Hey Hey There!
Planning a wedding? Yay! So. Much. Fun!
Today I want to help all you newly engaged couples out there who are in the midst of wedding planning with one of your bigger vendor decisions: picking the right wedding photographer! I can’t even count how many times curious couples have asked me what’s most important to consider when selecting a wedding photographer, but I can tell you my answer remains the same time after time. It really comes down to three things: style, price, and personality. If you can check these three boxes, you have found a great fit!
1. Style
Take some time to browse a photographer’s portfolio and honestly ask yourself: “Do I love their images?” Pour over their website, their Instagram feed, images their previous clients have tagged them in on social media, and any albums they might have on display at a bridal show. Consider their use of light and color, the overall composition of the images, how couples are posed… every little detail that contributes to a breathtaking wedding portrait. If you want to love your wedding photography, you first have to love your photographer’s artistic style.
2. Price
We all know that weddings can cost a pretty penny, and once you set your budget, you really need to stick to it to avoid unnecessary financial stress during (and after) your nuptials. So does the wedding photographer you’re considering offer a package or collection that fits the bill?
If their fee is more than double what you planned to pay for photography, you’re probably better off continuing your search for the perfect fit. If they hit just slightly over budget, there might be some room for negotiations or reallocating a little bit of your spending from another category to make things work. But ideally, you’ll find a photographer that can produce amazing images for you without breaking the bank.
3. Personality
At the end of the day, if you and your partner don’t jive personally with your photographer, it will show in your wedding photos. For this reason, I always recommend that couples meet with photographers at least once before signing any contract so they can ask themselves: “Do I like their personality? Do they make me feel comfortable? Do I trust them with this responsibility?”
It’s critical that you be able to answer each of these questions honestly with a resounding “yes!” Genuinely enjoying your photographer’s presence will make the day way more fun, and their ability to put you and your partner at ease will be vital to capturing beautifully natural and candid images. And when things get stressful — as they tend to do on your wedding day — it will make all the difference to have a photographer who can lighten the mood and help diffuse the pressure rather than crack beneath the weight of it.
Think we might make a good match? Send me a message! I’d love to meet you and your spouse-to-be and learn about your vision for your wedding day photography.
Happy Wedding Planning!
Sarah Keenan, Photographer
Knoxville, Nashville, Asheville
Johnson City + Chattanooga
Travel Photographer
