How to Choose the Right Photographer for Your Wedding Day

Recently, I have seen an influx of brides posting urgent needs for photographers due to theirs backing out or suddenly becoming unavailable after booking. As a wedding photographer myself, this BREAKS my heart! No one deserves to be stranded so close to their wedding day. Wedding planning is stressful enough. You should be able to trust your photographer. Your vendors should be taking care of YOU on your wedding day (and well before the big event).

Because of this, I decided it might be helpful to outline some things you may want to consider when choosing and booking your wedding photographer so that you have the best experience possible! We’ll go over things such as finding the right style, setting a realistic budget, how to research your options, and how to set your priorities when it comes to things like packages & deliverables.

At the end of the day, my goal is for you to be ENTIRELY confident in choosing the best photographer for your wedding day, without fear of getting burned. Here is some of my best advice to achieve that!

1. Understand Your Wedding Photography Style

Before you even start looking at specific photographers, it is so helpful to figure out what kind of photos you want to look back on for your wedding day. There are SO many types of wedding photography styles available. No photographer is quite the same, nor is there a “best” style. It’s solely based on your own personal preference. If you don’t have a preference, or don’t know what the options are, there are a few popular categories that most photographers will fit into.

Here’s a detailed list and description of popular wedding photography styles, perfect for helping couples choose the right aesthetic for their big day:

Traditional/Classic Wedding Photography

• Description: A timeless approach focusing on posed portraits, such as family group shots, the couple standing together, and classic moments like the first kiss.
• Ideal For: Couples who love a formal, structured style with a focus on the key moments.
• Example Shots: Bride and groom with family, cake cutting, exchanging vows.
• Pros: Reliable and consistent, often chosen for albums and framed photos.
• Cons: May feel less creative or candid.

Photojournalistic/Documentary Wedding Photography

• Description: Captures the day as it naturally unfolds, focusing on candid, unscripted moments rather than posed shots.
• Ideal For: Couples who prefer authentic emotions and storytelling over traditional poses.
• Example Shots: Laughter between friends, the bride sneaking a quiet moment, kids playing during the ceremony.
• Pros: Creates a natural, emotional narrative of the day.
• Cons: Less focus on posed family portraits.

Fine Art Wedding Photography

• Description: Artistic and creative, with a focus on light, composition, and details. Often includes a dreamy or ethereal feel.
• Ideal For: Couples who value highly stylized and visually stunning photos.
• Example Shots: Bride in soft natural light, artistic close-ups of rings or decor.
• Pros: Unique and gallery-worthy images.
• Cons: May involve more setup and direction from the photographer.

Editorial/High-Fashion Wedding Photography

• Description: Inspired by magazine spreads, this style emphasizes dramatic poses, bold lighting, and high-end aesthetics.
• Ideal For: Couples looking for glamorous, dramatic, and stylish photos.
• Example Shots: The couple in vogue-like poses, dramatic lighting setups, chic black-and-white shots.
• Pros: Creates a luxury feel and standout images.
• Cons: Requires more staging and may feel less personal.

Moody and Dark Wedding Photography

• Description: Emphasizes deep tones, shadows, and contrast to create a dramatic, emotional atmosphere.
• Ideal For: Couples who love a cinematic, romantic, or bohemian vibe.
• Example Shots: Couples in moody natural light, dramatic landscape backdrops.
• Pros: Emotionally evocative and trendy.
• Cons: May not suit brighter or more cheerful celebrations.

Bright and Airy Wedding Photography

• Description: Features soft, pastel tones and bright, natural lighting to create a cheerful and romantic look.
• Ideal For: Couples who want dreamy, fairy-tale-like photos.
• Example Shots: Outdoor garden ceremonies, candid shots with glowing backlight.
• Pros: Light, cheerful, and timeless.
• Cons: May not work well with darker venues or evening weddings.

Candid Wedding Photography

• Description: Focuses on capturing raw, unplanned moments throughout the day, similar to documentary photography.
• Ideal For: Couples who want natural and spontaneous photos.
• Example Shots: Bride laughing during speeches, guests dancing freely.
• Pros: Natural and full of personality.
• Cons: Less emphasis on posed or curated shots.

Vintage Wedding Photography

• Description: Uses filters, editing, or vintage-style cameras to create a nostalgic, old-world charm.
• Ideal For: Couples inspired by bygone eras or hosting a vintage-themed wedding.
• Example Shots: Sepia-toned couple portraits, film-style photos with grain.
• Pros: Adds character and nostalgia.
• Cons: May not appeal to everyone’s taste or complement modern themes.

Destination Wedding Photography

• Description: Focuses on stunning landscapes and unique locations as a key element of the photography.
• Ideal For: Couples tying the knot in scenic or exotic destinations.
• Example Shots: Couple framed by mountains, beaches, or iconic landmarks.
• Pros: Highlights the location as much as the couple.
• Cons: Often more expensive and location-dependent.

For me personally, my photography style is a mixture of classic & candid, with warm, earthy, & romantic colors. Your style preferences could be one of these or a mixture of these. By figuring out which of these styles speak to YOU, you are in a fantastic spot to begin searching for your ideal photographer!

2. Set a Realistic Budget for Your Wedding Photography

In my opinion, photography should be in the top three things you’re willing to splurge on for your wedding day. Your venue might be another one, but with photography (& videography), this is pretty much the only thing you’ll take with you from your wedding and be able to look back on for years to come. And unfortunately, in the wedding vendor industry, what you get is usually what you pay for. There might be some diamonds in the rough out there (hopefully this guide will help you discern those vendors), but I would TRULY recommend making your photography services high on your priority list!

There is a big range when it comes to wedding photography. As just about anything else, there are low-budget photographers, mid-range, and luxury (personally, I consider myself to be in the mid-range market, which for Mid-Michigan is around 3-5k give or take). For bigger cities and destination/tourist hotspots, expect this range to rise!

When figuring out your budget and what’s important to you, decipher your non-negotiables: Are you trying to get the most bang for your buck? Do you value a good client experience? How much coverage do you need? What kind of add-ons would you like? What do you want to be included in your package (engagement session, second shooter, gallery prints, etc)?

By figuring out what is most important to you, you can start to figure out what a realistic budget might look like so there’s less likely to be sticker shock when it comes time to book.

3. Start Early and Do Your Research

Now that you know your preferred style and approximate budget, it’s time to begin finding your wedding photographer!! There are so many ways to research your dream photog. While it can definitely be overwhelming, hopefully these tips will help your ability to narrow down your options.

With that being said, it’s important to start early. Many photographers book out 1-2 years in advance (in my experience, I book most of my clients 1-1.5 years ahead of time). There are a number of ways to find potential options:

• Google: My personal favorite! You can search exactly what you’re looking for when it comes to budget, style, & location, as well as direct access to their website to fill out an inquiry form.
• Instagram (or other social media): I LOVE to utilize social media when researching other vendors and service-based professionals. Searching by location or hashtag makes it super easy to find profiles in your location. You can often get a good feel of their personality through how they post on their social media!
• Word-of-Mouth: Truly the most powerful way to find a photographer is through the experiences of others. Ask your friends & family, post on Facebook, look through your friends’ wedding photos and ask about their experiences!

4. Schedule Interviews with Potential Photographers

When submitting inquiries and trying to discern who the right photographer will be, I would HIGHLY recommend meeting with your photographer. Whether it’s in person, over a video call, or at the very least, hopping on a phone call with them, I truly believe this is one of the best ways to decide which photographer you can entrust your wedding day with. Your photographer should feel like a friend- someone who you can get along easily with. They are one of the only vendors that will be with you throughout your ENTIRE wedding day. You want to make sure you’re compatible!

Before meeting, prepare a list of questions. The right photographer shouldn’t shy away from hard questions, they should be more than happy to answer. Some of the BEST questions you can ask are:

1. How do you handle unexpected events (bad weather, family emergency, etc)?
2. How do you keep our photos safe?
3. Are you insured?
4. Do you have a contract? (This one is MEGA important!)
5. What’s your turnaround time?
6. What’s your booking process like? (Here is mine as an example!)

5. Review Full Wedding Albums, Not Just Highlights

Before officially booking, make sure to ask if you can look at FULL wedding galleries they’ve completed in the past. You want to make sure they are consistent and have experience in all lighting situations. I would suggest asking for galleries similar to what yours will be- season, venue, and lighting are all things to look for when reviewing galleries!

Highlights are great and often photographers will only post their favorite photos to showcase their work. But you want to do your due diligence in making sure their abilities match your style & expectations!

6. Trust Your Gut

Above all else, you have intuition for a reason- use it! It’s important to choose a wedding photographer that feels right, both personally AND professionally. Choose someone that makes you feel PEACE and EXCITEMENT about your big day! You deserve to feel confident & comfortable in your decision and your experience overall.

I hope these tips are helpful in choosing the right photographer for your wedding day. These six steps are a great way to start in the right direction. Overall, make sure your photographer is someone you truly trust and is able to provide a great experience, right from the first inquiry all the way to your gallery delivery. I am wishing you the best of luck in your search!!

If you have more questions, or would like to submit your own inquiry, head over to my contact page here. I can’t wait to connect with you!!