This Week’s Tip: Photographer Choosing 101

Your man just popped the question, and you said yes. You’re wearing that beautiful, sparkly diamond. You’ve set a date, picked a venue, and maybe you’ve even started hunting for the perfect dress. In an effort to cross something else off your long to-do list you pour yourself a cup of coffee, open your laptop, and type “wedding photographers in Charlotte” into the search bar. Two minutes later you have 75 tabs open and are already feeling a little overwhelmed wondering how on Earth you’re going to choose just one.

At that point it becomes super easy to just find the one who best fits your budget and is available on your wedding day and go with them, but that may not yield the best results in the long run.

If the person above sounds like you then you’ve come to the right place. I’m sharing a few of my best tips for choosing the best wedding photographer for your needs.

1.Define the experience you want: do you want your photographer to come, take pictures, edit and send them, and be done? Or do you want someone who’s going to get to know you, bring you a latte on your wedding day, and feel like a friend by the time all is said and done? Do you want someone who’s going to remember your anniversary and surprise you with little gifts every now and then? Do you want all digitals or some prints/albums? Think about the experience as a whole and how you want to feel throughout it. I strive to make all my couples feel relaxed. I’m a professional; when you hire me, you can be confident that your photography is in good hands. I also strive to give you an experience that feels like fun luxury in every aspect.

2.What style of Photography makes your heart go pitter-patter? Dark and moody? Light and airy? Vibrant colors? Posed or more natural? Figure out which one makes your breath catch and find a photographer who’s a master of your favorite style.

3.Don’t let budget lead the way: let me preface this one by saying that I am in no way advocating over-spending on any aspect of your wedding. Going into debt over your wedding will start your marriage off with an extra stressor, and ultimately my heart is for your marriage not just your wedding. That being said, if you choose the lowest bidding photographer simply because they’re the lowest bidder, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Not that all budget photographers are bad; we all started somewhere, and most of us started off as budget photographers, but oftentimes you do get what you pay for.

4.What do you want your photography budget to include? Is a bridal session or an engagement session a priority for you? What about a second shooter or a videographer? How many hours of coverage do you want? Read the fine print and make sure you know what’s included with your price. Sometimes what appears to be a high sticker price comes with a lot of extra goodies.

5.Remember that these pictures are forever. You don’t just want any old person behind the camera. You want someone who will tell your story in a beautiful way. You want gorgeous, timeless images that you can hang in your home and show off for decades to come. You want to be able to pull out that wedding album to show your granddaughter and have her experience the love that built her family–her heritage– first hand. Pick someone who you’ll love working with. Someone you might even want to work with again for a family portrait or a maternity session in the future. Pick someone whose work you love.

If you’re married, tell me why you chose the photographer you did. And, if you’re still trying to find a photographer, what are you hoping to receive from that experience?