5 Steps to Finding a Great Wedding Photographer

Did you know that the average couple spends around $34,000 to get married?

If you’re making a big investment in throwing your dream wedding, knowing how to find a wedding photographer is one of the most crucial parts of your planning process. Your wedding photos will be beautiful memories that you’ll cherish the rest of your life together, so hiring the right photographer will ensure you get stellar results.

Do you want to know what to look for in a wedding photographer? Keep reading for 5 tips on how to pick a wedding photographer.

1. Know Your Venue First

Choosing your venue before you figure out how to find a good photographer is important for two major reasons. The first reason is that some venues require couples to select vendors and services from a list of clients they’ve worked within the past. Although it may sound limiting at first, some couples prefer to choose venues with these connections to make planning less stressful.

Another reason why you’ll want to choose your venue first is that you can scope out the environment to see how photographable it is. Your venue may have lots of natural lighting, a small and cozy space that can make navigating more challenging, or a rustic interior that adds darker colors to the backdrop. Once you know the venue, you can start looking for a photographer who can thrive in that space.

2. Set a Budget

Working with money is never fun, but you’ll need to set a realistic budget before you start hunting for any wedding vendors and services. Once you’ve established how much money you have to offer a photographer, you can be upfront about your limitations and weed out photographers who may need higher pay.

3. Try to Find Reliable Reviews

Reading honest reviews from other couples can help you understand what to expect from your own experiences if you work with that wedding photographer. Researching their business profiles on Facebook, Google, and other online platforms can give you all the information you need to know if others have enjoyed working with them.

4. Take Your Time Looking at Each Photographer’s Portfolio

Looking at a photographer’s portfolio is a great way to get an idea of how your wedding photos would look. Each photographer has a unique style and method, so make sure you connect with their work. Just because a picture is beautiful, that doesn’t mean you want your photos to get shot in a similar fashion.

5. Try to Meet in Person Before You Make a Decision

Once you’ve settled on a few choices, meeting each photographer can make choosing much simpler. The last component of finding the right photographer is getting a feel for your chemistry. Since having a stranger take photos of your intimate ceremony can feel uncomfortable, you need to work with someone who’s personable and helps you act naturally.