How to Find the Perfect Wedding Photographer

Knowing how to hire a wedding photographer is crucial because, let’s be honest, the beautiful wedding photos that you receive will be among the most treasured memories of your big day. That’s exactly why selecting the right wedding photographer is super important because they will be the ones to read your day, decide what to shoot, and capture all of those special, candid moments you'll cherish and look back on forever.

But it’s not all about the images themselves; finding a professional wedding photographer who shares your vision and style is an essential part of your wedding too, and when choosing a photographer, there are a number of considerations to make, including being able to document your wedding day in style and, of course, fitting within your budget. With SO many photographers out there, it may feel like a bit of a daunting task to find the “right” one for you. But don’t worry; this helpful article will talk you through how to ensure you choose a wedding photographer who's perfect for your big day.

Have your wedding venue booked first

Securing your venue before you hire your photographer is kind of common sense because your venue will likely dictate a number of things, such as your wedding date unless you have your heart set on a particular photographer and are willing to work around their availability. If this is the case, feel free to skip ahead, but depending on how in-demand your photographer is, it's wise to get them booked nine months to a year before the wedding.

See securing your photographer as one of the next tasks to do once the venue has been locked in. Photographers, caterers and florists are usually the next big-ticket items to book once the venue’s confirmed, so once you know the where and the when you can get cracking on the next steps. It is worth checking in with your venue, though, as they may be able to recommend wedding photographers that they have worked with previously. Bonus: they will already know the venue's best backdrops! (more on that later).

Set your budget

Much like venues, photographers can vary wildly in price. That’s why discussing how much you can afford to spend should be one of your first steps, and you should keep that in mind throughout your search.

On their websites, most wedding photographers list their starting costs as well as affordable wedding photography packages. As an alternative, you may be able to get a quick quote from a few local photographers to find out what the going rate is. Rates can hugely vary depending on experience, the length of the wedding, the number of events, and even the location, but as a guide, most photographers will charge anything from AUD $3,000 to $6,000. However, if the budget doesn't allow it or if professional photography isn't for you, you could ask a family member, friend, or even student to shoot your wedding; however, just don't expect their work to be of an exceptionally professional level.

Know your style

Again, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to working out your style, so do your research and take some time to discover what kind of photography you like. Maybe you're into a more vintage look with washed-out tones and a dreamy, nostalgic vibe, or maybe it's bright, fun, and full of vivid colours. After identifying a few photographers’ styles that complement your own, send an email to each one to find out about their availability for your wedding date and their rates. You can then set up initial meetings to see if the people you're interested in are available on your date and if their rates fit within your budget.

But where do you start looking?

Google Search - A great place to start; however, it's a bit like finding a needle in a haystack, as your search will literally give you hundreds of photographers to wade through. Your dream photographer might not appear on pages 1, 2, or 3, and that's down to their lack of SEO skills, not their photography skills

Wedding shows and Fairs - There’s nothing like an old-school face-to-face meeting to kick off your search for your ideal photographer. Wedding shows and fairs are a great way to meet a professional wedding photographer, see actual printed and framed wedding photographs, and leaf through the kinds of albums you can choose from

Social media - Instagram, in particular, is a fantastic ‘search engine’ platform that will allow you to focus your search and limit the results to photographers who are most likely to meet your requirements. Look through your venue’s feed first to see if there are any photographers’ pictures that really catch your eye

Hashtags can also be really handy when used for searching for something, like wedding photographers. Use location-specific search terms, a particular style you like, ‘fine art wedding photographer’, for example, and view wedding photos that were taken at your venue by using hashtags. It is an excellent opportunity to see how various photographers have documented previous weddings there. You can also get the chance to have a sneak peek into other couples' weddings, which is a great way to gain inspiration. Let the bookmarking and saving commence! Recommendations - Word of mouth is a valuable and underrated resource when it comes to getting recommendations, especially from a friend or family member that you trust. Still, do your homework, though; check out their reviews, their social media feed, AND their website to ensure their style suits yours

Your venue - As we touched on earlier, it's such a great way to be introduced to a handful of talented photographers that your venue recommends. You're one step ahead if your photographer has already worked at your venue and knows all the lighting tips and tricks, along with the best backdrops

Blogs and Magazines - Real weddings and styled shoots can be found in wedding-specific blogs and magazines, which are excellent places to find inspiration and get a feel for the kind of work and aesthetic that professional photographers do within this unique industry. Just keep in mind to spend some time looking over more of the photographer's work, particularly the actual weddings they have captured, on their website. Blogs and magazines will also have social media and will feature even more wedding photos taken by even more photographers!

Arrange a meeting

So, you've narrowed down a shortlist of whose styles you like; they ARE within budget AND available on your wedding date. Great start! At this point, why not arrange to meet a couple of them in person? It's really important that you get along with your photographer because you will be spending the whole day (maybe even the weekend) with them. So, ask them for a face-to-face meeting or even a video call and use this opportunity to ask questions, look at their portfolio, and see how you feel about them. Do you feel comfortable around them? Do you think they know what you're looking for? Your wedding photos will appear more natural and at ease the more calm you are with your photographer. Simply arrange a coffee to see how you get along, and you'll quickly realise if they are the right photographer for you.

Ask the overlooked questions

Ask them what their approach to wedding day photography is. Knowing the photographer's shooting style is just as important as the way that they shoot in order to get those images. Do they prefer to get right in there with the wedding party, posing people and creating moments throughout the day, or are they more like a fly on the wall? Do they provide a lot of guidance, or do they catch a lot of natural imagery? These questions should provide some important context. Your interactions with the photographer on your wedding day might be just as significant as the finished pictures you get!

Use the engagement photo session as a trial run

While it's not necessary, having some practice being directed and posed will make you and your partner feel so much more at ease on the big day. Seeing if your personalities work well together during an engagement session is a great opportunity to get to know your wedding photographer too. The ideal photographer will be kind, respectful, and unafraid to mix in with your wedding while still being fearless enough to get the photos they require. They should be curious about your day and, above all, ask you a lot of questions.

Engagement photos are a wonderful way to capture more lovely moments of you and your significant other and to get excited for your wedding day. It's also a really good practice run if you or your partner don't love being in front of the camera too. You can try out some poses ahead of the main event, and you get another set of professional images that you can use on the invitation/ save the date... get ready to strike a pose!

Understanding prices and packages

When it comes to pricing, some photographers charge for the number of shots or albums you like, while others have a fixed or hourly fee that covers everything, including albums, prints, and high-resolution images (stored on the cloud, a disc or USB drive). A price list that includes various bundles at different price ranges is something that many photographers provide. Lots of photographers offer additional extras now too, such as a second photographer, 35mm film images, and coverage of the pre and/or post-wedding events. So just ensure that you are aware of everything that is included before signing on the dotted line.