How to Find the Right Wedding Photographer

Good photographers can preserve the memories and document the most precious moments of your wedding day. It’s no wonder that even the most frugal brides are willing to pay top dollar for a great photographer. You want someone who is trustworthy, experienced, and professional—and most importantly, someone who has a great eye for details. Here are tips that can help you find and choose the right wedding photographer.

Search now: Professional photographers often have busy schedules, so you need to book them way in advance. Decide on your wedding date and start looking for a photographer right away.

Remember that spring is one of the busiest seasons for photographers, so if you are planning a spring wedding, book at least six to 12 months before your big day. If you are having your wedding in any other season, a six-month notice should be adequate.

Look for photographers in your area: If your photographers of choice are based far from your wedding venue, you need to fly them in and pay for their hotel rooms. If you are unwilling to pay the costs, use a wedding planning app to search for wedding photographers based near your wedding venue. That way, you no longer have to shoulder hefty transport and accommodation costs.

Check out the samples: Once you have a list of photographers to choose from, visit their websites or ask them to show you their portfolio so you can see samples of their work. If you know someone who has actually hired them, ask to see their wedding album. Examine the photos closely and determine if you like the color, exposure, clarity, composition, graininess, and the photographer's style of taking pictures.

Measure their professionalism: Hire a seasoned professional who has a solid background in wedding photography. Find out the number of weddings that they have worked on and the number of years that they have been taking wedding pictures. Remember that wedding photography is different from other kinds of photography.

Check the equipment: Know the type of camera and gear that they will use for your wedding. If the photographer uses a digital camera, make sure that it is top of the line. If they use film, be sure that they use professional grade and not consumer-quality film. Make sure that they bring backup equipment, too, such as additional lenses, cameras, flashes, extra batteries, and memory cards.

Check the price and the contract: Do not be embarrassed to negotiate the price, and be sure to choose a photographer who can provide you with a formal contract containing the legal details of what you are getting from their service and how much you are paying for it.