If you are a bride or groom with an upcoming wedding, the idea of choosing a wedding photographer can be overwhelming.    A wedding is a once in a lifetime event, so the stakes are high.     Also, once you pick your photographer, you’ll be spending a lot of money and putting all your eggs in one basket… wow that sounds scary!

When I meet with a couple about their wedding photography, I try to put myself in their shoes.   Many years ago, when I searched for my wedding photographer, I remember feeling anxious about the process.  As a result, I can imagine the fear that many couples have over this aspect of wedding planning… especially when approaching an unfamiliar photographer.   In addition, I’ve heard many horror stories of wedding photography disasters.  Some may be urban legends; however, I believe some of them are true. So, it may be wise to be wary!

I thought it would be a good idea to outline a few tips to help with this decision, from a photographer’s point of view.   I may seem a little biased here, but bear with me;)   Seriously though… There are lots of different photographers out there and lots of different types of couples.  How do you find the best photographer for you?

1.  Make sure that you love their photos

When you are hiring a photographer, you are hiring an artist with a specific eye and talent.   Each photographer will curate their portfolio to highlight a personal style and point of view.    You want this to resonate with you, specifically with how you view relationships.  If you like what you see when you look at a bunch of stranger’s wedding photos, it’s likely that you’ll be happy with your own photos.

2.  Ask to view an entire wedding worth of photos

Beware of any photographer who isn’t willing to show you images from an entire wedding day.  Any photographer can pull out a few amazing images that are their best work.  However, this won’t give you a real idea of what your wedding photos will look like.   You want to make sure that the photographer is capable of taking high quality photos throughout the wedding day.

3.  Make sure you like them as a person

Whoever you pick as your photographer will be tagging along with you and your family for your whole wedding day.   You want to make sure you feel comfortable with them and you trust them.

If you choose your wedding photographer based on the above three criteria, then you will have a very good chance of being happy with your photos from this once-in-a-lifetime event!