03 Aug How to Find the Perfect Wedding Photographer
You’ll be looking at your wedding photography for years to come. You’ll immediately want to share them when your photographer gives them to you, and you’ll look back at them 50 years from now, reminiscing about your vows, the kiss, and the first dance.
Choosing the right photographer to capture those poignant moments is an important decision and it’s crucial to find a pro who understands your vision for your wedding day and can document it with style. But you’ll also want someone you trust and feel comfortable with since he or she will be by your side the entire wedding day.
To help you find the right person to entrust with this task, follow our six simple steps to selecting your perfect wedding photographer.
Choosing the right photographer to capture those poignant moments is an important decision and it’s crucial to find a pro who understands your vision for your wedding day and can document it with style. But you’ll also want someone you trust and feel comfortable with since he or she will be by your side the entire wedding day.
To help you find the right person to entrust with this task, follow our six simple steps to selecting your perfect wedding photographer.
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Step 1: Figure out the photography style you like!
From dresses to décor, style preferences vary from couple to couple. One of the most important stylistic decisions all couples have to make is choosing a wedding photographer. In fact, you should choose your wedding photography style even before you reach out to potential photographers. If you go the other route—book first, learn about the style later—you may end up with photos that don’t match your vision.
Here are some examples of the most common photography styles:
Traditional – Classic and traditional photography is similar to what many couples’ parents have from their weddings. These straightforward photographs may not be highly creative—they’re typically shot at eye level and posed—but they stand the test of time. Most photographers incorporate at least some traditional photography into their mix, particularly for family portraits after the ceremony.
Documentary – Candid and documentary-style photographs make for some of the most heartfelt and memorable images, which is why many photographers have adopted a photojournalistic style. These photographers treat the wedding day almost like a feature or news story. They let the moments unfold naturally, then snap away, recording the magic as it happens.
Editorial – On the opposite end of the spectrum, editorial images are much more posed, almost like a fashion magazine. Some couples may like this style for their pre-wedding photography.
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Photos by Vincent Tay Photography
Dark and Moody – Not surprisingly, dark-and-moody photographs are just like they sound: dark, moody, and dramatic. In this style, the photographer is looking to photograph the couple with shadows or harsh lines that create unusual and creative patterns or lighting.
Landscape – Landscape photography is an established and popular photo style outside the wedding industry, but it’s become a popular add-on for photographers shooting weddings in highly scenic destinations, such as the mountains or the beach. In this case, the photographer works with the couple ahead of time to scout out the area. Somewhere such as Bali can be an excellent location for these kind of photos.
Read our article Eight Reasons you must have your Destination Wedding in Bali (2021/2022) for some more ideas.The landscape wedding photographer then captures an adventurous scene with the couple as part of the landscape image for scale and epic beauty.
Read our article Eight Reasons you must have your Destination Wedding in Bali (2021/2022) for some more ideas.The landscape wedding photographer then captures an adventurous scene with the couple as part of the landscape image for scale and epic beauty.
Step 2: Shortlist your top 10
Once you’ve decided what kind of style you are both looking for, it’s time to shortlist your top ten photographers.
Ten photographers is a good number to shortlist as there will be bound to be one or two who are unavailable for your wedding date. Also it’s best to keep your options open as when you meet with the photographers, they will show you some examples that will be able to give you a clearer idea of whether or not it is the right fit for you.
Ten photographers is a good number to shortlist as there will be bound to be one or two who are unavailable for your wedding date. Also it’s best to keep your options open as when you meet with the photographers, they will show you some examples that will be able to give you a clearer idea of whether or not it is the right fit for you.
Step 3: Interview several photographers
Make sure you have booked your venue first. You need to have secured your venue first and set the date before looking at booking any other items. This will be helpful for you to know how much budget you have left. Read Wedding Budget Mistakes to Avoid (Singapore Edition 2021) for more information. And you have a specific date for the photographer to check their availabilities.
Read Wedding photography interview with Jordan, Twist Photography to find out more about a top Wedding Photographer in Singapore.
Download our Ultimate Wedding Planning Guide to get a printable list of questions to ask your Wedding Photographer.
Let your expectations be known. This is hugely important. Let your photographer know what your expectations are so you can both discuss how to best capture the day. Your photographer is not a mind reader so let them know what you want. A good photographer will use their experience and ask you questions to find all this out. If there is something specific or unique you want them to capture be sure to let them know. Ensure they have a contract that both you and the photographer sign. This will protect the agreement that you put in place.
Step 4: Discuss the fee
Check over the quotes that you have received from your photographer and make sure to look at what is included in their price:
- Number of hours included
- Additional fees
- USB key or photo book
- Second shooters
Step 5: Go with your gut
Once you’ve evaluated each photographer’s work and fees, and narrowed down the options, it’s time to make your decision. Don’t forget that you’ll be spending the entire wedding day with this person, so you want to make sure you feel completely comfortable with the photographer. Do you and your fiancé genuinely like this person? Do you feel like the three of you click?
Step 6: Schedule an pre-wedding shoot
An engagement photoshoot is always a good idea—it’s a great opportunity to get to know your photographer and begin to feel comfortable having your photo taken, especially if you or your groom are camera-shy.
Conclusion
Wedding planning can be a stressful experience for all couples, but there are a lot of ways to get yourself on track.
Wedding photographers offer various packages. Which one you choose depends on how long you want the wedding photographer to take shots and other aspects. You can also find packages that offer a pre-wedding shoot and even live-streaming or videography so make sure to determine exactly what you want and look into your photographers past shoots.
Wedding photographers offer various packages. Which one you choose depends on how long you want the wedding photographer to take shots and other aspects. You can also find packages that offer a pre-wedding shoot and even live-streaming or videography so make sure to determine exactly what you want and look into your photographers past shoots.