How To Find A Photographer For Wedding, The Ultimate Guide!
By Jeff House, Magnolia Photography
Hey Google. Search “how to find a photographer for wedding.”
As you begin to plan your wedding, finding a great photographer will likely be one of your top priorities. Who doesn’t want beautiful wedding photos that capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments? Generally, couples begin their planning by choosing a wedding venue. This makes perfect sense. It’s the most expensive aspect of planning a wedding and usually accounts for approximately 50% of your budget.
For most couples, the next step is to find a wedding photographer.
Choosing a wedding photographer is no easy task. I’m a professional wedding photographer and I don’t envy anyone going through this process. There are literally thousands and thousands of websites offering tips, pointers and direction. While there is no shortage of online advice, there is a shortage of good advice.
What’s most important when hiring a wedding photographer?
What should a wedding photographer cost?
Which photography style is best?
When it comes to finding a photographer for your wedding, there are a lot of details to consider. And finding a photographer has never been more difficult than it is right now. It seems that anyone with a camera today is for hire. They go to Target or Walmart and buy a basic camera. They bring it home, set up a free Facebook business page and an hour later they are a “professional photographer.” Yes, this really happens.
If you’re a couple trying to find a photographer for your wedding, how do you tell the difference between the “posers” and the “professionals?” How do you know what separates a “so-so” photographer from a great one? It’s not always easy or obvious, but in this guide I’m going to share everything you need to know when it comes to finding a photographer for your wedding. I’m also going to discuss several other important details you will need consider as well. This is definitely a guide you’ll want check out!
How To Find A Photographer For Wedding Tip #1: How Much do Wedding Photographers Cost?
According to wedding industry experts, on average, couples underestimate their wedding expenses by 45% - 50%!! For many couples, this can be catastrophic. Developing a good wedding budget is essential to the overall success of your wedding, but I see a lot of couples make similar mistakes.
Because this guide is focused on wedding photography, we are going to keep our budget discussion focused on this aspect. However, the same principals and techniques should be used for all of your wedding planning.
A lot of couples create a photography budget based on what they think it should cost. I’ve even seen couples base it on what their friend paid two years ago when they got married. Somewhere along the way, they heard or read something about wedding photography prices and they apply it to their own situation. Unfortunately, this approach is arbitrary and inaccurate.
Wedding Cost Estimator
Hiring a wedding photographer is not like buying a cup of coffee or a gallon of milk. In other words, it’s not a commodity. Having a wedding is a luxury. When you hire a photographer, you’re paying for their experience, expertise, creative talents and professionalism. It’s also worth noting that your area or market will also have an impact on wedding photography prices. You will likely pay a lot more for a wedding photographer in New York City than you will in Red Cloud, Nebraska.
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to find out what couples - in your area - actually paid for wedding photography? This would be super beneficial, but it sounds too good to be true. Well, I have some good news. It is true. It’s called the Wedding Cost Estimator. You are going to enter some basic information that relates to your wedding and it’s going to provide you with a report of what couples - in your area - paid for their weddings.
While you may pay a little more or a little less for some details, this information is going to allow you to create a much more accurate budget. It will prevent those catastrophic situations that leave you wondering how you’re going to pay for your wedding.
How To Find A Photographer for Wedding Tip #2: What’s The Best Photography Style?
If you follow my blog, you probably already know my feelings when it comes to wedding photography styles. Earlier in this guide, we discussed how there are thousands of websites offering wedding planning advice. If you’re searching for help on how to find a wedding photographer for your wedding, you will find an abundance of information. Some good. Some bad. It probably won’t take you long to realize that the information provided online is all pretty similar. You could almost say, “if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.”
If you do a Google search: “How To Hire A Wedding Photographer,” I will make you a guarantee. Every website, within their first 5 tips, will tell you that you need to choose a photography style and then find a photographer who “specializes” in that style.
#WorstAdviceEver!
All kidding aside, let’s take a closer look at photography style. I want to make one point crystal clear before we begin - wedding photography style is very important. I know what you’re thinking - “But you just told us it’s the worst advice ever.” Wedding photography style is important, but only when considered in the right way.
Let me explain.
99% of the websites out there are regurgitating the same information about “how to hire a wedding photographer.” Well, if 99% of them are saying this, they must be right. Right? Take a look at this chart for a moment.
Couples Wedding Photography Experience
The chart above says it all. 75% of couples hated their photographers, and if given a second chance, they would hire a completely different photographer. Why is this the case? Couples are hiring their photographers for the wrong reasons.
“Choose a photography style and then hire a photographer that supports this style.” Let’s take a look at why this advice is so bad.
Issue #1
Google - “Wedding Photography Styles.” I encourage you to checkout at least 3 websites that come up in the search results.
Here’s a spoiler alert. You will not find consistency in the results. I’ve done this exact experiment at least 100 times. One website is going list 6 styles, the next will list 10, the third will list 3 and so on down the line. For the purposes of this guide, let’s assume there are a total of 15 wedding photography styles. Why doesn’t every website list those 15 styles? How can you possibly know whether a certain style is your favorite if you’re missing information?
Issue #2
Here’s the second issue with consistency of the results. Every search result is going to speak about styles that are different from the other websites. How many actual wedding photography styles are there? How many websites do you need to check out to ensure you’re not missing anything? It’s impossible to know what you truly want if you’re missing information.
Issue #3
Some of the websites you visit refer to photography styles that aren’t photography styles at all. For example, Brides.com lists “landscape photography” as a “style.” Their exact words are “landscape photography is an established and popular photography style outside the wedding industry.”
Landscape photography is NOT a style of photography, it’s a genre of photography. How a photographer approaches capturing landscapes would be the style.
You will also see Creative as a photography style. Does that mean if you don’t choose a photographer with a creative style your photos will suck? Shouldn’t all photographers capture “creative” images?
Issue #4
Let’s assume for a moment you decide you want a photographer that defines their style as “moody.” You then find 3 photographers that “specialize” in the “moody” style.
Do you now know what your photographs will look like?
Nope.
If you asked these 3 photographers to photograph the exact same scene, would you get the same or similar photographs?
Very unlikely.
There are several reasons for this. Most photos can’t be defined by one style. Most images blend and cross over multiple styles. Even photographers with the exact same style, are going to create very different looking images. That’s because we all see the world through different eyes. This includes how we were raised as children, the different experiences we’ve had over the course of our lives, etc.
Just because a photographer claims to have a style that appeals to you, doesn’t mean you will like their photos. You may not like how they compose their images, how they use lighting, how they edit, how they pose their subjects, etc.
Hopefully, you now have a much clearer picture as to why wedding photography style definitions have little to no value.
With that being said, how should you address photography style?
How To Evaluate Photography Style To Your Benefit!
Every wedding photographer has a certain style to their images. But as we just discovered, how they define their style doesn’t matter. We have all heard the expression - “actions speak louder than words.” The same holds true here. The ultimate goal or the entire reason we care about photography style is to determine whether or not we will like the photos.
Subjective approaches aren’t going to answer this question. We need to be objective. So what steps can you take to evaluate a photographer’s style that will benefit you?
The first step is to view their website portfolio. As you’re going through the photos, you will want to answer these questions:
How well does the photographer compose their images? Do they feel boring or do they create interest?
How well does the photographer appear to use lighting? Are there awful shadows on faces or are they well lit?
How do the people in their photos look? Do they look awkward or scared to death or is the posing believable? Do they look happy?
How good is the photographer at editing? Do their colors look like something in a Sy-fy movie? Do people look like mannequins?
Excluding some creative images, do they appear to capture photos that are in sharp focus?
Does the photographer’s portfolio show you a good range of skills? (day and night photos, inside and outside photos, etc…)
Does the photographer appear to be creative?
*** PRO TIP - Obviously you’re not expected to be a lighting expert, but your photographer should be. Weddings require a lot of skill and technique to capture professional images. If their portfolio doesn’t demonstrate this, ask to see images with creative lighting and images in different lighting situations. You need to be able to trust they know how to handle these conditions and will produce great photos regardless of the lighting. If a photographer tells you they are a natural light photographer, proceed with caution. This means they will not use flash or external lighting. Actually, better said, they don’t know how to use flash or external lighting. If you hire a natural light photographer understand the quality of your images will suffer greatly in many situations.
The second step you want to take in evaluating a photographer’s images is to see a full wedding. However, you should keep a few things in mind as you look through the images. Don’t expect every image to be award winning. Many of the photos captured on a wedding day is about documentation, not creativity. Generally speaking, 80% of the images should be solid images with good focus. 15% of the images should be noticeably more interesting and 5% should have that “wow” factor.
As you look through the wedding photos, you also want to look for consistency in their work. The images should be in sharp focus, well composed and have good lighting. If their pictures have wild or inconsistent exposures that’s not a good sign. If some images are really, really bright and others are really, really dark, there’s an issue.
Once you have had an opportunity to review this portfolio and a full wedding, you should have a good feel for their abilities and style. Do you feel they have what it takes to photograph your wedding and do you like their style?
If you answered yes to these questions, it doesn’t mean you’re ready to hire them. Think of it this way. When you first met your future spouse, you were probably attracted to their looks. But you didn’t meet them and ask them to marry you right away. You needed some time to get to know them. You needed to learn about their personality and begin to establish a relationship build on trust.
In the next tip, we are going to take a look at the most important aspects of hiring a wedding photographer.
How To Find A Photographer for Wedding Tip #3: What Really Matters When Hiring A Photographer?
You have evaluated a photographer’s portfolio, viewed a full wedding and you really like what you see. Everything appears to be perfect on the surface. But as we just discussed, that’s not enough.
It’s now time to meet this potential photographer. If you’re like most couples, you’re planning on hiring them as long as they don’t come across as a complete wacko! But let’s pump the breaks for just a second. I want you to try to imagine what the experience with your wedding photographer is going to be like. Don’t worry, I can help walk you through this.
It’s generally starts with an initial phone or video call, sometimes followed by an in-person meeting. Assuming you hire them, they will photograph your engagement session in the near future. Several weeks later, they will deliver you the images from the session. You will then meet with them again just before the big day for the final meeting. During this meeting, they are going to work closely with you to create a wedding day timeline which will essentially form your schedule for the wedding day. Then comes the wedding day itself. They will be by your side for 8-12 hours, sometimes more, capturing every moment. Your next interaction with them will be when they deliver your final images.
This entire process usually lasts 12-18 months, if not more. The relationship you have with your photographer will be the longest relationship you have with any of your wedding vendors. As I mentioned, they will be by your side for the entire wedding day. Again, this won’t be the case with any other vendor on your day.
This brings us back to the original question - can you imagine what the experience with your wedding photographer is going to be like?
Great wedding photographers don’t take the best photos. Great wedding photographers form the best connections.
Earlier in this guide, we discovered how many couples disliked their wedding photographers. The reasons for this included rude attitude, unfriendly, they weren’t creative, they didn’t communicate timely, if at all, poor photos, etc.
As a photographer, if you want to bring the best of someone’s personality to your photos, you need to be able to connect with them. You need to be able to earn their trust so they feel comfortable enough to “let go.”
As you interview photographers, can you imagine getting a drink or a cup of coffee with them? Would you be comfortable hanging out with them? If so, then you struck gold!!
Personality is a key aspect when hiring a photographer. But more importantly, their personality must mesh really well with yours. When you trust your photographer and have a great connection with them, you will ensure the best wedding photos possible!
How To Find A Photographer For Wedding Tip #4: Client Reviews
As you search for your perfect wedding photographer, don’t forget to check out their client reviews. These should be easily accessible by visiting their website. And hopefully, you can see their client reviews on Google too.
I always recommend paying close attention to what their client’s have to say. This can give you some good insight into what it’s like to work with them. Do they speak to their personality or how easy it is to work with them. Are there remarks about the photographer’s ability to be flexible or patient. This can be really valuable information.
How To Find A Photographer For Wedding Tip #5: What’s Your Work Style?
Earlier in this guide, we discussed photography style at length. Now it’s time to talk about “work style.” This is one of the most valuable questions you can ask a photographer. Their response can give you a better feel for the photographer’s experience level and it can immediately help you determine whether or not a photographer is a good fit for you.
I would suggest asking them to outline how they approach photographing a wedding day - what types of shots are they looking to capture. You don’t need to have them spend the next hour detailing every shot they’re going to take, but a general overview of the day is good. I would also want to know if they are the type of photographer that likes to capture photos from the “shadows” or do they prefer to be in the middle of the action? Personally, I believe there is a happy medium between the two. Sometimes photos tell the story best from a distance and other times it’s smack dab in the middle of the activity.
You may not want a photographer that is looking to take photos from the sidelines all day. And on the flip side, you may not want a photographer that is going to have their camera in everyone’s faces all day. This is something that you will need to think about to see what’s best for your wedding, but work style is a vital question.
How To Find A Photographer For Wedding Tip #6: The Importance Of The Engagement Session
One of the most important decisions you will make for your wedding photography is whether or not to have an engagement session.
Some photographers will include them in their packages, while others offer it as an “add-on.” I can’t stress enough how important these sessions are to your overall wedding photography. Let me show you what I mean.
Your Benefit
Chances are, you and your partner have never been professionally photographed. Just the thought of this can cause many couples a lot of stress. Most people don’t particularly enjoy being in front of the camera to begin with, but they feel an added pressure when it involves a professional photographer.
I know it’s always easier said than done, but don’t stress too much over this. The great thing about an engagement session is the relaxed atmosphere. It’s not like the wedding day where you have to work within very strict time constraints. In the end, you’re going to learn what it goes into making professional photographs. That might sound like you’re going to be on the set of a Hollywood movie production, but it’s not that complicated. It usually involves just your photographer or your photographer and their lighting assistant.
During the session, you and your partner are going to learn about your photographer’s work style. This will include how they use lighting in your photos, how they communicate with you and how they approach posing. At the end of the day, you’re going to get beautiful photos too, but it’s everything else that provides the real benefit.
Couples stress over their wedding photography because they’re wondering if their photographer will be friendly, helpful and will they make you look beautiful in your photographs. The engagement session essentially eliminates all of these stresses and makes the wedding day easier. It removes the fear of the unknown so you know exactly what to expect on the wedding day.
The engagement session will also make your wedding day photography run smoother. You will already know how everything is going to work and what you need to do; therefore, you can work through the photos much faster.
Your Photographer’s Benefit
Your photographer is also going to benefit from your engagement session. While you learned about their work style, they are going to learn about your couple style. Some couples are comfortable with public displays of affection while others are not. Some couples are romantic while others are more playful. When your photographer has the opportunity to observe and learn about your couple style, they can better manage your photography sessions. They can tailor their communication and posing to best fit the situation.
The engagement session will also allow your photographer to see whether or not something needs to be corrected. When people get in front of the camera and their anxiety levels increase, they sometimes do things unexpectedly. For example, sometimes people will suddenly tilt their head backwards as the photo is being taken. For whatever reason, this is their body’s reaction to the stress they are feeling, but it’s not flattering in a photograph because everyone is now looking straight up their nostrils. Your photographer will be on the lookout for these types of things and assist with correcting them.
The Overall Benefit
You should now have a better understanding as to why the engagement session is so important to your wedding photography. How it benefits you and how it benefits your photographer. But there is also an overall benefit. You will recall earlier we discussed the importance of your photographer’s personality and their ability form great connections with their clients.
The engagement session is going to be time that you and your photographer spend together, getting to know each other on a more personal level. This will be hugely beneficial to establishing that connection and trust that’s so vital to great wedding photography. This in turn will help you to feel much more comfortable working with them and being in front of their camera. It’s for these reasons that I personally believe the engagement session is one of the most crucial steps of wedding photography.
How To Find A Photographer For Wedding Tip #7: Good Communication Is A Must!
With 75% of couples being dissatisfied with their wedding photographer, what can be done to make the experience better? We briefly touched on the reasons behind this issue, but one of the most common reasons for couples being unhappy was poor communication from their photographer.
Couples were frustrated when they would send them an email or text message or leave them a voicemail, and it took days or weeks to get a response, if they were lucky enough to get a response at all. When it comes to communication, what should you expect?
For me personally, I try to return every message within a few hours. Sometimes that’s just not possible. If I’m in the middle of photographing a wedding, I don’t find it respectful to the couple if I’m responding to emails or texting another client when I should be taking photos of their day. As a wedding photographer, I’m pretty much available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. But sometimes I also haver personal plans or obligations that will prevent an immediate response. As I mentioned, the majority of my messages are returned within hours. 99% are returned within 24 hours and 1% are returned within 36 hours.
As you go through the process of finding a photographer for your wedding, pay attention to their communication. Does it take days or weeks for them to get back to you? Do they not respond at all? Is the information they provide helpful? Is their communication professional? These are some of the things you want to watch for. You might love everything about them, but if it’s a struggle or a fight to speak with them, they may not be the best photographer for you.
How To Find A Photographer For Wedding Tip #8: Ask Other Wedding Professionals
As you search for your wedding photographer, it’s likely you will come across the following suggestion - ask other wedding professionals.
I wouldn’t say this is the worst advice in the world, but it’s a tip that I would use with caution. Like any group in life, the wedding industry can be a little “clicky.” The referrals you get is often “friends supporting friends.” Just because another wedding professional refers them, it doesn’t mean they are the right photographer for you or that you should hire them. You still want to approach them the same way you would any other photographer. Evaluate their portfolio, see a full wedding, meet them and get a good feel for their personality. Do all of these things “fit” you and your wedding?
How To Find A Photographer For Wedding Tip #9: You Need A photographer That Knows Your Venue
There is a 99% chance you will see this advice as you search for a wedding photographer. “You should hire a photographer that has shot at your venue before - they will know all the best spots to take your photos!”
Or will they give you the same cookie cutter photos they gave the past 5 couples?
Again, this is another recommendation I would suggest you ignore. Here’s why.
It’s What We do
Experienced wedding photographers can walk into any situation and create beautiful wedding photos. They have the necessary skills to handle and manage whatever lighting conditions they’re faced with. Wedding photographers are constantly shooting in different locations and they know what to look for when it comes to creating great photos. For example, they understand the importance of having nice, clean backgrounds. Whether they have shot at your venue before or not, an experienced photographer is not going to have any issues.
Familiarity Breeds Contempt
“Online experts” will tell you that you need to hire a photographer that has shot at your venue before because they know all the best spots to take photos. I’ve seen photos from photographers that shoot at the same wedding venue all the time. Their photos all look the same with the exception of the couple’s faces. The lighting is the same, the background is the same, the poses are the same, etc….
You’re not hiring a photographer to give you cookie cutter photos. You’re looking for images that are original. Your wedding isn’t an assembly line.
If a couple hires me to photograph their wedding and I haven’t photographed a wedding there before, I will either scout the venue prior to the wedding day or I will show up a little earlier on the wedding day to do a walk through. Either way, I will be fully prepared to photograph your wedding. This is how most professional photographers handle new wedding venues.
Here’s the bottom line. You don’t need a photographer that has shot at your venue before. If you know they haven’t, simply ask what they do to familiarize themselves with the location.
How To Find A Photographer For Wedding Tip #10: Should You give Your Photographer A Shot List?
Here’s another tip you’re sure to come across while trying to find the perfect wedding photographer. You’re sure to hear or read something that tells you “make sure you give your photographer a shot list.”
If you’re hiring a brand new wedding photographer or a wedding photographer with very little experience, then yes, give them a shot list. If something happens on the wedding day (and it always does) they’re sure to become frazzled and I can almost guarantee they will miss photos. However, if you’ve hired an experienced wedding photographer, shot lists are generally a very bad idea. Let me explain.
There are essentially 2 types of shot lists.
Wedding day photos
Creative poses
Wedding Day Photos
Let’s first take a look at the wedding day photos. This is a shot list of every photo you want captured on the wedding day - dress, engagement ring, wedding rings, shoes, necklace, earrings, bride getting in dress, buttoning bride’s dress, bride putting on shoes, etc…. If we were to complete this list, we would literally have hundreds of photos.
If you’re hiring a professional photographer, they already know what photos they need to capture.
Here’s what we need to think about when it comes to the shot list. Weddings are fluid. Moments happen in the spur of a moment. There’s no warning. Take the bridal suite during the getting ready part of the day. Your photographer will be working hard to capture the detail shots. And while they might appear totally immersed in those photos, they are also aware of what’s happening around them. When a unique or special moment unfolds, the photographer is prepared to stop what they’re doing and capture it.
If your photographer is trying check off every photo listed on a shot list AND capture the photos creatively, it’s going to be nearly impossible for them to also stay aware of what’s happening around them. Their attention is being pulled in too many directions. Ultimately, this will result in lost moments and lost photos.
If want to give your photographer a shot list of VIP’s (very important people) or specific details your including in your day, by all means share this with them. They can then be sure to take extra photos of these people and/or details.
Creative Poses
Another shot list couples like to give their photographer is one that includes creative poses. Couples will go on sites like Pinterest and literally print out a packet of creative poses they want to use for their wedding party photos or their couple photos. Pinterest can be a great resource. But remember, it’s good when used for inspiration, not replication.
When we see photos on Pinterest, we also have to remember a few things.
The Photos Aren’t Always Real
Many of the wedding photos you see on Pinterest are not from real weddings. They were created using elaborate lighting set ups, models and the perfect locations. Wedding photographers don’t have this luxury on a wedding day. They typically don’t have more than a minute or two to arrange and capture each photo. It’s extremely fast paced.
Trust Your Photographer
Hopefully, part of the reason you hired your photographer, is for their creative talents. If you want them to show up and re-create the work of another photographer, you should just hire that photographer. We have talked a lot about connecting with your photographer and trusting them. If the wedding day rolls around and you don’t believe in their creative abilities, you hired the wrong photographer.
How To Find A Photographer For Wedding Tip #11: What About Their Editing Style?
Photo editing has always been a hot topic between professional photographers, and I suspect it always will be. The debates are always the same - Should you ever edit your photos? How much editing is too much? Are certain edits considered “cheating?”
I want to circle back to the 75% of couples that were dissatisfied with their photographers. A large portion of these couples remarked at how poorly edited their photos were. What’s even more interesting to me is that very few couples ask about editing. In the 8+ years I’ve been a professional photographer, only 2 clients have asked to learn more about my editing beliefs and style.
Asking potential photographers to explain their beliefs and approach to photo editing is another very valuable question. I will share with you my personal beliefs so you can get a feel for what I mean.
“I believe that photography is a two-step creative process that includes image capture and post-production. Photographers should always strive to get their photos as perfect as possible during image capture, but every photo will always require some level of post-production to bring it to the next level. ”
The Purist
There are many wedding photographers out there that don’t believe any photos should be edited. They believe everything should be captured perfectly in camera without any post-production techniques applied.
Here’s the bottom line. The cameras we use in professional photography are amazing pieces of technology. But they have their limitations. Cameras don’t come close to seeing the world as we see it through the human eye. For example, colors aren’t as vibrant or as rich. Post-production allows us to essentially restore those colors to how we actually experienced a scene in person.
the Pretend Purist
These are the photographers that would like you to believe photo editing is for “bad photographers.” In my experience, these photographers want you to also believe that editing is beneath them. But in reality, they take this position because they don’t like editing or they’re not good at editing. Photo editing is an art form and it takes time to learn how to use the tools, and to find a style that supports your brand as a professional.
The Extremist
This photographer loves photo editing so much they don’t know when to stop. Their skies are so pink and purple, they look like something straight out of a Sy-Fy movie. They apply so much skin retouching to their subjects, they look like mannequins. This is obviously the point editing has gone too far.
The Deceiver
As you start to narrow your list of potential photographers and look at their online portfolios, it’s time to make a few mental notes. I want you to pay close attention to the editing style of their portfolio images. Later on, when you view one of their full weddings, I want you to compare the editing to these photos. Is it the same or different? Do the website images appear to have better editing?
A lot of photographers will give their website images more love when it comes to editing, but this isn’t how they will edit your photos. Don’t hesitate to ask them if the photos on their website are the same images they delivered to their clients.
I have always believed you show couples the actual photos you give clients. I just believe it’s the right thing to do. But to purposely show an editing style that a potential client won’t receive, is a little too sneaky for my liking.
How To Find A Photographer For Wedding Tip #12: How Many Wedding Photos Should You Get?
The question you need to ask yourself is do you want more or do you want better?
Every year, couples that got married participate in surveys to share what they liked most about their wedding, and what they liked least. When it comes to how many photos you should get, couples provided similar responses. Most couples agree that 600 photos is the sweet spot. Less than that and it felt like they were missing something. More than that and it felt overwhelming. Some couples received 1,000 or more photos and they said they got bored looking through them.
There are a lot of photographers that will use the number of photos as a sales gimmick. Some couples are easily romanced by the thought of getting 1,100 or 1,200 pictures from the day. They often promise to deliver these images within 1-2 weeks. If your quest for a photographer, if you hear anything similar to this, keep looking!!
Spray & Pray
Many of these photographers offering 1,000+ images from the day are what is referred to as a spray and pray photographer. In other words, they don’t photograph your wedding with intent or purpose. First they spray. They aim the camera at something and hold the shutter down to take a bunch of pictures at once. Then they pray. Once they get the photos on the computer they pray that one of the pictures out of the group is usable. I bet you’re dying to have a photographer like this responsible for your memories. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, right?
You Call That Editing!
Editing is very subjective. These spray and pray photographers appeal to you by promising you a lot of photos with a super quick turn around. There’s only one way they can accomplish this - they cut corners. These photographers put your 1,000+ photos in a photo editing program like Adobe Lightroom where they can apply the same “color effect” across all 1,000+ images within a few minutes. Then they go through each image very quickly to make whatever slight tweak the photo requires. Unfortunately, that’s not editing
Let me give you a general overview of my editing process so you can see the difference.
Every image is creatively cropped and straightened to ensure the best composition
Every image is also white balanced, and color corrected
Every image is reviewed for overall issues that should be removed from the image (lint or hair on attire, pimple removal, distracting object removal from foregrounds and backgrounds, bug/dust removal, etc.)
Every image is reviewed for areas that can benefit from dodging and burning (a photo editing technique where you purposely darken or lighten an image)
Every portrait image undergoes my Signature portrait process in which eyes are highlighted, teeth whitened and a gentle skin smoothening is applied to ensure you look your very best
Every image has a subtle vignette applied to it
As you can see, these two processes are very different. One is very basic while other is how a professional photographer edits your photos. Personally, I’m meticulous about editing because I want the couples I work with to have the most perfect images possible. It’s what they are paying me for and it’s what they expect.
A Good Rule of Thumb
You should always ask a photographer how many photos you should expect from the day. But a good rule of thumb is to expect 50-75 professionally edited images per hour of photography coverage.
If your photographer is there for 8 hours, you should expect between 400-600 images. Understand that photographer’s can’t guarantee you a specific number of images. They provide you with an expected “range” (400-600) because they never know what’s going to happen on a wedding day.
You and your photographer will create a “wedding day timeline” before the wedding. In that timeline, you might dedicate 2 hours following the ceremony for photos. For one reason or another you ceremony is delayed by 45 minutes. Your photographer no longer has 2 hours to capture photos. They now have 1 hour and 15 minutes. This could obviously impact the number of photos you get from the day. These delays can happen at multiple times during the day. It’s just the nature of weddings. Generally, the person that is expected to get everything back on track is your photographer. This often means they are expected or required to reduce the time they need to capture your photos.
How To Find A Photographer For Wedding Tip #13: Wedding Day Timeline
Approximately 1-2 weeks before the big day, your photographer should sit down with you to create your wedding day timeline. This is where having an experienced wedding photographer is worth its weight in gold.
This timeline is essentially going to create a blueprint for your entire wedding day. Let’s take a look at what a timeline might look like.
9 am - 2 pm: Hair and makeup
2 pm - 2:30 pm: Bridal portrait session
2:30 pm: First Look
2:45 pm - 4:00 pm: Family portraits and wedding party portraits
4:30 pm: Ceremony
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Bride and groom’s creative portrait session
6:00 pm - 11 pm: Reception
When we see the timeline written out like this, we really appreciate how critical time is on the wedding day. And how even slight delays here or there can have ripple effects throughout the day. In my experience as a wedding photographer, a lot couples underestimate the time they will need for the getting ready part of the day. You might be looking at that timeline above and saying to yourself, I’m not going to need 5 hours for hair and makeup. Of course, this will be dependent on how many people need to go through hair and makeup, but whether you have 3 people or 7, always add some extra time for issues. Without fail, someone’s hair won’t be cooperating that day and it takes them a half hour longer than expected to get it right. Or someone wakes up with a blemish that requires extra time in makeup.
I always tell the brides I work with - If you have an extra half-an-hour to sit around the bridal suite with your bridesmaids relaxing, and having fun, great! That’s much better than running late and feeling completely stressed out.
I’ve never seen a wedding run perfectly from start to finish. There are too many moving parts and it’s not realistic to think everything is going to run perfectly. But that’s okay. Your photographer expects this and is prepared for it. This is what comes with being a wedding photographer. This is just another reason why having an experienced wedding photographer is so important.
How To Find A Photographer For Wedding Tip #14: Does Photography Equipment Matter?
Yes and no.
Professional photographers can pretty much have any camera in their hands and create beautiful images. Whereas amateur photographers usually see the quality of their images decrease as the camera gets better. The tools we use in photography are only good if you know how to use them. Professional cameras in the hands of professional photographers are weapons of mass creation. Too many amateur photographers buy professional cameras because they believe they will instantly get professional looking photos. But it doesn’t work that way.
Professional photographers use professional grade cameras because they provide more creative control, more consistent results, more reliability and better performance in various conditions.
“Cameras don’t take pictures, people do.”
Would You Ask Taylor Swift What Microphone She uses?
Does the brand of camera a photographer uses matter? If you were interviewing Taylor Swift to sing at your wedding, would you ask her what kind of microphone she uses? Of course not. Camera brand doesn’t really matter. The major camera brands all make amazing cameras.
If I were hiring a photographer, I would be most concerned with whether or not they bring more than one camera on the wedding day. If they don’t have backup equipment for everything in their camera bag (cameras, lenses, flashes, etc…), what’s their game plan if something goes down? If they only have one camera and it breaks, are they planning on packing up and leaving for the day? Make sure your photographer brings at least two cameras with them.
Redundancy Is King!
The other question I would ask my photographer is whether or not the camera uses one or two memory card slots. Memory cards are what save or store your photos as they are captured. And it’s not uncommon for memory cards to fail.
If your photographer is using a camera with only one memory card slot, you’re both rolling the dice. If their memory card fails, there is a very real possibility you will lose whatever photos were captured on that card. But if they’re using a camera with two memory cards slots, they can set up the second card to essentially copy the first card. If they have a memory card failure now, they have an immediate back up which means you still have your memories!
*** Pro Tip: Be sure to ask your photographer how they save and backup your photos once they are uploaded from the memory cards. You want to ensure they have a process in place to protect your images as much as possible. Ideally, your photos should be put on multiple hard drives because they too fail, and they should have additional copies offsite or in the cloud.
How To Find A Photographer For Wedding Tip #15: First Looks & Unplugged Weddings
If I said these terms to you 3 years ago, you probably would have looked at me like have 6 heads. But I’m guessing you’ve heard these terms and are familiar with their meaning. If for some reason you’re not familiar with them, don’t worry, you will be in a few minutes.
First Look
Traditionally, a first look occurs when you and your spouse see each other for the first time at the wedding ceremony. However, over the past 7 or 8 years, having a pre-ceremony first look has become very popular. I would estimate that 90% of the couples I work with have a first look.
Again, if we look at weddings from a traditional standpoint, couples never saw one another until the wedding ceremony. They would typically have some sort of religious ceremony that lasted 45 minutes to 90 minutes. This was followed by traveling to a new location for photos of the families, wedding party and the married couple. When we account for the travel time and photos, It wasn’t uncommon to spend 3+ hours taking pictures.
Most couples I work with now place a higher value on time with their wedding guests and enjoying their wedding reception. This has made first looks a great option for many couples. The first time you see your future spouse on the wedding day can be emotional, and a lot of couples aren’t comfortable showing that emotion in public. A first look offers a private and more intimate setting for this experience.
Typically, the first look takes place 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours prior to the ceremony. This is followed by the family and wedding party photos. Following the wedding ceremony, you and your spouse spend time with your photographer for the creative couple session. This usually lasts 45-60 minutes and then you’re off to your party.
Unplugged Weddings
99% of your wedding guests will have a cell phone, if not 100%. And 100% of them believe they’re about to capture the cover picture for the next issue of Martha Stewart’s wedding magazine. An unplugged ceremony is going to prevent your guests from taking photos or video during the ceremony.
Photographers have very limited options when it comes to photographing a wedding ceremony. Let’s take a quick look at what I mean.
Image Courtesy of weddingcheckpoint.comWhen it comes to most wedding ceremonies, photographers can capture photos from the center aisle and the side aisles. I have included a red “X” in these areas just to highlight this. Many of your photographer’s photos will be taken with guests sitting in front of them. If your guests are using their cell phones to capture photos it’s going to be a nightmare. Your photos will look awful!
Photo Courtesy of Hitched.co.uk.As you can see, wedding ceremony photos look ridiculous when there is a sea of arms, hands and cell phones in the air. The ceremony is what the day is all about. You want professional, clean looking images. If you think the photo above is bad, it can get worse. Much worse. There are many weddings where guests actually stand in the center aisle to capture images. Guests have literally jumped in front of the professional photographer just as the first kiss was happening causing the photographer to miss the shot. All for a selfish and blurry cell phone picture.
How Should You Tell Guests Not To Take Photos or Video During The Ceremony?
I would actually use two approaches. I would place a sign in a highly visible area advising guests your having an unplugged wedding with a little description of what that means. I would also have your officiant make an announcement before starting the actual ceremony.
I’m sometimes amazed at how selfish wedding guests can be. I was recently photographing a wedding. The couple had a sign advising it was an unplugged wedding, but apparently a guest felt it didn’t apply to them. It’s clear to see in the photo below, as the bride was escorted up the aisle by her father, this was an emotional moment. Having a guest standing there in the frame with a cell phone takes something away from this moment. Guests to need to remember they are there to support and share in these wonderful moments, not ruin them.
How To Find A Photographer For Wedding Tip #16: Be Upfront With Your Concerns
There is a great expression - “we don’t know, what we don’t know.”
Sometimes couples have a bad experience with a photographer because it’s a bad photographer. And sometimes couples have a bad experience because they didn’t clearly communicate their concerns to their photographer. If you are super nervous about posing and looking good in your photos, voice these concerns to them. Be completely honest with them. Let them know exactly what you’re thinking and how you’re feeling.
They can offer advice and tips to help you deal with these emotions and it will allow them to better manage your photo sessions. If they aren’t aware of your fears or concerns, they can’t take any steps to address them. Ultimately, this could cause you to be unhappy with your photos and your photographer.
Conclusion
We have discussed a lot of information in this guide when it comes to your wedding photography. I truly hope you found this helpful and it makes your experience easier, more successful and less stressful. We’ve learned that there is a lot of bad information out there when it comes to finding a wedding photographer for your wedding. But now you have some very useful tips and tools to simplify the process.
Unless you plan weddings all the time, it’s incredibly difficult to know what’s important and what’s a waste of your time. If you have any questions or thoughts, please be sure to leave me a comment below - I answer them all!!
