Choosing your perfect wedding photographer top ten tips

Every couple dreams of having the perfect wedding day, and one of the key elements that can make or break the day is the choice of a wedding photographer. Finding the right photographer who can capture the magic and emotions of your special day is crucial. In this blog post, we will share 10 essential tips to help couples choose the perfect wedding photographer for their big day.

• Start Early: Choosing your perfect wedding photographer is a mammoth task and requires quite a lot of though and research on who, how much, what do you get, and a myriad of other things, you have taken your first steps by reading this blog post but get the paper out and start making lists too as wedding photographers can book up a long way in advance and you don't want to miss out on your dream photographer.
• Define Your Style: Have a very good look around, there are thousands of photographers each unique in their own way, figure out what you like the look of and think about how that style might fit your wedding day and wedding venue. Your preference could be classic, light and airy, dark and moody, you might want more portraits than you do candid or possibly all group photos. I think once you know what you like you will find someone in no time.
• Set a Budget: Be realistic when setting your photography budget, have a look around at photography websites and prices, ask friends and family what they paid, photographers may seem very expensive at first until you break down what they do, on the day they may only be with you for 8-10 hours but there's usually two hours of travel and then when they get home you have to back up all the images to make sure they are safe. I personally have had a 20 hour day. Then there is the editing, the processing and all the background costs of running a business I won't bore you with. So my advice is look at prices, set your budget and make sure you stick to it with in maybe 10% up or down of said budget.
• Research and Shortlist: Do your research on as many photographers as you can, read their reviews, look at there work, maybe find out if they have been published in magazines or even on blogposts, you want to create a list of reputable wedding photographers. Then you need to narrow down that list, I would start this with going though and picking out 5 or 6 that you really like the work of. Then go through that short list and look at pricing for each one as narrow this down to 3. This 3 is your short list and you are almost ready to start sending emails to them.
• Review Portfolios: When reviewing a portfolio look for work that speaks to you and makes you feel something. remember this is going to be your memories of your wedding day one of the pinnacle moments of your life and you need to love the images as much to day as you do in 50 years from now.
• Meet in Person: I cannot stress how important this is, Do not book with anyone until you have met them even if it's just a zoom call! This person is going to be a massive part of your day, spending a lot of time with the two of you and putting lenses in your guests faces ( especially if its not the guests finest moment). So you need to get to know the photographer a little to decide if you actually like them as a person, relax around them and trust them to cover your wedding .
• Ask Questions: This is another big one, ask plenty of questions and not all about photography. Ask them what their hobbies are or what music they listen to, get to know them a little as a person but don't get personal. when it comes down to business though things you might what to ask are, ( Do you have insurance?, How do you work no the wedding day?, How long will it take to get our photos?, How long do we have access to our images?, Do you bring spare equipment on the day?) and anything else you would like to know as well its better to ask at this stage before you have given them your money.
• Check References: Gain some insight on your wedding photographer, If you have other services booked ask them , ask the venue you have booked if they know them too, look at google reviews and face book reviews, if you were recommended this photographer by a friend or family member as them about their experiences with them and if they have anymore insight on them as a person. By you knowing more about your photographer not only will you make a more informed booking decision, you will feel like you know them more on the day and you will feel more relaxed around them too.
• Discuss Packages: Discuss all the packages with your photographer ask them about every aspect of it like how many edited photos as included, How many hours they work and what time they work from and too. these are all really important things on making the right choice.
• Trust Your Instincts: This is the biggest, Feel a connection with your photographer, feel like you know them and trust them to do the best they can on your wedding day. They will be a huge part of they day when you think back to it and you don't want to end up with someone you don't really like.

Choosing the right wedding photographer is a decision that can significantly impact the memories of your special day. By following these ten essential tips, couples can navigate the process with confidence and select a photographer who can capture the magic, love, and emotions of their wedding day.