how to hire a wedding photographer
Wedding photography is about more than just equipment or taking many photos; it requires skill, experience, and interpersonal abilities. Many aspiring wedding photographers find it harder than they expected, and couples should be mindful when selecting a photographer to avoid hiring someone unqualified, like a friend with a good camera.
Key Qualities in a Wedding Photographer:
Soft Skills: Beyond technical skills, photographers should be personable and attentive. It's a good idea to meet with potential photographers to assess their people skills and determine if they're a good match for your wedding.
Client Reviews: Established photographers with numerous positive reviews on sites like Yelp, Google My Business or The Knot typically deliver better results and experiences.
Technical and Creative Expertise: A good photographer balances technical skill with creativity, capturing both well-exposed images and artistically framed shots.
Personality and Compatibility: Since you’ll spend your wedding day with the photographer, ensure they have a compatible personality, making the experience enjoyable.
Photography Style: Each photographer has a unique style. Review their full portfolio via their Blog to see if their approach aligns with your vision.
Why Multiple Photographers?
Multiple photographers can capture different moments simultaneously, ensuring no special moment is missed. While one focuses on the main ceremony, others can capture candid reactions or unique perspectives. For larger weddings, two or more photographers are recommended. Ask the photographer how they divide their photo responsibilities with their assistant.
Quality Over Quantity:
Choose quality images over a large number of products. You can add prints or albums later, but image quality is crucial on the wedding day. Natural light photos look great along with a collage of images while a portrait with creative flash can usually hold more weight as a “stand alone” photograph. Ask if your photographer makes sunset or evening portraits with lighting equipment.
Cultural Knowledge:
For cultural weddings, photographers should have experience with traditional ceremonies, which often require more attention to detail than Western weddings. If you really like a photographers portfolio but they have limited experience photographing a wedding of your culture, don’t rule them out especially if you have a full-time wedding planner, a good photographers timeline and a bit of experience is all a seasoned photographer usually needs.
Professional vs. Part-Time:
Assess whether the photographer is a seasoned professional or someone who works part-time. Experience matters, and reputable photographers are often categorized by the number of weddings they've led:
1-5 Weddings: Inexperienced
6-10 Weddings: Amateur (assistant level)
10-20 Weddings: Knowledgeable
21-30 Weddings: Experienced
31+ Weddings: Professional (associate level)
In summary, choose a wedding photographer who blends technical skill, creativity, and personality to capture your big day beautifully.
