Choosing the perfect wedding photographer seems very daunting.
This might be one of my most asked questions from potential clients.
“I am struggling to choose the perfect wedding photographer, can you give me insight into why I should use you?”. I love answering this.
1.Photographic style:
My shortened version goes like this: Choosing a wedding photographer is very personal. I can’t help you decide what hairdresser appeals to you more because you have a personal preference for their style. In the same way, I have a creative photographic wedding style, which I hope you are attracted to.
I have a documentary wedding photography style. What does that mean …
This means that I document, and don’t try and pose my clients. I capture raw emotion and not staged positioning. I let the story unfold as it happens. I try not to obscure the true reality of what happens by documenting all the chaos. This will in turn feel genuine to what happened on the wedding day, and not a staged setup or a tedious photoshoot.
Of all the factors you as a bride should take into consideration when choosing a perfect wedding photographer, photographic style is number one on my priority list.
Make sure to research your potential wedding photographer’s photographic style. Investigate if they edit the photo’s light, or dark and moody. Do they pose their clients, do they do lay flats of shoes, earrings and all the other elements? If you know exactly what they offer and will shoot on your wedding day, you won’t be disappointed when you receive your photos. However, disappointment arises when expectations aren’t met. You can’t be disappointed when you know what you will be receiving. It’s only when you receive what you weren’t expected that you will feel disappointed.
I make sure to educate my potential wedding clients of my photographic style. How I document and do not try and pose. I do offer guidance and prompts to uncover those beautiful bursts of emotion that sometimes hide underneath the nerves.
Documenting means capturing it “all”. The bums, the boobs, the crying, the laughter.
Here are some of those beautiful documentary-style photos.
2. Personality:
Here I’m referring to the photographer’s personality.
Yes, you’re asking why must I look at the photographer’s personality?
My answer: You will be spending a whole day with this person. She or he will be by your side through it all. Through stressful situations, emotional moments and awkward silences. You have to like, and probably get along with her or him. Despite that, the photographer’s personality shouldn’t annoy you or place additional stress or tension on your emotional state. They should be able to extinguish small and stressful problems, through delicate guidance and assurance.
That leads me to my next point. Arrange a meet-up with your potential wedding photographer to gauge their personality and make sure you like what you see. I know the images below can’t demonstrate my personality. However, they do shed light on my essence.
Let’s meet up and you can decide if we gel.
3.Meet-up:
Arranging a coffee date with your potential wedding photographer allows both parties to meet and greet and understand if they are suited for each other.
This furthermore offers an opportunity for the bride to ask any questions. Some questions could be regarding the timeline, contract, payment plans, amount of photos received or any other pressing concerns they have.
This will also give you a better understanding of the photographer’s personality, and essence and if you want to invest in their services.
For me, coffee dates are a connection point to my couples. They offer an opportunity to introduce my brand, and personality to them and assure them that I can make their wedding photography dreams come true. Furthermore, I get to learn more about my couples and their unique stories of falling in love and how they came to this point in time.
Below are some images from Nashke & Christiaan’s wedding. Their story is so beautiful, and unique. If I didn’t know of their intricate journey of trying to find love between two countries, and ultimately getting married these moments wouldn’t have been so precious.
Knowing the story gives the images substance.
4.Packages offered:
Lastly, I recommend looking at each photographer’s wedding packages and what they offer. Are they customisable, do they offer payment options?
I know budget is king. However, I have never heard of a couple complaining that they have overspent on their wedding photographer when they are fully satisfied with the photos. In retrospect, I have heard of loads of couples complaining that they wish they spent more money on their wedding photographer because they decided to go for the cheaper option, and were very unhappy with the outcome of their photos.
May your journey to finding the best-suited and perfect wedding photographer be a smooth ride.
Hope you enjoyed my input in choosing the perfect wedding photographer.
