5 Tips for Choosing a Wedding Photographer

Yes! He finally popped the question he should have asked a year ago, and now it is time to make your childhood dreams come true. Now time to figure out how to make that happen. You schedule the Church, the venue for your reception, and you have a seamstress working away on the perfect dress, adding those final touches that will make even Cinderella’s mouth drop. You order the flowers, the cake, the invitations, you are ready for the tie the knot party. No one will ever forget this day of all days, your wedding day. Speaking of which, better hire that photographer you have been following on Instagram. Easy as making a call, but wait, they aren’t available on your wedding day, they are already booked for someone else’s wedding!

Tip #1: Book Your Favorite Photographer ASAP

You would think this wouldn’t be that big of a deal until you realize you aren’t the only one who wants to get married during the month with the best weather. Sadly, most brides don’t recognize this until it is too late. Don’t let yourself fall victim to the idea that you are the only one in the city that trusts Google with a weather prediction. If there is a photographer you have been social media stalking, you need to hire them as soon as you can. Once you book a venue, your date is locked in, book your photographer next. This usually entails meeting with the photographer to make some plans, signing a contract, and paying a retainer to hold your date. Then you can sit back and let the next bride get the bad news. So you booked a venue and decide you want to book that photographer you love before someone else does. You call them up and they don’t answer so you leave a message. You are already on their website since you had to find their number, so you decide to fill out their form. You check out some more of their photos, and you anxiously wait to hear back from them. A few hours later, you are thinking, wow they must be really busy today. The next day nothing. Your excitement is slightly down anticipating the worst. Did they get my message? Did the form not go through? The next day still nothing. So you do what any normal person would do and stalk them online a little bit. Then you realize they posted to their social media and it left no reason to believe this person is too busy to return a phone call. What is the deal? You call them again, no answer, leave a message. The next week you get a phone call from someone overly excited to meet with you for someone who has blown you off for a week. They don’t normally meet with their clients before the wedding, but since you insist, they are going to meet you. You go and they seem very distracted like their watch is burning their arm so they keep looking at it. You ask for wedding vendor recommendations, and they seem indifferent, almost like they haven’t worked with many. The whole meeting seems really rushed, and before you haven’t even had time to discuss the packages they offer, they are pushing a contract in front of you to sign. DON’T DO IT.

Tip #2: Book a Photographer you Gel With

Follow your gut instincts. If just meeting with the photographer is making you dazed and confused then imagine how bad their influence is going to be on your wedding day. It is going to be hectic enough, you need someone reliable that knows what they are doing. Make sure you get along personally and that they are an expert in the world of photography. If they have good work on their website, they should be able to talk about it. Don’t rush meeting with them, get to know them and what they actually know. One conversation should help you understand the difference between an amateur and a professional. One knows what they are talking about, the other is still trying to figure it out. If you hire a professional
photographer that you gel with on a personal level, then they will have a calming presence at your wedding. You leave a message saying you have seen their photography and love their work OMG, you hope they can be your wedding photographer. They call you back later that day and want to meet with you. You sit down and shoot the breeze. They ask you about certain details of your wedding, confirm your DJ choice is a good choice, recommend a florist, and even show you some photos from the same chapel you are getting married at. They seem very knowledgeable about their work, the area, and sound like they have done this kind of thing so many times they must be wedding photography animals. You are excited. You shoot a quick glance at the price of your favorite package and boom. A bomb goes off in your head. Your ears are ringing, you can see that the photographer is saying something inaudible, and your eyes are so big they might just pop out of your head. You feel devastated. How can you afford this? This is twice the amount that you budgeted for.

Tip #3: Budget Accordingly

Unfortunately, some brides find themselves asking How could they charge more than my budget when I based my budget on The Knots wedding budget guide? And the same brides feel they are getting ripped off as opposed to understanding the great disservice provided by their wedding planner. Why? Because they are budgeting based on averages and expecting greater than average vendors at their wedding. The wedding photographer you stalk on social media probably got your attention with their amazing photographs. You like their style, their composition, you can’t put your finger on it exactly, but that photographer continues to make photos that make you say Wow, I want something like that on my wall from my wedding. That is a sign that the photographer is better than average, and most likely charges more than average. And really, that’s fair. Photographers tend to charge based on their experience and knowledge in the field. If you want amazing photos from your wedding, then make photography a priority and adjust your budget accordingly. Don’t lose your dream photos to planning for average photography. The day has finally arrived! Your dad won’t stop crying, he never cries WTH?! You look stunning. At least, that’s what everyone keeps saying, and you act bashful about it, but you know you do. You’ve seen yourself a few dozen times already. It seems like the longest day ever until you find yourself standing there waiting to see your soon to be husband. Your heart explodes and doesn’t stop. The vows, the family, the friends, the food, the cake, the dancing. It all happened so fast. I hope the photographer got some good photographs.

Tip #4: Plan for a Photogenic Wedding

A seasoned photographer will actively participate in if not perpetuate the planning of your day so that they can do their job well. Of course, you are going to want photos of the bridal party, family, and friends, the ceremony, reception events, and those centerpieces you and your Mother made to save money so you could afford a better than average photographer. You need to have photos of everything so you never forget this day, but…what if you forget beforehand to schedule wander off into the sunset with your photographer in your timeline? If you want those epic photographs hiding the nakedness of your walls someday, then be sure to plan with your photographer and allot the time during the day.
After your honeymoon you meet up with your photographer and look at the images they made from your day. You laugh, you cry, you even snort once or twice. You are in love with these photos, but you know Facebook is just going to bury them in your feed and suggest a look back post a year later. You want to have these displayed in your home, they are custom fine art pieces after all, and why shouldn’t they be?

Tip #5: Include Wall Art in your Wedding Registry

Ordering photographic prints directly through your photographer is not just a convenience, it is a must. Photographs have access to photography labs that are only available for professional photographers. If they include products that seem overpriced, ask about them. The photographer should be able to tell you why their products are expensive. And if they offer a product that you value, add it to your registry. You will be surprised how many relatives you have that value sentimental artwork. Let them give you a meaningful gift rather than spend all that hard earned dollar dance money.

Nate Taylor of Taylor’d Photography enjoys working side by side with his wife Elise to create lasting memories and artwork for their wedding clients. Nate moved to New Mexico from chilly Colorado in 2006 to attend New Mexico State University. Not having to shovel snow and the green chile cheese burgers quickly sold him on sticking around New Mexico.