Choosing The Perfect Wedding Photographer (For You)
OMG you’re engaged!! Now what? We are fortunate to have so many talented wedding photographers in Calgary and Alberta that narrowing down the perfect one for your day might be a bit daunting. Have no fear, I’m here to help! Here are a few tips on choosing the perfect photographer.
What do you want? Pizza, wine and a nap? Same girl, same. But what are you looking for in a wedding photographer? Do you love the light and airy, pastel look? Are moody vibes more your jam? Do you love the look of formal, posed editorial style photos or are you more of a candid couple? Chances are you’ve already put together an extensive Pinterest board of inspiration so take a look at your favourite images and see what they all have in common. That’ll give you an idea of what style of photographer you’re looking for.
Ask around. The best way to find any professional is to get real reviews from people you know. Check in with your friends, family and co-workers. If they haven’t gotten married recently chances are they know someone who has hired a photographer that they love.
Creep them. Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few choices don’t be afraid to do some digging. Comb through their website, blog posts, Instagram, Google reviews, tax returns … just kidding but you get the point.
Set up a meeting. I meet with all of my potential couples in person (or Skype if they don’t live in Calgary). As much as you want to hire an amazing artist that will capture your day beautifully you also want to hire someone that you get along with. Your photographer will be your third wheel ALL day and be a huge part of the memories and overall experience of your day so if their personality doesn’t vibe with yours then keep searching.
Grill them. Ok not actually but a photographer is a huge investment so don’t be afraid to ask some tough questions. If they are a seasoned professional then they won’t be intimidated. Some great questions that I’ve been asked:
“Why should we hire you?”
“What happens if you get sick or hurt before our wedding?”
“Are there any hidden fees after the wedding?”
“How many weddings have you shot”
“What inspires you?”
“Describe your photography style”
Ask to see a full gallery. Instagram and websites are basically just a highlight real of the best images. Ask if your photographer is able to send you a full gallery from a wedding with a similar vibe to yours. This will give you an idea of what a whole wedding day will look like, how they they handle tough lighting and roughly how many images you’ll receive.
Do an engagement session! A lot of photographers ( cough cough me) include a complimentary engagement session in their packages. This is for the beautiful photos of course but I also view it as kind of a practice session. This is a chance for you to get to know your photographer and feel comfortable in front of their lens. Its also an opportunity to speak up if there’s anything you’re not really digging. Trust me, your photographer would wayyyyy rather hear that there’s a pose you don’t like or any other feedback about their photos during your engagement session and fix it before the wedding.
Be honest. If you did your research, scheduled a meeting but just didn’t feel a connection, that’s ok. But the photographer went out of their way and invested their time to meet with you so you owe it to them to be straight up. They won’t be offended if you tell them that they’re not the right fit for you. There’s nothing worst than being ghosted though so make sure you follow up with them in a timely manner. You can also ask them if they have any photographer friends that might be a better fit for you and chances are they’ll send along some awesome referral.
Best of luck with your search! I hope this was helpful. If you’d like some of my recommendations or think that I might be a good fit for your day I’d love to chat with you.
