Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, not only for you and the love of your life but also for your friends and family. Choosing someone who will capture all the memories of your #weddingtoremember and deliver images you can treasure for decades is undoubtedly an important decision. Searching on Google, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, for your wedding photography can get overwhelming if you don’t know what to look out for. To help you find the right one to entrust with this task and say cheese on your wedding day, follow these five tips on how to choose the professional wedding photographer for you!

Book a Venue First Before Your Photographer

It would be best for couples to hire a photographer after you’ve secured your venue. Once you find a perfect spot for your wedding day and you have set a theme for your big day, it will be easier for you to find the right photographer for your wedding. Consider booking your wedding photographer nine months before your wedding. Though there isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer, I believe this is an average time. Each bride and groom to be is unique, and it really depends on how much time they should give to book all of their suppliers.

Find a Style You Like

It’s time to do your homework and decide which style you feel most drawn to. Do you want warm and joyful or bright and airy, dark or moody? How about true to color, saturated, and bold? Take time to find out what style you like for your wedding. It’s you and your fiancé’s final call which artistic style you like best. 

Don’t forget to ask for an expert’s advice to make your wedding photos stunning and more memorable. A professional photographer identifies all the subtleties of shooting a wedding. They know exactly when to capture your groom’s first glance when you walk down the aisle, how to get the perfect confetti shot, and what to do if it rains.

Make Sure to Talk With Your Photographer

Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you want it to be exceptional and breathtaking. Choosing the right photographer is very vital in planning your wedding. It’s important to have clear communication with your photographer because you’ll be spending a lot of time with them. So, in addition to liking their style and work, having an in-person chat to a phone interview is a great way to make sure you’ll be happy to have them around. 

What to consider when interviewing your wedding photographer?

• Venue experience – Check the photographer’s technical expertise. Do they play well with challenging lighting conditions? How they adapt to challenging lighting conditions will make all the difference since the photographer has no choice over when and where to photograph.
• Solid portfolio – Look for the entire gallery, not just highlight photos from different weddings. With this, you’ll be looking at their different styles and approaches. 
• Find a connection with the photographer – What do you feel after your conversation? Are you comfortable? Do you genuinely want to work with this photographer? Go with your gut!

Find a Package That Fits You and Make Sure There Are No Hidden Fees 

The most important thing to consider in choosing a photographer is the budget. Some photographers charge a flat fee that includes albums, prints, and high-resolution images. Others have a flat or hourly rate, then charge you à la carte for any pictures or albums you want. Discuss with your fiancé and the photographer what arrangements you would like and would be the best for your wedding photography. 

Trust Your Photographer 

When you are trying to figure out how to choose a professional wedding photographer for you, trust their vision and creative intuition. Remember, you hired this photographer for a reason. Be open with their expert advice and allow them to collaborate with your wedding planner to create the day-of timeline.

As a professional wedding photographer who has worked with couples, it’s safe to say that choosing the right photographer for your big day can be daunting but, at the same time, the most rewarding part of planning your wedding. Looking back on the captured beautiful memories is one of the sweetest parts of this season!