How To Choose The Right Wedding Photographer?

Choosing the right wedding photographer is an important decision. You’re spending tens of thousands of dollars on a wedding and you don’t want to be left with buyers remorse. How to choose the right wedding photographer? Here are things to consider that could help you save thousands of dollars but more importantly save the precious moments and memories of your spectacular day.

What are the risks when hiring an unexperienced wedding photographer?

Missed Moments

Lack of Timing: An inexperienced photographer may struggle to anticipate key moments (like the first kiss or emotional reactions) and miss capturing them.
Poor Storytelling: They might not know how to document the day as a cohesive story, resulting in disconnected images.

Inconsistent Quality

Unpredictable Results: Their portfolio might have a few great shots, but consistency across an entire wedding day can be challenging.
Technical Mistakes: Struggles with lighting, focus, or composition, especially in tricky conditions like low light receptions or harsh outdoor sun.

Struggles in High-Pressure Situations

Stress Management: Weddings move fast. Inexperienced photographers might get overwhelmed, leading to rushed shots or poor decisions.
No Backup Plan: They may not have backup equipment or strategies if something goes wrong (like camera malfunctions or weather issues).

Lack of Post-Processing Skills

Editing Inexperience: Even if the photos are decent, poor editing can ruin them—overexposed highlights, unnatural skin tones, or inconsistent color grading.
Delayed Delivery: They might take much longer to deliver the final gallery due to inefficient workflows.

Limited Professionalism

Poor Communication: Inexperienced photographers may struggle with planning, timelines, or coordinating with other vendors.
Reliability Concerns: Risk of unprofessional behaviour, missed meetings, or even no-shows due to a lack of business experience.

How to choose the right wedding photographer? And what to look for?

So what do you have to pay attention to and what should you be looking for when trying to narrow down your wedding photographer?

Full Wedding Galleries

Don’t just rely on highlight reels—ask to see complete galleries from start to finish. With that said at the very least study their blogs and see if there’s good story telling and consistency. Does the photographer do well in different lighting conditions, is he capturing emotions and moments? After that see a full wedding gallery to see the deeper picture.

Experience with Similar Venues/Lighting

Especially important for challenging conditions (dim churches, outdoor ceremonies, etc.).

Determine your style:

Before you start searching for a wedding photographer, determine the style of photography that you prefer. Do you like traditional posed shots or more candid, photojournalistic images? This will help you narrow down your search to photographers who specialize in your preferred style.

Consider experience:

A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and you want a photographer who has experience capturing these special moments. Look for photographers who have shot numerous weddings and have experience working in a variety of settings and lighting conditions.

As a photographer who has worked over 15+ years in weddings I can tell you that unexpected situations do happen. For example, the hair and make up took longer than expected and now we only have 15 minutes for photos. Or it’s raining, super windy or extremely hot so we’re stuck inside a boring location for photos. A wedding photographer often has to improvise and work on the fly with the timeline given and bad weather could also affect your photo plans. Working with someone experienced is worth their weight in gold.

Read reviews:

Check out reviews from past clients to see what they have to say about their experience with the photographer. This can give you insight into their professionalism, communication, and the quality of their work.

How to choose the right wedding photographer? A photo of girl and boy laying down together and photographed from a Birds Eye view.

Meet in person:

Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential photographers, schedule a meeting to discuss your wedding. I do a lot of video calls now which makes things quick and easy. You’re looking to see if you feel comfortable working with them. This is also a good opportunity to ask questions about their process, pricing, and availability.

Review pricing and packages:

Make sure to review the photographer’s pricing and packages to ensure they align with your budget and needs. Look for a photographer who offers clear pricing and packages that include all the services you need. Sometimes their are additional fee’s like overtime that you may have to pay after a wedding. Have a photographer be very transparent with you on additional fee’s that may have to be paid.

Bride walking in Rose gold reception dress with her groom

Choose the right wedding photographer

By following these tips, you can choose the right wedding photographer who will capture your special day in a way that reflects your style and personality.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me!

If you’re looking for Wedding Venues in Winnipeg this is a good place to see them or head over to the blog to see recent weddings.