Wading through the sea of wedding photographers can be an overwhelming and bewildering experience. There are literally thousands to choose from, all with varying degrees of talent and price. Here are three questions that every bride and groom should ask themselves before hiring a wedding photographer. If you can satisfy these three criteria then you have made a great choice regardless of who you selected.

 

1 Can we spend our entire wedding day with this photographer and be friends with him/her at the end of the day?

Wedding photography, more than any other kind of photography, is about capturing the beauty of relationships. The essence of any wedding is the interconnection between two people whose love is witnessed by their family and friends. It’s nearly impossible for any photographer to capture the beauty of those relationships without first having a genuine relationship with the bride and groom. Imagine the morning of your wedding day: You’re wearing your favorite yoga pants, your hair is covered with bobby pins and your make-up is half done. It’s the day that has occupied your thoughts for years and you’re absolutely gorgeous; but let’s face it, you’re not quite ready. Now a stranger you met months ago walks into your bridal suite with cameras blazing in both hands. It’s an uncomfortable situation at best, and the likely result will be awkward images.

You will likely spend more time with your photographer during your wedding day than with your fiancé. [/caption]Now imagine a better scenario: Your best friend, whom you haven’t seen in a while, enters the room. You are thrilled to see each other and spend the next few minutes catching up. Your friend casually takes a few photos as your make-up artist completes the finishing touches. The whole time with this friend is relaxing and enjoyable.

Realistically, your wedding photographer may never be your best friend, but they also shouldn’t be a complete stranger. Even the most experienced shooter has difficulty taking truly beautiful images without first having a personal relationship with the bride. Keep in mind that, in all likelihood, you are going to spend more time with your photographer during your wedding day than with your fiancé. Having that relationship with the person behind the camera will make you feel at ease, which will make for a great experience and fantastic photos for your wedding album.

One of the best ways to begin a relationship with a photographer is to do an engagement session.[/caption]One of the best ways to begin a relationship with a photographer is to do an engagement session. An experienced wedding photographer will take the time to first shoot a variety of engagement photos, and then observe what images you respond to most. Your responses will help guide him/her as to how to shoot your wedding day. The time you spend together before the wedding is invaluable and is one of the most influential components of a positive wedding experience. Think of it like a dress rehearsal with custom artwork as a bonus. This is the best time for you to get to know your photographer, and for him/her to get to know you two as a couple. Again, you’ll be spending a lot of time with your photographer, so make sure he/she is someone you trust and truly want to invest the time to get to know.

 

2 Does the photographer’s style match ours?

Take a good look at your top candidate’s professional wedding portfolio. Are they quality images? Can you imagine yourself in those photos? Does their style match the vision you have for your wedding? You should instantly know if you respond well to a photographer’s style. Trust your intuition. Also, ask questions and listen to their answers. A professional can explain their style, their methods, and why he/she took each shot.

 

3 Can we afford them?

Your wedding images are one of the few things from your wedding day that will increase in value over time.[/caption]You’ve finally found the perfect photographer, but can you afford his/her work? Wedding photographers have a unique skill set that requires many years to develop, which is why it’s rather expensive. It’s also expensive because of the costs associated with running a legitimate business and the fierce competition between couples for prime summer weekends. If a photographer exceeds your first two criteria then it may be worth stretching the budget to afford them. At the end of the night, when the music stops and your guests go home, the only thing that will remain is leftover cake and photographs. On your first anniversary your memories will still be bright and fresh, but will they be as vivid on your tenth anniversary or your fiftieth? Will you wish you had invested more on your memories? Only you can answer those questions, but remember your wedding images are one of the few things from your wedding day that will increase in value over time.

If you and your fiancé can truthfully answer yes to these three questions, then you have chosen the best wedding photographer for you. Note that the questions are listed and weighted in order of importance. Many couples reverse this process and start with the cheapest photographer in their price range and then look for style. They may never even consider who the actual person is behind the camera, and that’s where the difference truly happens. Wedding planning can be overwhelming and often there are more opinions than solutions, but challenge yourself to look for the photographer that you could befriend and let the rest fall into place.

Happy Wedding Planning!
Bryan