament to the beautiful occasion. Picking the right wedding photographer is one of the most important aspects of the wedding planning process. The hunt should begin immediately after securing a venue and a wedding day. Once the perfect wedding photographer is selected, though, that is when the pieces start to fall into place.

Picking a photographer, then, should be a thorough process that reflects how important of a decision it is. It will require research, time, plenty of meetings with various studios, and negotiations. Going through this process though will yield a photographer with the skills to execute the wedding pictures of your dreams. Below are some tips for identifying and securing that special photographer.

Do Your Homework

You want to begin your search broad by looking at several wedding photographers about nine months in advance of the wedding day. Whether you are looking for professional photographers in your city, state, or at your desired destination, it pays to sift through a photographers’ reviews in advance. Start by looking at their website, observing the site’s design and layout, featured photographs, bios, pricing, and booking information.

Use their website as a launching pad for further research. Look at their associated Facebook or Twitter pages and Instagram to see their photography’s waterfall presentation. Finally, check out Yelp, Google Reviews, and other client testimonials to get an idea about how they treat their customers. Additionally, your recently married friends have likely shared their photos on social media; word of mouth is a perfectly acceptable way to find a photographer, too!

Narrow Your Choices Down

Now that you have seen a wide variety of photography styles, you will want to start eliminating potential options. One prudent way to eliminate options is to evaluate their photography style and whether they have samples that wow you. When you evaluate a photographer, consider how well they capture your style, whether that is portrait, dramatic, low-lit, bright, etc.

Set Up Interviews

After perusing several potential photographers’ websites, you should have a good idea of some photographers that mesh with your style (and budget). Take those relationships to the next level by contacting them through their website, via email, or by phone if they have a work number. Remember to meet your photographer specifically, and not just their assistant or a representative if it is a large studio.

Scheduling time to meet with these photographers is essential. Meeting them in person affords you the opportunity to speak with them, assess whether their personality is a good fit, and look at their albums of past weddings. Looking through those albums, full of pictures that did not make the cut for their website, will really inform whether you should choose them or not.

Compare the Price Points

You should compile various price ranges from each photographer you visit. They should base their price points on what type of package you will pursue, what services you want, how long or how many days you will need them, etc. 

There are several different ways different photography studios will charge to consider. Some studios will charge flat rates for the service with additional services as extra fees. Others will include everything in their fees, including albums, edits, prints, and high-resolution photos.

Take into account all those price ranges to make executive decisions about their viability.

Make Your Decision

You have compiled a breadth of information and data about several studios and you are equipped to whittle down the competition. Consider their fees, personalities, and how well they have executed similar weddings and photography styles. Also discuss what their policies are related to the rights of the photographs, and what you are allowed to do with them, retouching options, and how long you will have to wait for your photos.

You want to follow your instinct on who the right photographer is; you will spend your whole wedding day with this person! One tip for becoming better acquainted with the photographer is to shoot prelimenary engagement photos with them. This will introduce you to their style of shooting, release your inhibitions, and overcome any camera-shy you or your partner might have.

Choose Lorenzo Sandoval Photography

Lorenzo Sandoval Fine Art is a studio offering Las Vegas, Nevada wedding photography. He strives to capture every smile, moment, and small gesture of love in every ceremony. Get in touch with him today for more information about his photography.