March 19th 2022 | Wedding photography
When you’re planning a wedding, you’re thrown into making decisions you’ve never had to make before about things you have little or no knowledgeable about. And one of those big decisions is finding a local wedding photographer.
One of the most frequent questions entered into search engines for those planning a wedding is ‘How do I find a wedding photographer near me’. And wherever you are, there are likely to be plenty. The job for you is to choose the best one for you.
Below are my five top tops on how to find your perfect local wedding photographer.
If you have family or friends that have been through this process in recent years then ask them if they’d recommend their wedding photographer. When looking at wedding photographer’s websites, look to see if there are reviews from previous couples. Many wedding photographers will allow you to contact previous couples to ask them about their experience.
A lot of my bookings come through recommendations which is great because I get to see my previous couples again at their friends and families weddings.
Your wedding photographer will be around you all day, from putting on your make up in the morning right through to cutting shapes on the dancefloor well into the evening. So, it’s fair to say that you need to be happy and relaxed in their company. They will be around your guests all day too. A personable and easy-going photographer will blend into your day, at times going unnoticed. And if you and your guests are relaxed around them, it will result in more authentic storytelling images.
It costs nothing to talk, and it’s the easiest way of getting a feel for somebody. Interview a few wedding photographs that you like the look off and have some questions ready to ask them. Many wedding photographers will have a FAQ area on their website that covers the things you might like to ask.
If you haven’t been able to see as much as you would like on their website, get them to bring a gallery of more images with them.
Professional wedding photographers will have a gallery of images on their website. When choosing a local wedding photographer, make sure you view full galleries of wedding photos. Not just the best few images of each wedding. You’re looking for high quality storytelling images with character and depth that cover the entire day. Not just the big moments, but the little candid ones in-between as well.
Ask yourself ‘Do the images tell the story of the day with consistently high quality of images? Do you like the style? If the answer to both of those questions is yes then you’re on the right track.
It’s essential that you sign a contact when you book your local wedding photographer. It doesn’t just cover them it covers you too. It confirms costs, timings, what precisely you want photographed, what happens in the event of an emergency, and the service you will receive afterwards with regards to images, rights, albums etc. A good wedding contract will breakdown pricing and costs clearly so there are no hidden costs at the end.
A robust and well thought out wedding contract will give you the peace of mind of knowing that your wedding photography is in safe and experienced hands.
So, if you’re about to embark on finding a local wedding photographer for your wedding, I hope this has been helpful to you. And if you think that local wedding photographer could be me. Then feel free to get in touch.
I’d love to hear about your wedding plans…