Log Cabin Presidio Engagement Shoot

How to Choose a Wedding Photographer If you’re reading this I assume you are just starting your wedding planning and don’t know where to begin! This guide will hopefully answer the question, “How to choose a wedding photographer?” Like food, there are several different styles of wedding photography. When it comes to photography, there are little to no barriers to entry and one can be overwhelmed with so many different websites it can be intimidating. Below I have broken things down to try to make understanding the things to look for in a wedding photographer easy to understand. TLDR : View full galleries to ensure the FULL TIME photographer can shoot in both daytime and nighttime, and to make sure the photos speak to you and look exactly what you want for your wedding day in terms of candid vs posed, romantic vs goofy, etc. While you’re at it, make sure they have reviews NOT on their website to verify they give you what they promise. Write down 3-5 words that describe what you want in your wedding photography and they should line up with the images on the website (ideally the home page). Can they shoot with flash and photograph in dark settings? Make sure you see a photo of your photographer on the website to make sure you aren’t handed down to a random person the owner found on the internet to shoot for them. And finally meet / talk with your photographer to make sure your personalities fit.  Ask to see full galleries If you don’t read anything else…this is my #1 advice on how to choose a wedding photographer. Photographers will have some of their best images on their websites or social media profiles, but if you want to get a clear idea of their ability and style, ask if you can view at least 3 full galleries (ideally a similar setting and guest size). While you don’t need to request a full gallery from every potential photographer, if you’re down to two or three, it is highly recommended. Viewing a full gallery will allow you to gauge whether or not the photographer is capable of shooting in ANY situation (see my post about What Happens if it Rains on your Wedding Day). If you are throwing the most important party for yourself, you better hope the photographer you hire is fully capable of producing quality images in any situation. When you view the full gallery, pay attention to how the images make you feel. Do they speak to you and give you an idea of the couple, guests, and wedding day? Do the images elicit an emotional response to you? Do they capture emotions of the couple, and the VIP guests of the day? If family formals are the most important to you, are the groups well lit and composed? Are there cropped feet or crooked lines? Are they fulltime? Or do it for fun on the weekend? Whether its painting, cooking, or driving, the more we do something the better we are at it. We all have a natural ceiling if we don’t practice enough. Make sure the person you hire is committed to photography and actually does it more than once a week “for fun,” since there are A LOT of weekend warriors who work in tech on the weekdays, and do photography on the weekend.  This is the biggest (and most expensive) celebration you will ever have in your life. Why hire someone who does it “for fun?”  This is the most puzzling to me TBH. Regardless of price point, someone who does photography fulltime will care more about the experience than someone who does it on the side. Simple fact that they have more pride in their work. Do they have a reviews not on their website? Google, Yelp, Weddingwire, TheKnot…IF your person is legit, they should have a listing on at least 2 of these pages if not all. Random person you found on Instagram – good luck with no repercussions if they do a terrible job. Your wedding day isn’t ONLY in daylight. Can they shoot in the evening? SO many photographers ONLY put daylight photos on their website or IG because that’s what they prefer…no problem with that. Sadly, there are many “photographers” that don’t even know how to use flash. It’s like a chef only using the stove and not the oven! When reading on how to choose a wedding photographer make sure that includes all lighting scenarios.Make sure they can shoot evening photos (with flash)This ties into the number one recommendation above – see full galleries! RUN! When you DON’T see a photo of the photographer on the website! With a more anonymous photography company, chances are you will have a photographer assigned to you, who may or may not even have their photos on the website you love!  One of the “dirty secrets” of the industry is that large companies outsource the photography so you don’t get the same person who took the photos you see on the site. You may love the photos on the site, but you don’t get that person since it is a different photographer every time. There are many posts in FB photography groups asking for a “main/lead photographer” because the “Photo Company Name” outsources their work. It is very deceitful. A photo of your photographer will allow you to trust you will get exactly who you are looking at, and won’t be “pawned off” to someone else. Hopefully, the photographer will take the time to meet/talk with you personally, ensuring that you feel comfortable working with them. You will have the opportunity to discuss the details of your wedding and any specific moments you want the photographer to capture. What style of images do you want? If you don’t know…that’s OK! An easy exercise is to write down 3-5 words that describe your photos and the entire day. Some examples can be fun, candid, natural, glamourous, emotional, detail focused, bright, moody, and