HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
01 PRICE RANGE
Steps 1 and 2 are almost interchangeable. The style you like might also dictate the price range you are in and also the price range you are looking in might dictate the style of photographer you can book.
In 2024, the price of wedding photography has increased drastically, and no longer are the days of getting an experienced photographer for $500. The industry is now full of well-established and professional brands that invest a lot of money and time to create a wedding photography business.
Finding a price range is super important to do in the early stages and this will heavily influence what type of photographer you will be working with and also the level of service you will provide.
A cheaper photographer may do a great job, but they won’t have the redundancies in their process such as cloud storage backup or shooting on backup SD cards. You run a higher risk on the cheaper end. They are also less likely to be involved in the planning process as they haven’t shot as many weddings.
Experienced photographers, those you charge $4000+, have systems in place to protect the images they capture. They often will work with you tirelessly to flesh out your timeline for the perfect day.
02 STYLE
Choosing a style that best fits you as a couple is so underrated. There are so many photographers that equally all have stunning work, but the way they achieve these results can very massively.
If you’re a couple who likes natural, captured-in-the-moment photos, you don’t want to hire a photographer who specialises in posed and staged images. And, if you’re camera-shy, you don’t want to hire a contemporary photographer, who’ll treat your wedding like a magazine shoot!
Below is a current list of main styles of photography that you will find across wedding photographers;
Styles of Photography
Traditional
Documentary
Editorial
Fine Art
Dark & Moody
Film
It’s not just about the style the photographer uses on the day. Be sure to check out how they edit the images as well. If you are a fan of black-and-white photos, for example, find a photographer who has nailed this technique. Most photographers will just edit to ensure you look the best versions of yourself – so removing creases in clothes, editing out shut eyes, lightening up photos that look a bit dark etc. – but some might add a specific filter like a vintage/ retro look, a dark and moody vibe, or desaturating certain elements. Editing styles come and go like most trends, so it’s worth asking your photographer how they edit their work before choosing them.
03 ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Look for a photography that asks a lot of questions about you and what you are looking for. This means that they will tailor their style to perfectly fit you as a couple rather then enforcing their ways on you no matter what. No couple is ever the same, so a Photographer who pays attention is worth its weight in gold.
A photographer who pays attention to detail will be able to capture all the little moments that make your wedding day special. They will be able to capture the joy on your face as you walk down the aisle, the laughter during your first dance, and the tears during your father-daughter dance. They will also be able to capture all the details of your dress, flowers, and decor. Looking back at your wedding photos, you can relive every special moment, thanks to your attention-to-detail photographer.
Our hot tip for this is going through a photographers website or Instagram - we see a lot of photographers who will share photos of brides with their eyes closed when they are not supposed to be. This shows whether a photographer is taking enough photos on the day to get the perfect image and if they are paying attention while editing.
04 COMMUNICATION SKILLS
As a photographer ourselves, we regularly get compliments about our fast communication. We always strive to reply to emails and messages within 24 hours, however, the industry is littered with vendors that can take WEEKS to respond. This can get very frustrating when you are planning a wedding and need to make decisions.
When you first enquire to a photographer, see how fast they respond to emails. As a possible new client, they should be prioritising you as much as possible as you are their income. If they don’t show importance at the start, why would they show importance later on closer to the wedding day.
A good wedding photographer should be able to communicate clearly with their clients. They should be able to listen to what their clients want and work with them to achieve their vision. They should also be able to communicate with you throughout the planning process so that you are always on the same page. A photographer who cannot communicate well will find it challenging to get and take the right shots.
05 VIEWING A FULL GALLERY
We are always happy to give out links to potential couples to view full wedding galleries. Viewing a full gallery is a vital part of seeing whether a photographer is consistent across an entire wedding day. Some photographers can be really slack across the entire day except for the photoshoot, so viewing a gallery gives you insight into the work ethic of the photographer.
If a photographer is not willing to send you a full gallery to look at then view this as a RED FLAG. It means they are likely trying to hide something and that will be that their full galleries are not that good. Run for the hills from any photographer who does that!
06 DO THEY KNOW THE VENUE?
If a photographer has already shot at a location or venue that your wedding is at, then this is a massive benefit and relief for a lot of couples. Venues often have only a few select places that are best for photos so having your photographer familiar with the area means they don’t waste any time on the day looking around for the best photo spots.
However, not every photographer needs to know a venue before they shoot at it. If we book a wedding at a location we have never shot at, we will scout this venue in the lead-up to the day. So check to see if your photographer will be doing the same.
Sometimes when it is a new venue for a photographer, they end up finding new spots that no other photographer has shot at before. New eyes on locations can be wonderful for your photos so don’t be scared if your photographer hasn’t shot at your venue before!
Wedding photographers are amazing at thinking on the spot so don’t be surprised when photographers suddenly stop to shoot at a new spot as the light looks a certain way.
07 EXPERIENCE LEVEL
Probably the most underrated question when searching for a Wedding Photographer. Ask your photographer about their experience level - how long have they been doing it? Is it their full time job? How long have they been doing it full time?
We find photographers who have been doing it for a minimum of 2-3 years full time are experienced enough to deliver quality images for your wedding. This usually means they have shot over 50+ weddings and that is a great starting point.
Photographers who have over 5+ years of experience full time means they are obviously doing something right! These guys have a reputation of delivering on time and being professional. They have encountered every issue under the sun on a wedding day, so can problem solve very quickly. These are the photographers that you want by your side on your wedding day.
RED FLAG - Photographers that have a full time job alongside being a wedding photographer. If they are working 9-5 during the week and then shooting weddings on weekends, when can you expect them to edit your images. We have seen it time and time again that these type of photographers let their couples down and take upwards of 6+ months to deliver their photos as they just don’t have the time to properly run their wedding business.
QUEENSTOWN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER