HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

photo: La Dichosa | luxury wedding planner: Magdalena - All Things Beautiful

How to Choose the Right Wedding Photographer For You: Expert Tips from a Destination Wedding Planner

Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting yet sometimes also overwhelming experiences. One of the biggest decisions you'll make (apart from choosing your wedding planner) is choosing a wedding photographer who will capture the magic of your special day. As a destination wedding planner who pairs couples with the best creatives in the industry, I'm here to guide you through the process of finding the perfect photographer to suit your vision, style and needs.

1. Do Your Research And Stay Informed

Not everyone has the time to become an expert in wedding photography, and that’s okay. What helps is staying informed through your wedding planner, and resources like Lensel or THE WED who educate on wedding photography styles, trends, new talent to follow and more. By keeping yourself informed, you’ll be better equipped to make decisions that align with your vision.

Lensel

THE WED

2. What You Are Looking For is Experience

Experience in photographing weddings, yes, but also the experience the photographer provides during the wedding day(s).

Experience understood as how they make you feel is what sets apart good photographers from great ones. Consider your interactions with potential photographers: how was the initial call? Did you feel they were genuinely interested in getting to know you, or was the conversation more surface-level? A true connection with your photographer will make the experience more comfortable and enjoyable, resulting in better photos.

3. Understanding Photography Styles

Photography style is an obvious factor in the decision making process, but it’s crucial to delve deeper. A photographer’s style is their artistic fingerprint, a blend of lighting, composition, editing, and their approach to capturing moments. Are you drawn to a classic, timeless style, or do you prefer something more modern and edgy? Consider whether the photographer’s style matches your wedding vision and personal taste.

photo: couplet

photo: freda banks

photo: adriana morais

photo: la dichosa

4. There's More To Wedding Photography Than Good Photos Of The Couple

While capturing the two of you and your guests on your wedding day is THE reason you're hiring a photographer, it's important to remember there is more to wedding photography.

Good wedding coverage should tell a story of your wedding. Much like in a good story it should have a clear beginning, middle and end; a good buildup, and the culmination; the setting, little details and emotion evoking descriptions which will help you remember all the emotions, textures, smells and feelings you've experienced on your wedding day.

How to quickly assess whether you should look into a particular photographer?

See their Instagram profile. This bite size portfolio will give you a clear indication of what they focus on in their work - is it only closeups of their couples or more? Can you see a cohesive aesthetic in their work? Can you see the intention behind the photos, and how they are put together on their grid?

How a photographer curates their Instagram feed will tell you a lot about how they will curate your wedding gallery.

radostina photography

my favorite human

david griso

from the left: @radostina.photography @my.favorite.human @david_griso

While photographer's website will give you a better understanding of their approach and pricing, as well as allow you an insight into a few of their wedding galleries, their Instagram profile will help you quickly assess their overall aesthetic, style and approach to wedding story-telling.

5. Would You Still Love Their Photos With Different Couples In Them?

Look, we all love seeing beautiful people in beautiful settings. Having said that, when browsing through wedding photography portfolios, ask yourself this: would I still love this photo if the couple wasn’t sensationally attractive or they made different fashion choices?

photo: La Dichosa | luxury wedding planner: Magdalena - All Things Beautiful

The essence of a great photograph lies in its ability to evoke emotions, regardless of the subjects' appearances. Focus on the photographer's ability to capture moments, emotions, and connections all while curating a cohesive wedding photography aesthetic.

6. It's All In The Details

Of course, you want to remember everything from your wedding day, and this should always include decor details—close-ups, textures, and intricate accents—as well as architectural shots of the venue, interior design elements, and other small but significant details. A big part of the planning process is curating the creative direction for your wedding. At All Things Beautiful I always stride to have the wedding reflect who my couple is, and what their tastes are. Having a photographer who'll capture the results of the months long design process is key to you remembering the look & feel of your wedding.

photo: Freda Banks | luxury wedding planner: Magdalena - All Things Beautiful

Tip: Go through a few of your potential photographer’s wedding galleries, this time focusing on detail shots. Pay attention to what kind of coverage they provide in this area. How well do they document the decor of the event - the stationery, the dinner setup, the ceremony details? Do these photos seem intentional or rushed, and secondary to other images? This will tell you A LOT about what to expect from your future wedding gallery.

7. Creativity: Trendsetter or Trend Follower?

Creativity is quite an elusive concept and can be tricky to assess in wedding photography, or in general really. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell if an image is a conscious creative choice or simply following a current trend. Unfortunately, you'll find some creatives mimic popular styles leading to generic images that lack originality, instead of making their wedding coverage a series of harmonious, well-thought-out, intentional creative choices. How to tell the difference? To gauge the particular photographer's level of creativity and wedding coverage vision ask your planner's take!

photo: La Dichosa | luxury wedding planner: Magdalena - All Things Beautiful

As planners, we live and breathe weddings and closely observe photography trends through the seasons. Having viewed countless galleries and portfolios, we've trained our eyes to distinguish style-setters from style followers, ensuring your wedding coverage is intentional and thoughtful. Your wedding photography should have meaning and purpose, not just mimic what’s trending on social media at a given time.

photo: La Dichosa | luxury wedding planner: Magdalena - All Things Beautiful

8. The Importance of Context Photography What helps you remember every little detail of your wedding day

While people photography is the heart of wedding photography, context photos are equally important. These are often the first memories to fade. Flowers will wilt, and wedding stationery can get lost over time, and the wedding venue might cease to exist, but these images will preserve the full atmosphere of your wedding day. I’ve coined the term context photography to describe the photos that capture everything surrounding your wedding.

Think of this part of your wedding gallery as a prologue, or the first opening chapter of the story your images are to tell. Context photography is how you set the scene. What should wedding context coverage include?

• Your Wedding Venue - both the architecture, and interior design There was a reason you chose your wedding venue, the photography coverage should reflect why.
  

• The Setting - landscape, venue surroundings You and your guests travelled to a gorgeous place for your destination wedding, have your wedding photographer capture it. You want your wedding gallery to tell the story of both HOW and WHERE you got married.
  

• The View - I mean... how can you not, right?

photo: la dichosa

photo: la dichosa

photo: la dichosa

photo: la dichosa

Context photography is what allows the wedding to stand out as a one-of-a-kind event, tailored to the two of you, your unique style and vision. This part of your wedding gallery is what shows the setting in which your wedding took place.

It is always a red flag to me if I, as a planner, don't see these images in the photographer's gallery 🚩

photo: Couplet | luxury wedding planner: Magdalena - All Things Beautiful

If you want to remember EVERY detail of your wedding day for decades to come, don't skip on a well documented wedding context.

9. Sleep on Your Decision

Trends in wedding photography come and go. It’s easy to get caught up in the latest styles, but remember that your wedding photos will be cherished for a lifetime. Don’t rush your decision. Take your time to sleep on it and ensure that the photographer’s style resonates with you and will stand the test of time.

photo: La Dichosa | luxury wedding planner: Magdalena - All Things Beautiful

Choosing the right wedding photographer is a deeply personal decision that goes beyond just liking a few photos. It’s about finding someone who understands your vision, connects with you on a personal level, and has the experience to deliver stunning images that will be cherished for a lifetime.

As a destination wedding planner, I’ve seen firsthand the difference the right photographer can make. Trust your instincts, take your time, consult your planner and you’ll find the perfect match to capture your wedding day.

xx