Choosing a Wedding Photographer: Your Step-by-Step Guide
As a wedding planning team, part of our job is assisting couples with building a team of superstar vendors. That includes choosing a wedding photographer! We know it’s not easy finding the right person to capture your special day in an overcrowded market. After all, you’ll be looking at the photos from that day for the rest of your life!
However, choosing a wedding photographer doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. In fact, it all comes down to four simple steps! Just follow our roadmap to the photographer who best suits your personality, budget, and style.
Four Steps to Choosing a Wedding Photographer
Know Where to Look
Google and Instagram are the best places to search for wedding photographers in your area (or the destination where you’ll tie the knot). On Google, search for blogs featuring a wedding at your venue. You can familiarize yourself with photographers who’ve worked at your venue before, plus you can scope out the best places to snag portraits ahead of time!
On Instagram, start by looking at relevant hashtags. For example, a couple whose venue is in Central Oregon might search #bendweddingphotographer or #oregonweddingphotographer. You can also look at your venue’s tagged photos. You should see a wall of posts from photographers who have shot there before to help you narrow your options!
Reach Out to Your Favorites
After doing your research, make an ordered list of your favorite photographers. Then, reach out to the top three ONLY! Just trust us on this: filling out every contact form you see seems like a good idea until messages from a gazillion photographers start clogging up your inbox. At that point, it’s unlikely that you’ll remember what you liked about any of them!
Pay attention to three things as you consider who to contact: editing style, composition, and the photographer’s personality. Are the colors in their images dark and moody, light and airy, or true-to-life? Do they tend toward candid, posed, or documentary-style photos? Finally, can you see yourself being their friend? You don’t actually need to become besties with your wedding photographer, but the entire experience will be more enjoyable if you’re comfortable with them!
Prepare For Your Discovery Call
Most photographers will offer a free initial consultation or “discovery call” where you can get to know each other and decide if you’re a good fit. Don’t show up unprepared! Have interview questions ready that will help you make your choice. We suggest asking the following:
What is your favorite thing about photography?
How (and when) did you get started in this business?
Are you a full-time photographer, or is photography your side hustle?
What’s something you learned from a wedding last year that you’re bringing with you?
What is your posing style (examples: candid, some light posing, heavy posing)?
How comfortable are you with directing big families/wedding parties?
Do you anticipate your editing style remaining consistent in the future?
Compare Pricing
A photographer’s pricing typically reflects their experience. However, if you love a photographer’s style and their services are relatively inexpensive, don’t read too much into it. You may have found a diamond in the rough! For reference, most 8-hour photography packages in Central Oregon range from $4,500-$5,500.
Choosing A Wedding Photographer Thoughtfully
Out of all the wedding vendors you hire, connecting with your photographer is essential. They’ll be third-wheeling with you and your partner the entire day, so it’s crucial to not feel self-conscious around them and to trust them with capturing those moments. Find someone with whom you share common ground and who makes you feel at ease. We promise it will go a long way toward enhancing your enjoyment of your special day!
Of course, as wedding planners, we also love to form connections with our couples! We’ll help you leave tired traditions behind to plan the wedding you *really* want. Reach out today and discover if we're a good fit!