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With all the important wedding planning items that brides focus on, it is crucial to not let the process of choosing a wedding photographer go neglected. Second to making your big day as special as you want it to be, taking great wedding photographs is a key factor of having a successful wedding. The entire day is filled with so much wonderful chaos and goes by so quickly that it is important to have gorgeous photographs so you can relive every cherished moment.
Choosing a photographer doesn’t have to be complicated, but it is a complex process. You want to make sure you have a criteria set so you can find the one that will fit your needs and provide you with wonderful photos that you love. Afterall, these photographs will go into professional wedding albums that will be family heirlooms for years to come! Putting in additional effort and money will pay off and ensure you get an excellent product that you will be happy with in the future.
Photo Credit: Jill Thomas
Do not be stingy with a wedding photographer and make sure you give them a substantial place in your wedding budget. What you put in is what you get out, and you surely do not want to have lackluster photos to remember your big day! Anyone can take a decent picture, but it takes a skilled photographer with great experience working at weddings to capture all the special, irreplaceable moments you and your partner will share on your big day.
Photo Credit: Jelger + Tanja
5 traits to look for in a photographer
To make sure you hire the photographer that is perfect for you and will capture your special day exactly how you want, we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you find the one for you. Besides a stellar portfolio of top quality photographs that personally appeal to you, these are the key qualities to look for in a photographer:
Creativity
A key trait of a wedding photographer, or any type of photographer for that matter, is having a keen eye for creativity. Brilliant photographers imagine a shot in their mind moments before it actually happens. This enables them to be ready to take the picture and make sure they have a clear shot with their camera. A creative photographer can also provide you with the most stunning pictures as they will have the knowledge of which poses or layouts will create the most magical photographs.
Photo Credit: Anna Kim Photography
Attention to detail
Along with a creative eye, a great photographer must also have a strong attention to even the slightest of details. This will ensure that every precious moment, no matter how small, is captured.
Photo Credit: Stephanie Rogers Photography
Patience
We all know wedding days can be a little hectic. Sometimes not everything goes according to plan, so it is important to have a photographer by your side who is patient, calm, and ready to deal with any curveballs. As a bride, you will probably also be quite stressed, so a photographer that is very understanding with a level temper and supportive nature is best. Hand in hand with being patient, it is important for the photographer to also be flexible. Sometimes the schedule of the wedding gets pushed around or delayed, so it is great if the photographer can adjust to these changes and still deliver excellent service.
Photo Credit: Janis Ratnieks
Strong communication skills
Experienced wedding photographers are strong communicators: They know how to communicate with their clients in order to provide them with a product their client wants. This means that they will speak up about ideas they may have for certain shots or poses and will also be open to your suggestions. While you want them to be confident in their work, make sure they listen to you and any concerns you have. These communication skills also involve verbal and written skills, which are important for establishing the contract you both agree upon and making the overall process of working together run smoothly and successfully.
Photo Credit: Karma Hill Photography
To ensure you are hiring a wedding photographer that meets all of these requirements, having a consultation meeting is a wise choice. This way, you can conversate with the photographer, see how you two get along, and get all your important questions answered. Browse their portfolio and make sure that their photography style and aesthetic appeals to you.
It is important to get to know your photographer in advance and make sure you both are on the same page in terms of goals for the big day. Having an engagement photo shoot is a wonderful idea because it will help you to be comfortable in front of a camera, get to know how your photographer works, and build rapport that will make your wedding day run as smoothly as possible. It is a smart idea to start research and hire your photographer about a year in advance, after you book your reception venue.
