Let me start by saying this: I’m not married, so I’ve obviously never planned a wedding! But, now that I’ve worked as a wedding photographer for some time, I’ve definitely picked up some knowledge that will no doubt prove helpful if I ever do need to choose a wedding photographer.

Why is it such a challenge (sometimes) to choose a wedding photographer, anyway?

Over the last decade or so, a fresh new wave of photographers (myself included!) have saturated the market. Show up at any bridal show, and you’ll no doubt find that the number of booths with wedding photographers is growing each year. In some ways, this is awesome! It means that it really IS possible for every person out there to find a photographer with whom they really “click”. Now, the downside … it may be harder than ever before to locate that person! For some brides, it becomes like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Helpful hints

Perhaps this list may help you as you plow through site after site and wonder: aaaah! Who do I choose?!

1. Budget matters, but … Most people are constrained by budget. Whether it’s $100K or $5K, there is probably a limit to how much you can spend on your wedding. The reality is that it’s all about priorities. Is it $5,000 for a dress and $500 for a photographer? Or $1,000 for a dress and $4,000 for a photographer? Only you can say. Me personally, the very first thing I would do is figure out my photography budget. In other words, I’d pick my photographer FIRST. And then use the rest of what’s left of my budget for everything else. (I’m a photographer… of course this is what I’d do!) On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the highest), photography would rank 10 on my list of priorities. Where would it rank on yours? If you’re someone who KNOWS that pictures will be really important to you, then don’t let your photography budget happen just by default. Sometimes brides get started doing all the planning and find that they have X amount left over for a photographer. That works for some. But for us picture lovers, it’s a recipe for potential disappointment.
2. I wouldn’t limit myself to this area when looking for Mr. Right (eh hmm, I mean the right photographer). I can’t imagine getting married unless Jose Villa was the one photographing the event. (Seriously, I’d get married in a swamp in a dress from Sears while munching on pizza and beer just so I could afford him!)(Ok, hopefully it won’t come to that. But you get my point!) He’s in California … I’m in Delaware. Most photographers today are willing to travel for weddings. So if you fall in love with a photographer’s style but she’s not close by, check in with her anyway. Thanks to Skype, you can still “meet” face to face even before your wedding. The bonus is that many photographers looooove working in a new area as it really helps to keep us on our toes, creatively speaking.
3. Book your photographer as soon as possible. Most photographers book up 6 months to a year in advance. If you know you love a certain photographer’s style, you’ll need to book him as early as possible. With the exception of those who reside in areas with year-round warm climates, the winter months tend to be more flexible for photographers. So if you’re planning a destination wedding during the months of December through March, or a winter wedding (sigh, I love them … I mean furry wraps, wedding dresses, and snow?! Talk about gorgeous!), you may find that your options for available photographers are greater than during warmer months.
4. Be very careful when choosing a $500 photographer. I’m not saying it can’t work out … I’m just saying be sure to do your homework on this person. Normally a photographer who charges $500 is someone who is either 1.) just starting out and gaining experience, 2.) is doing an occasional wedding just as a hobby, or 3.) is booking huuuuuuuge quantities of weddings in order to turn a profit. Do your best to steer clear of the third guy … the one who is booking like crazy as this type of work load is not conducive to creativity … or good customer service. If, however, you’re budget truly is limited to $500, selecting someone who is just getting started or hasn’t shot too many weddings on her own yet CAN be a good choice. I charged my first three clients around that price. I didn’t have experience and couldn’t guarantee them great work. I didn’t offer any albums or anything other than the disc with the images. Why? Because I didn’t even know where to begin in those areas just yet! But I worked hard at their weddings and shot some images that I still keep in my online portfolio today. I was the type of $500 photographer you want! I studied, practiced, prepped, and was genuinely committed to giving my clients the best images I could possibly give them … despite my lack of experience. A few questions you might want to ask:
   • How many weddings have you shot as a second shooter?
   • Are you shooting with professional gear?
   • Under whom have you apprenticed?
   • Do you have backup gear that you will have at my wedding (uh, HUUUUUUGELY important. If a camera breaks … what’s the plan?? And if the “plan” is a $150 point and shoot … that’s NOT a plan!)
   • Do you have liability insurance? Certain venues REQUIRE that all vendors carry liability insurance.
     
     Tip: If you happen across a photographer who has worked as an on-location portrait photographer for a while and is now starting to shoot weddings at a low getting-started price, this could be a great opportunity for you! She’s no doubt already a pro when it comes to working with available lighting … and this can really be helpful at weddings.
5. Personality matters soooooooo much. No matter how gorgeous the photographer’s portfolio may by, if he rubs you the wrong way at all during your initial meetings, then he is not the photographer for you. Period. Will you truly be able to enjoy the day if you can’t stand the person who is with you the most!? Choosing a photographer with awesome work but whose personality you don’t like is just like wearing the most gorgeous dress in the world — except it’s two-sizes to small for you. Imagine spending 12 hours of the most important day of your life feeling miserable because you literally can’t breathe, can’t eat, and can’t smile because your gut hurts so much. It’s just NOT worth it! You’d be stuck with the dress ALL DAY LONG … just like you’d be stuck with the photographer ALL DAY LONG.
6. Don’t hire someone who can’t provide what you want. If you have a specific package or style of shooting in mind and a photographer who comes highly recommended to you doesn’t offer it … but you’re going to go with her anyway … stop right there! Don’t do it. Keep looking until you find someone who is a better fit. A good wedding photographer will tell you that she is NOT the right fit for you if this type of situation arises because she knows that neither of you will end up having a good experience together. Look for someone whose personality compliments your own and the mood you want to create at your wedding.
7. Engagement shoots are a must. Yes, they yield awesome pictures of the two of you for your walls … but that’s really just the bonus. Engagement sessions are no longer an option for my clients. I started to see how much more comfortable they were with me on their wedding day if we had already done an engagement shoot. And so … it became mandatory. Use this shoot to get to know your photographer and her style of shooting. By the time you get to the wedding day, she’ll feel like a good friend and you’ll feel confident that she’ll get beautiful pictures.
8. Look for a photographer with a consistent style. What word comes to mind when you visit her site? Romantic? Eclectic? Fun? Whimsical? Bright? If no immediate word comes to mind, then it may be that this particular photographer has yet to really find her style yet. It’s something that may take some time … and of course, it’s something that evolves over time. When you see that clear sense of style, however, you can have a pretty good idea of how your images will turn out. On the other hand, if a photographer’s portfolio looks like 20 different people could have shot the images, then it leaves you wondering … what will my pictures look like?
9. Your heart is set on someone you can’t afford. If there is just no way you can afford the photographer of your dreams for your actual wedding day, consider booking her for a post session. (Obviously you’ll still need to find someone for your wedding, too.) Instead of paying $12,000 for wedding coverage, for example, the photographer may offer portrait packages for a fraction of that cost. You’ll get to put your dress back on and capture some amazing pictures to add to your collection of wedding images.
10. Consider “registering” with your photographer. Who really needs another toaster, anyway?! Many photographers offer their clients the option to “register” with them so that shower guests can purchase gift certificates that are good towards the cost of the wedding photography. Even if your photographer doesn’t offer this kind of set up, you could set it up yourself. Shower invitations usually include information about where the bride and groom are registered … why not also let guests know that they can give the bride and groom the gift of pictures?

I hope that this helps … even if just a little bit : ) Of course, if you disagree with anything I say in this article, that’s ok! One thing I’ve definitely learned about weddings is that there are a million different ways to do them. As long as the couple ends up happy, that’s really all that matters : )

Happy weekend!

Kate

Kate Callahan books a limited number of weddings each year. Based in Delaware, Kate is available for travel worldwide. Visit her wedding site here.