Top 3 Things to Look for in a Wedding Photographer // Tips for Clients

Booking a photographer for your wedding is a process that shouldn’t be rushed. This is the person that will be capturing every special moment of your big day so making sure that you pick just the right person should be a top priority.

As you start your search for a photographer, here are the three most important things to look out for.

Style 

It’s easy for a wedding photographer to impress you by showing you a slideshow of their top 25 to 30 wedding photos but this isn’t going to give you a good enough idea of what you can expect overall. A better approach is to ask to see a variety of shots from different parts of a wedding so that you know exactly what you can expect or a wedding with a similar lighting situation or environment to your own. You’ll want to have a look through everything from the getting ready and detail shots to the ceremony, toasts and reception shots. Wedding photography styles vary quite a bit between documentation style and editing styles.  So take the time to browse through some shoots that fit into various categories to find out what works best for you as a couple and whether the photographer you had in mind can offer you those types of shots.  You want to choose a photographer who already shoots and edits in the style that you prefer!

Here at Rebecca Anne Photography our style can be described as journalistic as our goal is to capture authentic moments as they happen organically, rather then stage every moment so that we can capture the true environment of the day and your real personalities.  Our editing style is very classic so that in 20 years when you look back at your wedding images, you are not distracted by the editing but we do love to embrace the bold colors and contrast that the PNW provides in our editing as well.

Personality 

Your wedding photographer is going to be around you and your family for most of your wedding day, so it’s important for you to feel comfortable with him or her. When a couple doesn’t feel comfortable around their wedding photographer, it will show in their photos, but the opposite holds true too. A good photographer will know how to make you feel at ease, will guide you on how to pose before and on your wedding day, and will always be willing to answer any questions that you might have.

Experience
You will of course want to know that your photographer has the relevant experience to shoot a wedding but it’s also important to know what types of weddings they have photographed. Will you have a dimly lit venue that requires someone who knows how to shoot in low light situations? Are you having an ethnic wedding and need someone who understands specific cultural traditions? Will your ceremony have special requirements such as not being able to use a flash or not being able to stand up close? Make a list of your requirements before you meet with your photographer so that you can make sure there won’t be any potential problems leading up to the wedding once the finer details are discussed.  Your photographer can often help advise you in what types of venues or spots to shoot to achieve the look you want as well.

Rebecca Anne Photography specializes in natural light photos but understands many venues and situations require difficult lighting and has the capabilities to accommodate a dark or challenging lighting situation.

While price does play a role in choosing a photographer, basing your choice on these top three elements is far more important. Your wedding photos are something you’ll treasure for years to come so take the time to choose a photographer that can best capture these amazing memories.