When brides-to-be contact me for information on wedding packages and the process of telling their wedding day story through photos they tend to fall into two categories: very well informed or overwhelmed and unsure of the best way to approach the choice.
Wedding planners have been known to advise brides to designate 25% of their budget to hiring a photographer and purchasing prints as well as other photo keepsakes. Not only are you putting a large amount of money at stake, but once-in-a-lifetime memories as well. Your photographs become your souvenir of not only the excitement of the wedding process, but also a representation of the rest of your lives together that you will someday share with your children and grandchildren. Choosing the best photographer for your wedding day is not a decision to take lightly. In addition to my experience, I performed a week long search of the information available on the internet and am pleased to share with you what I think will be the most helpful advice.
For starters, the three standard styles of wedding photography are:
Traditional- formal portitature that captures the day in a straight-forward manner
Journalistic- an editorial style (if the name didn't already imply that) where the photographer takes more of a "fly-on-the-wall" approach.
Illustrative- a hybrid of the two. While the illustrative photographer directs more formal pictures while still trying to evoke a natural feel and uses thoughtfulness to try to capture moments the way the client will want to remember them.
When you envision your special day, what mood are you looking to portray? Whether you take a playful, romantic, family-oriented, elaborate, or your own unique approach, it's critical that the photographer be able to translate the emotions from life to print in a manner that best represents your vision.
Your first step will be a potential photographer's portfolio. Keep in mind that he/she will be showing you what he/she believes to be the best wedding shots of their careers. If you aren't blown away by their best, consider the "Get Out Now" sign to be neon colored and flashing.
Ask to see a complete album so you can get a feel for the stories he/she tells through film (realistically, digital images- but the story should have a romanticism similar to the art of film).
Check out the brides you're seeing. Are they all poised for the runway? Making pretty people in pretty dresses look pretty in a photograph doesn't showcase talent as well as a photographer who can highlight a less photogenic bride in ways that make her glow off the page.
A Los Angeles Love explores the same topic (beware: she does not appear to be a fan of sugar coating her words), with a point that I couldn't help but share: "A photographer is great when they can see the genuine beauty in pure love, regardless of how it's packaged."
A couple other tidbits for thought:
Look for consistency in how the photographer handles the light and what are the varieties in shooting with different lenses, angles, and from different locations?
Is there an appreciation for details? Think of the damage to your stress levels concerning decisions from chair coverings, to options at a candy bar, all the way down to your flower girl's shoes.... an observant photographer will notice all the little details and highlight them as a perfect piece of the overall wedding day puzzle.
Have you come to a point where all the styles have started blurring together? Visual people often benefit from obtaining samples from their top choices to compare side-by-side. Not only will you be able to compare style, but also quality of the finished product!
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