Jan 27, 2018

How To Hire A Wedding Photographer That’s Focused on You

How do you hire a wedding photographer that’s focused on you? Let’s be real. You found your way here because you are looking to hire a wedding photographer. Or you are a wedding photographer yourself. Do you have an interest in booking a professional wedding photographer for your wedding?

Finding The Perfect Wedding Photographer

Maybe you’re a photographer starting out trying to learn more about wedding photography. And what about the client experience? Respect. Everyone deserves a phenomenal photographer on their wedding day. Because of this fact, it’s a once in a lifetime deal.

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But with a busy life, it’s hard to know where to start. How do I find and book a wedding photographer who cares about me and my experience and is a great fit? Only the thought of that can stress you out! I get it!

 

A lot of brides are looking for a magic solution. Sure, we all like free!

 

A lot of brides are looking for the magic solution – a kick-ass wedding photographer that is cheap. I’m sorry, honey, but that is probably just in your dreams. In reality, a seasoned pro won’t be the most affordable option, far from it. But you’ll realize that a pro wedding photographer is worth every penny. Trust me! But that’s not why I wrote this article. We all like free, sure.

You’re intelligent, so you set out to figure everything out on your own. After a few Google searches and you’ve looked at more wedding blogs that you care to remember. You’re overwhelmed by the number of wedding photographers. Not to mention all the contradicting information out there. You don’t know what the heck to believe or how to proceed anymore.

How To Hire A Wedding Photographer That’s Focused on You

What You Need

You need someone that fits with you as an individual, getting where I’m going with this? You need someone who is an excellent fit with not only your taste in photos but also is fantastic to be around. Bonus if they have a great sense of humor! I have been a wedding photographer for over eight years. During this time, I’ve learned not only valuable lessons about being a photographer. I also learned how vital your experience as a client is. Especially if I’m your wedding photographer!

Regardless of if I’m your wedding photographer or not. I want to share with you why it’s so essential to book a wedding photographer that is more than a person with a camera — way more, in fact. Sure, I’ll bring a camera to your wedding. More importantly, I’ll show up with the best energy and a trained eye — a determination to photograph your wedding unique only to you.

No two weddings are the same. I’ll be entertaining or calm your nerves, depending on the situation and what’s going on at that moment. That’s because I have a ton of experience if I haven’t mentioned that already.

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Hiring More Than Just A Camera

A wedding photographer is more than a person walking around on your special day with a camera. Wedding photographers are experienced, creative individuals committed to turning tiny and large moments into part of your story.

What You Should Consider When Hiring A Wedding Photographer

However, all of these worries can go away if you do your research. You need to get to know potential wedding photographers before hiring the perfect match for you. So that means you have to step off of Instagram and interact with them. I love Instagram as much as the next Instagram crazy person. And yes, it’s the best place to source inspiration and even finding your wedding photographer. But, it’s more than just pretty pictures you need to take into consideration before hiring your wedding photographer.

Hiring A Wedding Photographer And Be Secure

Hiring a wedding photographer can be a scary experience, I know. Because you won’t see the photos until after the wedding and you can never really know since you haven’t worked with this person before. Sure, you should always check out at the potential photographer’s blog. Even make sure you see several weddings from start to finish.

You can also ask to see a few full galleries! I don’t mind sharing full galleries with potential clients at all. Want to look at a winter wedding or a wedding on a rainy day? Be my guest; I’m more than happy to show them to you because it doesn’t matter if its rain or snow or if it’s a dark or bright venue. As a pro, I can handle that, because Ummm yeah, EXPERIENCE!

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You Need To Know What You Want

Make sure that you know what kind of style you want in your photos. You should know whether you want more bright or darker images: lifestyle magazine-worthy pictures or a more journalistic feel. I encourage you to look at the portfolios of different wedding photographers. Then pick one whose style harmonizes with yours.

Another way to make sure you’re a perfect fit is to book a meeting with a few potential wedding photographers. Wheater the meeting is in person or over Facetime or Skype, it will provide you a time to ask any questions you may have. This way, you can get to know your wedding photographer more. See if their work, style, and personality will make you comfortable on your wedding day. You and your photographer must get along; they are going to be spending every moment with you on your big day.

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The Kind of Experience You Should Expect

I know that your wedding photographer may be the first professional photographer you’ve ever worked with. It may even be the first time you’ve ever been in front of a pro camera. You may have no idea what to expect—don’t let that scare you! Your wedding photographer should be able to get you relaxed and feel like you are in good hands. Not having to worry about photography on your wedding day or your wedding photos.

You should feel trust and that your wedding photographer will do a phenomenal job without micromanagement. Many wedding photographers offer engagement sessions or pre-wedding shoots. That is an excellent opportunity for you and your partner to get comfortable in front of the camera. At the same time, you get to know your wedding photographer better.

You can also expect that your wedding photographer is there for you before, during, and after your wedding. To answer all your questions, give support, and help you find other vendors for your wedding. Most of us have a good network of wedding professionals. We can put you in touch with videographers, floral designers, or anything else you might need.

You can expect your wedding photographer to bring not only a ton of gear to your wedding. They will also bring loads of energy! As professionals, we’re aware that you may not be comfortable in front of the camera. We’re going to make sure that you’re as comfortable as possible and having fun while doing it.

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Your Wedding Photographer Should Help You

Your wedding photographer is going to provide you with directions. You never have to wonder if you’re doing something right. I love to guide my clients! Not posing them but rather giving a few hints and prompts that feels natural and not awkward. Because seriously, who needs awkward wedding photos? Not me anyways and not my clients. Hopefully, your wedding photographer is also going to be someone that you build a relationship with and trust. For me, trust is the most important thing. I didn’t become a wedding photographer for me. I became a wedding photographer for you. Well, let’s be frank, a little bit for me too. It’s the best job in the world!

How To Address Your Biggest Concerns

Let’s have open conversations with each other. In my experience, I know what brides are most worried about on the day of their wedding. Not to overlook all the complicated things involved. A wedding day doesn’t magically fall into place. It takes a lot of planning. An experienced wedding photographer can help you with that and more. Remember that we’re experts with a passion, and we’re here to help you.

Some things that might ease your worries is to sit down with your photographer and talk about your wedding day. What you want it to feel like!

Send them a detailed schedule of the day so the photographer can help you plan your day. A professional wedding photographer knows how much time each part of the wedding day needs. They know and photographed countless weddings before yours. If you’re lost on where to start with this, I’ve made a free template just for you!

Details about family/friend relationships that they should know about. This could be anything from a divorced couple to your best friends, to grandparents you want to make sure you have photos of.

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Don’t send a shoot list unless your wedding photographer asked for it!

It cramps our creativity, and we want to shoot your wedding as it unfolds. You’re more than a shoot list to me, and most wedding photographers I’ve talked to have the same opinion. I’m so passionate about being a wedding photographer because I know how much these photos matter. My dad passed away a few years ago, and I have no photos of us together from my wedding. That sucks more than I even care to explain. Make sure YOU get pictures of yourself and your loved ones from your day.

I became a wedding photographer because photographing weddings brings me so much joy. What gives me the most pleasure, though is YOU — capturing moments that are a fundamental part of your love and a piece of your history.

Oh That Is A great Camera, I bet it Takes Good Pictures

When you’re looking for a wedding photographer, don’t insult us, please. Remember that we’re not only a person with a fancy and expensive camera. We are creative professionals. A skillful wedding photographer has a well-trained eye that can expect where to stand. How to see the best light. How to best frame the scene, without being bothered by stress or bad weather. Your wedding photographer will help not only make your day special but keep it alive forever.

 

It’s incredible how much my photography business has grown and changed over the past few years. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the full attention my clients get when they decide to hire me. They commit to sharing the rest of their life together. I make the commitment to document that moment and many more throughout the day. I preserve their day, turning it into a piece of your history.

 

You have to see it and feel it. It’s what I was able to do for hundreds of couples, and I would like to do the same for you!

 
xoxo, Isabelle
  1. seraphine says:

    This is such a great resource for brides and grooms as well as their parents while shopping for a wedding photographer. Your work is beautiful and you seen to have a lot of experience in the wedding industry.

  2. My congratilations to this couple! I wish them to be happy as they were during thier wedding day!

  3. Andrea says:

    Great ideas for every bride. And beautiful wedding photos too. Thanks for sharing.

  4. Congratulation!,
    some emotive and beautiful photographs.

  5. Josh says:

    Well said! Wedding photography is infinitely more complex than a person with a camera. I think that in this day and age where everyone has a camera on their phone, it’s easy to lose sight of the skills each individual photographer brings to the table. Wedding photography is truly one of those services in which you get what you paid for. Hiring a wedding photographer is more than just hiring a person with a camera, you are buying an experience to compliment and enhance your wedding day.

  6. Leidy & Josh says:

    We totally agree; a wedding photographer is way more than just a camera. There’s a world of experience and creativity that lies behind a great photographer. Their unique perspective can transform a wedding day and create beautiful memories that last a lifetime. Love this post!

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