7 Tips To Consider Before You Hire A Professional Wedding Photographer No comments yet
As you search the internet for wedding photographers, no doubt you will come across a multitude of articles or lists on how to hire a professional photographer; some of the articles may have been either written by a professional or inspired by one, while other articles have been created by either brides or sites that have never worked in the field of photography. As a professional wedding photographer, I would like to inject my experience and professionalism when it comes to creating a list of tips on hiring a professional wedding photographer for your special day.
Regardless of whether you have an idea of the style of photography you like or not, one thing is for certain, the type of wedding photographer you hire should be a personal choice and one you are completely happy with.
7 Tips to Consider When Hiring a Professional Wedding Photographer:
- Make it a matter of style: Your selection of a wedding photographer should be based on the particular style you like. If you think all photographers are the same, think again. I once had a bride book me online, never seeing my work, and when she received her photos she was a bit upset at my style which was not what she had wanted. I make it a point to show my work and explain to the couple that I am not a “traditional” wedding photographer. I can appreciate the diverse styles other professionals have and so should you. So, my first tip is to make sure that what you want matches the style of photographer you are seeking. You will be able to tell by what they show you in their albums.
- Personality is paramount: I don’t mean that if a photographer doesn’t have a personality, you shouldn’t hire them. What I do mean is that the both of you should be able to hit it off and that your personalities should be compatible. You need to feel comfortable on your wedding day and the photographer needs to feel comfortable as well. I can recall a time when I was photographing an engagement session on the beach and the groom was a bit of a problem. He had a horrible attitude about the entire photo shoot, as well as his bride to be. At the end of the photo shoot, I simply told him that it would probably be best if he hired another photographer and that I wasn’t a fit for him. Needless to say, I received a phone call that evening with an apology. I explained to the groom that my roll as a photographer involved a creative process and that if he planned on being rude and disrespectful, it would be difficult for me to provide him with a quality product. He agreed. The point is, personality is important. He would have been better off hiring someone who may have matched his demeanor.
- View sample work: This may be a no brainer, but you would be surprised at how often brides don’t want to see the work and just get excited at the low cost or what they see on an online portfolio. Most photographers will show you there work. What you want to see is at least a complete wedding the photographer photographed and some nice formals, enhanced work, etc. But for the most part, you won’t have a problem seeing samples. My only take on this is ask how old the weddings in their albums are. The point here is that styles can change or the photographer may not have photographed a wedding in a few years. This may or may not be a problem, but it’s always good to see some fresh work. This will give you the confidence that the outcome is similar to what you may expect. (Side Note: No two weddings are alike and no two brides are alike, so don’t expect to see the exact same image from your wedding as you saw in the photographers book.)
- Get it in Writing: It’s a good practice for both couple and photographer to get what is being bought and offered in writing and on a contract. This way, there are no discrepancies when it comes time to collect your images and album.
- Determine who owns the copyright: While this may not be negotiable with many photographers, it’s a good idea to ask anyway. I retain the copyright, while I give limited copyright to the couple allowing them to reproduce the work. Some photographers give up the rights all together while others don’t. So, be sure to ask so you don’t end up with any surprises in the end.
- Referrals may or may not be a good thing: I make this bold statement because, what one family member or friend may have liked about their wedding photographer, may not be what you particularly like. But, getting a referral from a trusted source is a good start. You will at least know that your trusted source won’t lead you astray.
- Price is not everything: Because a photographer charges you a rate of $5,000 for a wedding package, does not make him/her the best and the opposite is true; If a photographers has a rate of $1,200 for a package, this does not mean their quality suffers. So don’t base your sole criteria of a photographer on price. Determine your budget range for a wedding photographer, and then seek the ones out that fit the style you like. Often times you may find someone with a slightly higher rate than you budgeted for, but you hire them anyway. The point here is find the style of photography you desire, and then try and find a photographer within your price range, giving consideration to those outside your range as well.
Hopefully this helps you on your quest to hiring a photographer for your special day. If you have any additional tips or questions, feel free to leave a comment.

