You don’t plan a wedding every day, so it’s not surprising it can be overwhelming to choose your wedding photographer. So let me compare this to something we ACTUALLY DO everyday.

Choose your wedding photographer like you choose a restaurant!

How to Choose your Wedding Photographer Tip 1. Decide What you Want to Eat!

You wouldn’t go to a Chinese restaurant for tacos!

Likewise, you shouldn’t choose a photographer without knowing the kind of photographs that you love!

How to actually do this…

·  Choose 2 – 3 words that describe how you want your wedding photos to look and feel.

·  For example: “Natural” “Candid” “Fun”… or “Posed” “Editorial” “Like a Magazine”

·  Then find photographers who showcase those words and kind of work on their website!

Don’t randomly reach out to a bunch of photographers without doing this first…. That’s like saying “I want to eat out” without choosing a cuisine! Narrow-down your “words” first, and your photographer choice will feel much less overwhelming.

How to Choose your Wedding Photographer Tip 2. Understand your Budget

You’d expect a different price-point at a Michelin Star restaurant vs. a fast-food chain. The same’s true in wedding photography.

After you’ve found a handful of photographers that fit with your “words” (step 1), it’s time to research their service offerings, and determine which photographers fit your planned price-point.

How to actually do this…

·  Look at starting price-points on each photographer’s website. Think about this like restaurants listing an average entrée price.

·  Bear in mind, you’ll likely want to add services to this starting point. For example, when you eat out do you usually order drinks, an appetizer or dessert? Many photographers list a starting price & average investment on their website, but don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for those if you can’t find them online.

Keep in mind: Just like restaurants, photographers’ pricing can vary widely based on a number of factors including years of experience, demand, location, and the services they provide. And likewise, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is!

How to Choose your Wedding Photographer Tip 3. Read Reviews

If you’re planning a special meal out, chances are you received a personal recommendation for a great spot, and checked reviews out before booking a table!

How to actually do this…

·  Always check Google reviews (or reviews on any independent site). 

·  Reviews are also a great place to ensure your photographer aligns with your words, because past clients will describe their experience using those words too!

How to Choose your Wedding Photographer Bonus Tip: Get a Vibe Check

Finally, I ALWAYS recommend narrowing your wish-list to 2-3 photographers and scheduling time to meet with them. 

You’re going to spend a lot of time with your photographer leading up to, on your wedding day and afterwards when they design your album and deliver your photos. Not to mention that this is a large investment… much larger than your average meal out, so take a little time up front to avoid bad surprises down the road.

You should also take the time to learn how they do things, from first responding to your email to delivering your wedding album! Every photographer has their own way of doing things, just like a restaurant and it’s best to find a photographer who’s service experience matches your taste!

If you’ve found this blog post helpful please save it for later, and share it with anyone else who’s in the process of choosing a wedding photographer. 

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Gen Palmer is a Premier South New Jersey wedding photographer who documents authentic photography for real couples. Gen documents weddings around South New Jersey and Philadelphia.

Gen loves working with couples who cherish relationships over things, and who value printed photographs to display and enjoy their memories every day. Sound like you? Reach out about your wedding!