Your wedding pictures are going to be a keepsake and the most flipped through album for the rest of your life. That’s why hiring the best wedding photographer to shoot your day is the key for loving your wedding pictures and enjoying the album for years to come.
A wedding photographer is one of the most important vendors that you will hire for your wedding day. They are primarily responsible for capturing your entire wedding day experience and every detail in between so you can relive the best day of your life in its entirety. There is a lot of pressure and importance put on choosing a photographer, and even more emphasis on choosing the best wedding photographer that’s fit to capture your specific day. You need to consider their style and offering, as well as get to know them as a person and truly value their work. The stronger the relationship you have with your photographer, the more comfortable you will be in front of your camera on your wedding day (which in turn means your wedding pictures will look more natural and less forced) Choosing a wedding photographer that fits your wedding day style as well as mesh well with your personality is key to a seamless experience.
I’m sharing my advice for how to choose your wedding photographer + I’ve included tips and insight from a very talented Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer, Abbie Tyler.
One of my favorite tips that Abbie shared with me is about lighting compared to location, take a read:
If you’re interested to learn more about wedding photography, Abbie’s Brand, and how planners and photographers work hand in hand throughout the wedding day, make sure to follow along on Instagram this week! I will be taking over Abbie’s feed on 11/13/2018 and she will be taking over mine on 11/15/2018. Follow along on Instagram at @alyssathomasevents and @abbietylerphoto.
Wedding Pictures: How to Choose the Best Photographer
EDITING STYLE
The first step in selecting your wedding photographer is looking at their editing style. Determine what type of images you’re drawn to most and what type of images you want to look back on in 20 years. Find a photographer that edits in that manner. When I say “editing style” I’m referring to the coloration and techniques that photographers tweak on your images. You need to decide if you like light and airy, dark and moody, sepia or brown tones, extremely saturated with color or more muted images. Once you determine the type of editing style you like, you can narrow your search to find photographers that fit this aesthetic.
CONTENT
Next, you should look at each photographer’s content and the subjects that they shoot. Do you see a ton of portrait photography where everyone at the wedding is standing in a formal line and smiling at the camera, or do you see a ton of candid images that capture real time emotion? Or somewhere in between? Does the photographer capture all of the wedding day details or are they solely focused on you and your guests? You can look through a photographer’s wedding pictures on their social media accounts (this will show you a curated representation of the work their most proud of) as well as their portfolio images on their website. You should quickly be able to determine the content they shoot most often as well as look for quality and consistency throughout their images.
REVIEWS/REFERRALS
Once you’ve narrowed down your photographer choices based on editing style and content, now it’s time to do some additional research and search their reviews or reach out to past brides or couples who have worked with them previously. Try to find common themes in the reviews that you read about each photographer. Reviews are simply another way to learn more about a photographer and they type of values they hold and work they produce before meeting them in person.
PERSONALITY/BRAND VALUES
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of photographers to just a few that you feel will be the best fit for your wedding day, the last step is setting up a consultation to speak with them about their prices, packages, and get to know them a bit more. (NOTE: *Photographers are artists, and they take so much pride in their work. Before contacting them for their prices and packages. you should fully value the work they create and the style of images that they capture. I would highly recommend taking the above steps (vet editing style, content, and reviews) for choosing your wedding photographer before contacting them for a consult. It’s so important that your personalities blend well together and that you trust their values and mission behind their work. You’re going to be in front of their camera for a majority of your wedding day, so it’s extremely crucial to enjoy the person taking your picture and feel extremely comfortable in front of the camera so your wedding pictures look more natural. During your consult, consider asking your photographer about their day-of process, when you can expect to receive your final images, how many images they will provide, and if they offer other products like wedding albums.
In addition to the above process for choosing your wedding photographer, here are a few frequently asked questions that I hope to provide a bit more clarity on:
When should you book a photographer for a wedding?
You should book your wedding photographer at least 1 year in advance. A majority of the top wedding photographers onlt take a limited number of weddings each year, and book well in advance. If you want to have your choice in photographer, book sooner rather than later.
How much does it cost to hire a wedding photographer?
Weddings photographers vary in cost depending on their experience in the industry, city which they will be shooting, and quality of content. Due to the wide range of costs, I don’t feel confident sharing a number with you as it is different for everyone. I do suggest prioritizing a photographer towards the top of your wedding vendor list, and allotting enough money in your budget to book a photographer that you love! Your wedding is only one day, but the images will last forever.
Looking for more vendor resources? Check out these reads:
What to Bring to Your Wedding Florist Consultation
6 Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Vendors
xx – Alyssa
Photos: Abbie Tyler Photography
All wedding flowers in the photos were created by Sapphire and Lace
Alyssa Thomas is a Pittsburgh Wedding Planner and Pittsburgh Event Planner serving clients in Pittsburgh, Columbus, Maryland and Worldwide Destinations. Her work spans from weddings and corporate events, to meetups and intimate gatherings. Contact her today for your consultation and stop by her instagram to see some beautiful events, design work, and a peek into her personal life + traveling adventures. @alyssathomasevents
Pittsburgh Wedding Planner | Columbus Wedding Planner
