4 Questions to Narrow Down Your Wedding Photographer
Shoutout to all my indecisive people in the crowd - weddings are stressful, am I right?
Living in a time with SO MANY OPTIONS, having to sit down and plan out one of the most important days of your life, which includes hundreds of different choices, can be a BIT stressful.
No need to freak out! I am here to help you make one small decision today - narrowing down your wedding photographer. Now, I had it easy. I followed my wedding photographer for years, so I knew FOR SURE that I wanted her to capture our day. However, I know a lot of other people, especially those who don't deal with photographers a lot, so they aren't sure exactly what to look for. Because of this, I decided to create a small list to help you out! And I made a cute infographic you can use to pin this post and save it for later! Check it out below :)
What kind of photographic style are you looking for? As you look through photos you have liked/saved in the past on social media. Are they dark and moody, or light and airy? Do you gravitate towards close, intimate photos, or large, expansive landscapes? Love the minor details? Vibrant colors? Muted pastels? There are sooo many photographers out their, and each one has a unique style. As you think about photography, go and make a Pinterest board, and pin your favorite photos as you come across them. Compare this board to potential photographers' portfolios, to see which style matches yours the best. Chances are, if you connect on style, you most likely will connect with their great personality as well!
Natural and/or artificial light? A lot of photographers have really started to incorporate more natural light in their photos over the years, which I do in my own business! Portraits are taken outside without off camera flashes, and shooting during the golden hour has really proven to capture some of the most beautiful pictures. However, at a wedding, some photographers still use artificial light, depending on their style, and most will DEFINITELY use some type of flash to capture indoor photographer/late night scenes. Make sure to look at the lighting in the photos of potential wedding photographers you are browsing through, and choose what draws your eyes in the most :)
Second shooter or not? This is probably one of the FIRST questions I want to address with my own brides - whether or not you want a second shooter. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a second shooter is another photographer (that your main wedding photographer brings along) present on your wedding day to capture more photos and find a new perspective for your day. I LOVE having a second shooter with me because it makes the day less hectic (not as much running around between shots) and nothing can be missed because there are two of us! It's definitely up to you and your photographer though, so make sure to ask them about that option and what they would recommend.
Shoot and Share or print? I remember getting our family photos done and having a BIG viewing session afterwards to choose a couple photos to print and save. Nowadays, many photographers have started gravitating towards a more dynamic option - shoot and share, which is what I do! Basically, as a shoot and share photographer, I charge my clients a set price for their session and share all the photos I edited with them on an online album to download with no additional fees! I really do this because it allows people to easily look back at ALL the photos they had taken, share them with family and friends across the world, and take time to decide when they want to get photos printed. It's definitely up to you though - just make sure you take note of what your wedding photographer offers!
