Planning a wedding is one of the most stressful things you’ll ever do. It can be so stressful that one 2018 survey revealed that about 60 percent of couples consider calling off their wedding and eloping at some point during the planning process.
Couples often see their stress levels shoot through the roof because of all the decisions they have to make when planning a wedding. From picking out a venue to choosing the right cake, there are so many things to decide on.
Learning how to choose a wedding photographer is one way couples can eliminate some of the stress associated with planning a wedding. It can also ensure they get the most magical photos of their big day when everything is all said and done.
Here is everything you need to know about picking out the right wedding photographer.
Begin by Listing Local Wedding Photographers
There are almost 200,000 photography businesses in the U.S. today. They employ almost 250,000 people.
Obviously, the majority of these people are not wedding photographers. But there are tens of thousands of people all across the country who have at least some experience photographing weddings.
This means that you shouldn’t have any trouble compiling a list of wedding photographers when you Google the words “wedding photographers near me.” There’s a good chance you’ll find dozens of options in your area.
Begin your wedding photographer search by compiling a list of the options in your city or town. This will provide you with a good place to start and reduce the stress you feel when it comes to picking a photographer to capture your wedding.
Ask Other Couples for Recommendations
Once you’ve put together a running list of a dozen or so wedding photographers, there are several ways in which you can go about narrowing that list down.
The first thing you can do is speak with any family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers, or others who recently got married. They likely spent at least some time conducting the same kind of search that you are for a wedding photographer.
In a perfect world, each of them will be able to recommend one wedding photographer over all the rest and tell you more about them. This will provide you with invaluable information on what it’s like to work with the different photographers in your area.
You may even notice that one wedding photographer’s name keeps coming up over and over again. That’ll let you know that you should take the time to get to know more about them.
Read Online Reviews for Wedding Photographers
Outside of seeking recommendations for wedding photographers from couples you know, there is another way to get a sense of which photographers in your area are worth your time.
Google each wedding photographer on your list and find online reviews for them. Every photographer who has experience shooting weddings should have at least a few reviews on sites like Yelp and Facebook.
Read through each review that you can find for a photographer to see what other couples have had to say about them. It’s a good idea to browse through both positive and negative reviews if possible to get a real feel for what a photographer is all about.
Look at What Sets Different Photographers Apart
At the end of the day, a wedding photographer might have all the positive reviews in the world. But if they don’t shoot the kinds of photos you like, they’re not going to be a good fit for your wedding.
Therefore, you should do more than seek recommendations from others and read online reviews. You should also check out the work they’ve done in the past to see if they have a specific photography style that you like.
It’s simple enough to do this. Track down a website for each wedding photographer on your list and look at examples of their past work. Wedding photographers will often share their latest wedding photos in blog posts and galleries right on their sites.
See what makes each wedding photographer that you’re considering unique. Look for the ones that take the kinds of wedding photos that you want to hang in your home for years to come.
Meet With Your Favorite Wedding Photographers
One thing some couples forget when they’re figuring out how to choose a wedding photographer is that they’re going to be spending a lot of time with their photographer of choice on their wedding day.
With that in mind, it doesn’t matter how many glowing reviews a photographer has or how amazing their work is. If you don’t get along well with them on the day of your wedding, you’re not going to be happy with your experience.
This is why it’s essential for couples to meet with every wedding photographer that they’re thinking about hiring. It gives them an opportunity to see how well they get along with a photographer so that there aren’t any surprises on their wedding day.
Consider the Costs Associated With Hiring Photographers
How much are you prepared to spend on a wedding photographer? Ask yourself that question early on in the process and keep the final figure in mind when searching for someone to shoot your wedding.
The average couple spends between $2,500 and $3,000 on a wedding photographer. But depending on your situation, you might want to spend less than that on a photographer or spend more if your budget allows it.
Regardless of where you stand, it’s your job to consider the costs of different photographers when meeting with them. You shouldn’t only pick the one that offers the lowest prices. But you should make sure you can afford to hire the photographer you want to bring on board.
Know How to Choose a Wedding Photographer Before You Get Started
The process of choosing a wedding photographer can be overwhelming for some couples. You’ll find lots of options in places like Tucson for you to choose from.
By learning how to choose a wedding photographer and using the tips listed here, you can make the process fun. You won’t feel so stressed out when you take the right steps while finding a photographer.
Contact us today to see how we can help bring your wedding to life when you hire us to photograph it.