How to Choose a Wedding Photographer

By Erika Tanith Photography

So I’ve harping on about this for ages on my instagram stories… but I am SO excited to have my very first Guest Blogger!

Introducing Erika! I met Erika over the Christmas Holidays, just a couple of months ago, when we were both working the same micro-wedding. It was a ‘Ceremony only’ and the couple in question had moved their date to get hitched in-between lockdowns. It was such a special day as they were such a sweet couple, and although it was SO cold and there was a downpour of rain, they made the most of their day… braving the wet, whilst Erika worked her magic and managed to get some gorgeous photos (despite her frozen fingers!).

Erika told me that she shot her first wedding back in 2004, and she’s been a full time wedding photographer since 2012. As soon as I met her, I could tell how much passion she has for her role, she told me:

“I love my job and I genuinely think it’s the best job in the world. I help brides and grooms re-live their weddings through beautiful pictures, and I think that’s priceless. On the day I help everything to run smoothly, and get to meet fantastic people. Everyone’s day is unique so you never quite know what you’re about to walk into and that fits my personality perfectly. I love excitement and emotion, the unknown, and the pure adventure of life. So much of that is reflected in weddings! Capturing those candid, honest moments, and making everyone’s photography as individual as they are, makes me happy. I like to think that the images I create make my couples happy too.”

As with a lot of wedding suppliers, we’re not just limited to our one task on the day. We frequently end up helping out in many other areas and it’s always lovely to find someone who is willing to go the extra mile for you on your special day. When chatting about ideas for her blog post, Erika told me of all the other non-photographer bits and bobs shes done at Weddings before:

“I’ve sewn dresses, popped corks, fixed shoes, shouted at DJs for playing the wrong set list, poured drinks, laced frocks, pinned hair, carried purses, calmed nerves (once sat in a bathtub with a bride drinking rum out of a hip flask to help calm her down), chauffeured grooms and wedding guests (had a groom once forget to hire a car so I took him from his house to the venue!).”

Now that’s what I call ‘going above and beyond!’

Anyway, enough from me… I’ll hand you over to the woman herself!

Here’s Erika’s professional advice on ‘How to Choose your Wedding Photographer:

When you start planning for your wedding there are many things to consider, and in order to get what you want the best thing to do is to experience the product: sample the cakes, try on the dresses, visit the venue. But how do you choose a wedding photographer?

Photography is arguably one of the most important aspects of a wedding. After the day is over the cake has been eaten, the dress gets put away, the champagne has been drunk, but your photographs hold your memories. So, getting it right is important. How do you choose? What questions should you ask? How on earth do you pick?

Here’s some helpful pointers to aid you in choosing the right wedding photographer.

Check out some portfolios

There are lots of photographers out there, all with their own individual style. Check out a broad range of people and start narrowing down what you like and why you like it. Do you like the casual informal pictures of a reportage photographer or are you more drawn to the traditional posed images that are more classically associated with weddings? Do you prefer heavily edited images with lots of colour processing, or are the natural images more appealing? Do you like dark and moody, or bright and airy? There’s no right or wrong, just what you prefer.

Research, research, research

Okay, so you’ve found a few photographers whose style you like. Have a look at their online presence, not just their own website, their social media, and review sites. They many have testimonials on their own website but they will be curated. What are people saying independently on Google reviews, Yelp, Yell, Freeindex etc. How do they respond to feedback? Are they friendly on Instagram?

Find out if you like them

It’s not the most obvious item on the list, but when you think about it it’s pretty important. Your photographer is going to be with you throughout your day so you need to get along. One of the easiest ways to do this is to speak to them. You can arrange a meet up, or phone call, or even a video chat. They need to be a good fit for you and your guests, have the ability to blend in to your crowd, and deliver fantastic results at the same time.

Check for consistency

You need to be sure that your photographer can pull it out of the bag the whole day through. The best way to do that is to ask to see a wedding they have shot from start to finish.

Ask questions

You’ve narrowed your selection down, so it’s time to figure out the fine details and make your choice. What do you need to know?

Are there any hidden costs?

Does the wedding package you’re looking at include the reproduction rights to the images? If you’ve chosen a digital only package, do you need to pay again to be able to print your photographs? Will you have to pay to get the watermark removed? Know what you’re paying for.

What happens if they’re sick on your wedding day?

You need to know that they have a Plan B. Ideally you want it written into your contract that they will appoint someone to take their place if they can’t make it. Make sure you have this contracted in writing.

Are they insured?

Your photographer should have Public Liability Insurance. Many venues will not let a photographer work on their premises without this cover, and some will stipulate the amount they need to be covered by.

Speaking of backups…

What is their backup plan for their equipment? It’s not something anyone wants to consider, but what happens if the camera breaks, the memory card corrupts, or the lens smashes? Some photographers work with a dual card camera, others have systems for fixing corrupted cards. A backup camera and lenses should be on hand no matter what.

How experienced are they?

A good wedding photographer won’t just be taking photos at your wedding, they play a large and integral role in the structure and organisation of the day as well. They work closely with the venue co-ordinator to keep events to time, make sure people are where they need to be, and will be on hand to smooth out any wrinkles. They will be a calming presence during your pre-wedding preparations, and they will be able to do that because they understand your needs.

Of course, longevity in the business isn’t everything. If your photographer hasn’t been on the go very long but used to work as a second shooter, or generally in the wedding industry then they understand many aspects of the job. Similarly, they may have been around for years but haven’t progressed with the times.

What can you do for them?

Creating the perfect wedding is a collaboration between you and all your suppliers, so find out what your photographer needs in order to do the best possible job on the day. When do they require a shot list from you? Do they need a map to find any of your locations? Will they be off-roading at all? Do they require a meal from you (dietary requirements)? Are there any special instructions from you or your venue that they need to be aware of?

Don’t be afraid to talk about any of these matters; you only get married once but your photographer works weddings all the time so they know what they’re talking about. They understand your concerns and will be happy to answer your questions. If they aren’t then that’s a pretty good indicator that they are not the right fit for you.