You’ve finally found the wedding dress you want to wear on your wedding day. You know where and when you’re going to be getting married. The venue is booked and you’ve made sure that the guys are in line. That doesn’t mean that you’re done planning though – in fact, there’s one more thing left to do: choosing a wedding photographer to make your moments last forever!
The last thing any bride wants is for their wedding photos to turn out blurry or unflattering because they didn’t hire someone with enough experience behind them. In order not to end up regretting your decision of who shoots your wedding memories, here are 8 Tips for Hiring the Best Photographer for Your Wedding
1) Check their website
The first thing you should do is research potential photographers’ websites and portfolios online. Make sure they have a good mix of wedding photos as well as other types of photography (family portraits, engagement sessions). This will give you an idea of how skilled and versatile they are with different types of shoots. You can also check out reviews on sites like Yelp or Google Reviews to see what past clients have said about them.
2) Ask around
Once you’ve narrowed down your list, ask friends and family members who have recently gotten married if they had professional wedding photos taken. If so, ask them who they used and what their experience was like. You can also reach out to wedding planners or venue managers for recommendations.
3) Have an interview
Once you’ve found 2-3 photographers that seem like a good fit for your wedding, contact them to book a time for an interview. During this interview, you will want to ask them about their wedding photography process (it’s not like other types of photoshoots). For example, do they prefer taking photos during the wedding itself or before and after? This could affect how you plan out your wedding day schedule! You’ll also want to make sure that the wedding photographer’s personality and wedding style fits with your wedding vision.
4) Ask for references
Once you’ve found the wedding photographer of your dreams, ask them for a list of references that you can contact for more information about their work. Some photography studios like Infinite Moments Photography will even offer a second shooter as an option to give you extra peace of mind!
5) Meet in person
Don’t book a wedding photographer without meeting with them first! The wedding photography process can be very personal and you should feel 100% comfortable with the person shooting your wedding day.
6) Look for hidden costs
Be sure to ask about any extra fees that might come up during your wedding planning process such as, travel/lodging, second shooter fees, editing/retouching, and additional hours. Some wedding photographers will offer packages that include these items, while others will have separate costs for each additional item you order.
7) Get to know them better
Take some time to get to know your wedding photographer! The best relationships are built on trust and communication. This is one of the largest moments of your life so make sure that you and your photographer are both on the same page wedding-wise, and that you can reach out to them if an issue or question comes up during the wedding planning process.
8) Make a wedding photography contract
Wedding photographers use contracts to protect themselves as well as their clients, so make sure you both sign one! This will help with your wedding photography expectations. Wedding photographers might also have wedding day cancellation policies, so make sure you know what will happen if your wedding photographer is sick on the wedding day!
Choosing the wedding photographer who will capture your wedding memories is an important decision. The right person for this job should be able to provide you with wedding photos that are both beautiful and natural, capturing the emotions of the day better than any other type of photography. Capturing quality timeless photos is the primary focus of Infinite Moments Photography. If you’re looking for a North Carolina or Virginia wedding photographer look no further!
