How To: Select the Right Wedding Photographer
Selecting a photographer to capture one of the most important days of your life is a big deal! Take your time with your decision; don’t let anyone rush you. Ask questions—lots of them! Get to know your potential vendors to make sure that whoever you select is someone you feel confident in and comfortable with. This article will outline a few strategies to identify a wedding photographer that will suit your needs.
1. Understand Your Style
As you search for your dream wedding photographer, it’s important to know what style of photography you’re drawn to. Some take a documentary-style approach, meaning they capture moments as they happen with little to no intervention. Others take a more traditionally posed approach with plenty of guidance, directing shots as they happen. There are photographers who shoot with a fine art perspective, creating photos that are artistic and creative, with an emphasis on lighting, composition, and storytelling. In addition to photography style, consider how the photographer edits their images. Some are drawn to moody edits with deeper contrast, others prefer light and airy, and some meet in the middle with a true-toned preference where tones are enhanced but kept rather natural. Of course, this is a spectrum, and there are plenty of photographers who use a mix of all styles.
2. Do your Research—And Don’t Rush It!
Victoria, BC, especially is saturated with talented Vancouver Island wedding photographers, and there are lots of options to choose from. Doing your research extends beyond a Google search or Instagram browse. If you’ve booked other vendors for your wedding day, ask who they would recommend. There are certain communities on Facebook where you can vet photographers or ask the community for recommendations and their experience working with them: Wedding Vendors Vancouver Island Reviews and Recommendations, Wedding Everything - Vancouver Island, Vancouver Island Weddings - Premier Vendors and Solutions.
Consider the following: the vendor’s experience, their portfolio—does it speak to you? Reviews and testimonials are another way to gauge a vendor’s professionalism and quality of work.
3. Ask Plenty of Questions
Don’t be shy when it comes to asking questions to get a better understanding of how your photographer works. Photographers will have a specific style, workflow, or policies that you’ll want to be aware of before committing. Here are a few important questions worth asking:
Can I see a sample real wedding gallery?
What’s your backup plan in case of equipment failure?
What’s it like to work with you on the day of the wedding?
How do you back up your images after the wedding day?
What is your process for editing photos after the wedding? When can I expect to see them?
4. Meet With Your Potential Vendors
Whether you’re able to meet in person or virtually, it’s always a good idea to connect before making your final decision. Remember, you will spend the majority of your wedding day with or around your wedding photographer. It’s important that they’re someone you feel confident and comfortable around.
Are you searching for wedding photos that are authentic, romantic, and tell your story? I like to take a documentary-style approach to wedding photography, while coming prepared with prompts and guidance to use as needed.
Sound like we might be a fit?
