How to Choose the Right Wedding Photographer for Your Big Day
Planning a wedding is a whirlwind of fun and excitement, but it can also bring a lot of stress. Especially as you try to make decisions on everything that will make your wedding day perfect for you, like your venue, your color palette, and of course your vendor team.
One of the biggest and most important questions is - how to choose the right wedding photographer for your big day. Your photos (and wedding video, obvi!) will tell your love story for years to come, so it's really important to choose a great storyteller to make it happen!
As an experienced Minnesota wedding photographer and videographer, I compiled a quick guide to help you choose! Let's dive into it!
Tips for Choosing the Right Wedding Photographer
Know Your Spend Range
Consider Their Approach
Take a Look at their Portfolio
Venue or Location Familiarity
Get to Know their Personality
Book an Engagement Session
Get on a Consultation Call
Know Your Spend Range
Let's start with the not-so-romantic side of things, pricing. Your spend range might not be fun to talk about, but it’s essential. First, I would recommend thinking about what you are truly dreaming of for your photography and/or videography coverage.
Decide what your spend range is and how you're willing to spend it. A good, experienced photographer may be one of the biggest investments of your wedding day, BUT remember that photos will be your keepsakes for a lifetime, and that right there is priceless!
I promise that you will not regret investing in a great photographer, however, you might regret having your Uncle Bob do it for free…
Consider Their Approach/Style
How to do you want your photographer to show up and serve you on your wedding day?
Are you looking for someone that is going to direct your every move, or are you looking for someone that is going to be hands off and in the background?
Also, all photographers have their own unique editing style and signature touch. Some might have a flair for dreamy and ethereal shots, while others nail that candid, raw emotion. Think about what speaks to you both! Do you want traditional posed photos, documentary-style candids, or a mix of both?
If you're curious about my style - for most of the day, the style of photography I'll shoot in is photojournalism. This means that I prefer to capture things as they happen; you won't find me overly staging you, making you uncomfortable, or trying to make the day all about me. My belief is that it is more important to capture you and your family as you are without getting in the way.
However, that doesn’t mean that I’m just going to be hanging out in the background. I prefer to be a friend and guide to you on your wedding day. Helping you relax and center into each moment throughout the day, and guiding you through enough posing to make you comfortable, without making you self conscience.
My editing style is timeless and true to color, which makes these photographs stand up to the test of time when we look back at them even decades later. My work is heavily influenced by the timelessness and vibrance of old school film photography, and you might just catch me with a film camera in my hands on your wedding day as well!
If that sounds like the style for you, hit me up here!
I'd love to chat more about documenting your wedding day!
Take a Look at the Portfolio
When choosing your wedding photographer, I encourage you to ask for their portfolio. And not just the highlight photos you'd see on their Instagram, but a FULL wedding day album! This way, you can see how they capture every moment, from the teary-eyed vows to the wild dance floor moves.
Venue or Location Familiarity
Have you got your venue booked? Fantastic! While it's not a must, if a photographer has shot there before, it can be beneficial! That way, the photographer may already be aware of all the secret, beautiful spots and know what the lighting situation is! However, a professional photographer will be able to figure things out on the spot too!
Get to Know Their Personality
Remember, you'll be spending one of the most important days of your life with this person, third-wheeling you and your partner. Finding a photographer with whom you match well personality-wise and have good rapport with makes everything more comfortable and enjoyable.
A good photographer will always welcome any questions from your end, so you should feel comfortable contacting them!
Book an Engagement Session
A great way to ensure your personalities mesh well is by booking an engagement session with them! Most wedding photographers would offer an engagement session either complimentary to their wedding package or as an add-on, and I definitely recommend jumping on this opportunity!
An engagement session lets you get comfy with the camera and helps you connect with the person behind the lens and see their approach in action.
Get on a Consultation Call
Are you trying to make sure your photographer isn’t a creeper!? Then get on a call with them! That is the best way to see how you feel around them and ask all the important questions to make sure you're making the best decision for your wedding day!
Here are some questions you should consider asking your potential wedding photographer when you meet them!
What to Ask Your Wedding Photographer
What's your photography style/approach?
How many weddings have you shot in total? (Whether it's 3 weddings or 33, make sure you're comfortable with their level of experience!
Note: this can be subjective, I’ve seen photographers who have been in the industry give such a better experience than those that have been shooting for 10+ years. Experience is important, but so is passion!)
Can I see a full wedding day gallery?
What packages do you offer, and what's included?
How do you handle unexpected situations, like bad weather or a tight schedule?
How long after the wedding can I expect to receive my photos?
Asher James Creative | Minnesota Wedding Photographer & Videographer
I hope that this blog is going to help guide you on how to choose the perfect wedding photographer for your big day!
And if you're looking for a Minnesota wedding photographer, I'd love to meet with you! You can learn more about me here. And if you're ready to inquire, send me a message!
