There are so many logistics involved in planning your big day. From the venue to the guest list, the flowers to the food, you’re busy from the day you said, “Yes!” to the day you say, “I do.” One of the more daunting tasks on your wedding to-do list is selecting the perfect wedding photographer. While your wedding lasts a day, the pictures last a lifetime. Here’s how to find the best wedding photographers:
- Start with your vision. Wedding photographers have different styles and preferences for the events they are best suited for, so it’s worth starting with your overall vision for your wedding. Ideally, you’ll book your venue first and work from there. Think about outdoor versus indoor ceremonies, time of day, and event size, and then begin researching the best wedding photographers for the wedding you’re planning.
- Set a budget. The best wedding photographers for you are the ones in your budget. Getting clear on the amount you can spend on your photographer does a lot of the narrowing process for you by weeding out photographers outside of your budget. You can then focus only on those you can realistically hire.
- Interview your candidates. You want a wedding photographer you connect with and are comfortable around. While you might love a photographer’s photos, you want to make sure they are a good fit for your personality. Meeting with your candidates helps you get a sense of who they are and how they work to see if you want them in charge of such a big responsibility for your big day.
- Stalk their galleries. It’s important to look through a photographer’s full gallery of their clients’ weddings, not just a carefully curated social media feed. You want to get a sense of their style from the first photo to the last, and how they capture every special moment in between.
- Check references. Don’t just take a photographer’s word for their services. The best wedding photographers will have happy clients who will love to share their experiences with you.