Finding the Right Wedding Photographer

In my previous blog, we spoke about what the different styles of wedding photography mean. Now let’s find out how to choose a wedding photographer.

Sounds easy this choosing a wedding photographer, doesn’t it. Get some quotes, pick the cheapest. Done?

Noooooooo! My heart is already breaking for you!

Yes, you got a budget, but if you only go by price, you are bound to be disappointed, either on your day, or when you receive your photos. Probably both!

What is important when choosing your wedding photographer?

1. Wedding Photographer’s Style

The first thing you have to decide on is the style of photography you want.

“But, Nadina, all these guys take a good photo!”

What the photos look like is only half of what photography style means.
The other half is how the photographer works.

For example, a traditional photographer will do a lot of arranging and posing, while a documentary photographer just takes photos of things as they are.

So if you look for the perfect curated photos and hire a documentary photographer, you are bound to be disappointed by the “messiness” of your photos.

If however you just want the story told and have a great party, but then your traditional photographer starts rearranging the decorations and asks you to move or turn for a perfect photo every 15 minutes, you will be annoyed very quickly. And that will show in your perfectly curated photos, too.

So know what style of wedding photography is the one for you.

If you missed my previous blog and are wondering what the styles you might choose between are, here is the link: Different Wedding Photography Styles.

2. Personality

I hear you! You just want someone to take photos at your wedding, not a new best friend. But hear me out…

If your photographer goes on your nerves, it will be like having another annoying uncle that you don’t want but had to invite for granny’s sake… and you are paying them for the privilege of annoying you!

Your photographer will be there all day, and other than florist and cake maker, you will have to interact with them.
Not only have you got to interact with them, they will direct you and might even touch you. (Since I don’t do strict poses, I hardly ever touch anyone, but I do give plenty of directions.)

So make sure you are comfortable with the person you choose to be your wedding photographer. And that you are happy to have them around all day long.

3. Budget

I know, I said don’t hire someone just because they are the cheapest. And I stand by that.
However, know what your budget is and stick to it.

At my own wedding, we increased our photography budget by 40% to get the photographer we wanted. And she turned out to be perfect.

But we were only able to hire her because something else had come in way under budget, freeing up funds.

Trying to hire suppliers you can’t afford, is stressful for yourself and them.

If you can’t make your payments on the scheduled date, your suppliers might threaten cancellation. That is stressful for you, but also for them.

While they wait for you to pay, they will at best worry about lost income and at worst how they will cover any costs that they may have already incurred preparing for your wedding out of their own pocket.

All the while you are left stressed about whether you have a cake, flowers, make-up artist, photographer, caterer etc at your wedding or not.

It’s horrible for everyone involved, so don’t book the cheapest, but stick to your budget!

A final word

I hope this will help you choose a wedding photographer, who you will enjoy having around and get photos you will love. And, of course, I hope this might be me.

If you think I might be ticking the first two boxes and you want to find out whether I am in your budget, or you have questions about my style, get in touch via my contact form.

I look forward to hear about your wedding!

Bright blessings,

Eco-Wedding Photography from the Handfasting And Pagan Wedding Photographer UK and EU