Choosing a great wedding photographer is one of the most important parts of your wedding day. But how do you choose when there are so many amazing wedding photographers out there?
The wedding photography industry is currently flooded with people who own cameras, but aren’t competent wedding photographers, as well as out-right scams. How do you tell the difference? When choosing a wedding photographer you have to consider their style, price, reviews, experience and whether you connect with the photographer.
So let’s break down what’s truly important when choosing a wedding photographer for your wedding…
1. What do you want? Don’t just plow through lot’s of photos on wedding photographer’s sites. First decide what makes your heart sing when you see a wedding photo. Sit down with Pinterest and put in your venue and/or area (like RMNP), then Pin every photo that makes you excited for your wedding day photos. Next look at all those photos and think, “What do they have in common”. This will not only help you in choosing a photographer but in receiving wedding photographs that are perfectly fit to you as a couple and your wedding. Lastly, come up with three words that describe your wedding. “simple, nature-inspired, laidback”, “nature, traveling, fairytale”, “forest, warm, intimate, charming”, & “elegant, minimalist, chic” are all words that my previous clients have used. Have a clear vision of what you want your photos to look like.
Start there and that will help to filter down the photographers you are considering.
2. Composition. Look at the photos carefully, is everything in the photos there for a reason? Do the photos evoke emotion and tell a story concisely and clearly? Do you feel like you are there? If so, that’s the magic of composition. The photographer’s job is to translate what it was like to be there into a still image, and great photos evoke emotions from timing, but also from telling you what to look at and that is the art of composition.
3. Lighting. Does the photographer you are considering show successful images in all possible lighting scenarios? Daylight, strong midday light, twilight and most importantly at night? This is probably the most overlooked technical aspect when hiring a wedding photographer. The average wedding is 7 hours and in that time light changes dramatically. Can the photographer go inside, outside and into the night with you? It’s important, once in a lifetime moments happen all day long. Usually, the gap in pricing between photographers is determined by their ability to master lighting. Most photographers can capture something beautiful in the right light and environment. Wedding photographers that are worth putting money into can capture moments in ALL lighting and all settings because that is what full coverage of the day demands.
4. Personality. This isn’t as important of a factor as many brides & grooms think it is. It’s just one day (maybe two) when you directly interact with your photographer. They don’t need to be your best friend (although we often do become friends), but they should be fun to hang out with and capable. Their personality should fit the feel of your wedding though. Put them on the scale of, “totally on top of it” to “super chill and relaxed”. If you are having a mountain elopement with just 2 people and a dog, hire a photographer who shoots natural light, likes to hike and wants to hang out, “chill”. If your wedding is 200+ people, at a large venue with activities, events, alcohol, get somebody who knows how to run a business, communicates quickly and concisely, kicks ass at lighting, hires good people, manages timelines, edits consistently and delivers on time, “on top of it”.
5. Wedding Galleries. Ask for a full gallery of photos delivered to a previous couple. This also helps you to preview the way the photographer delivers photographs to you after your wedding. The photographer’s online portfolio shows only the photographer’s absolute best photos… but wedding photography is about all the little moments. Ask for a full gallery and see if the quality of the photos is consistent throughout the day. This way you can be sure that you will receive a full day of great photos and not just a few.
6. Experience. If you are going to try out a beginner and understand that, roll the dice. This is the hardest genre of photography I’ve ever worked in. On average it takes 10 years of photographing weddings for anyone to be decisively capable in it. In general, photographers with more experience charge more. They have better equipment and more advanced photography and editing skills. Be careful with beginners because, “you don’t know what you don’t know”. Many good photographers have photographed their first wedding thinking “I got this”, only to get home and recognize that they didn’t… and at that point it’s too late.
7. Budget. How does photography weigh in your overall wedding budget? If your having a destination wedding to the mountains to get once in a lifetime photos then do it right and give photography a large percent of whatever budget you are working with. It’s worth it. Photography genuinely does solidify the memories we have of our wedding days and that is priceless. If you are tight on budget to get your dream photographer then consider moving your schedule around to get them there for less time. Receptions are often a good place to let a photographer go early, you don’t need ALL the drunken moments and everybody has phones these days for those.
8. Reviews. Look for current, glowing reviews. Not just, “they did good”, but 5-stars exclamation points, all caps and specifics about the photographer. Read all the reviews and see what is repeated by the reviewers. That will give you the most honest insight into what it’s like to work with this person. Also make sure they are current. The wedding industry burns people out quickly and while the may have gotten The Knot’s “Best of Weddings” in 2016, they might be taking one wedding a year now and be totally out of practice and interest. Google has the most reliable reviews online. The Knot and Wedding Wire are decent, but many clients won’t put reviews there.
9. Estes Park. Lastly choose a photographer who works in Estes Park regularly! The logistics, permits, traffic, locations, they can all ruin your day if you don’t hire an experienced photographer who is well-versed in the difficulties of working in the area.
Hope this helps you to find a great wedding photographer who is fun to hang out with, and takes incredible photos of your wedding day!