There is SO much that goes into planning a wedding, and hiring a wedding photographer is one of the most important parts. Ultimately your wedding photos will help you re-live your day, be framed in your home, and maybe even be shown to your kiddos (should you have them) down the line! Finding the right photographer for you can be a bit overwhelming, because there are SO many beautiful instagram feeds, engaging websites, and it can be hard to know what questions to ask.

SO, I am here to help! Keep scrolling to see the biggest things I would make sure to ask for from a potential photographer BEFORE you hire them!

1. Full Wedding Galleries

It’s always a good idea to ask to see a full wedding gallery before officially booking your wedding photographer. This will give you a sense of how many photos they deliver, how they edit in various lighting scenarios, what kind of storytelling they do in their galleries, and overall if you feel like their style is compatible with what you’re looking for. It can also tell you a lot about the delivery process- is the gallery site easy to use? Can you easily order prints or albums directly from the site? All of these will have a HUGE effect on your experience with the wedding photographer you choose and the photos you receive.

2. Specifically, a Wedding Gallery Similar to Your Day

Weddings come in all different shapes and sizes so the photos you see from one wedding aren’t going to be the same type of photos you get at your own wedding. Ask to see a full gallery from a wedding that’s similar to your own. Maybe its indoor during winter, at a winery during the fall, or on a beach in mid-day sun. With any wedding situation that may be tricky, its great to ask for an example so you can be confident they will make you look GOOD no matter what the conditions!

3. Your Investment Package

Talk to your photographer about how much your investment will change if you add or subtract hours of coverage. During the planning process, you will inevitably shift your timeline a bit and that can mean needing more or less hours than when you initially booked your photographer. Make sure you are comfortable with how your investment would change in those instances!

4. Cancellation and Rescheduling Policy

Contracts are easy to skim through, and to be honest a lot of what is in there is “just to be safe” stuff that likely won’t apply to you or your wedding day! However, in this post still-kind-of-covid world, the cancellation and rescheduling terms are more important than ever! So make sure your photographer’s policies are in alignment with what you and your partner are comfortable with!

5. Bestie Vibes

This might sound silly, but it’s actually the most important item on this list. You will spend more time with your photographer on your wedding day than ALMOST ANY OTHER PERSON, sometimes even your partner. So make sure its someone that you would actually want to be friends with. Find someone that makes you extremely comfortable, someone you can be yourself around, and someone that makes you feel like the hottest person in the room!

I hope this list of 5 things to look for before hiring a wedding photographer helps you find your dream photographer! Looking for some more wedding planning tips? Check out “5 Wedding Day Tips for Staying in the Moment” by clicking here. Are you located in the PNW and ready to chat about having me capture your big day? Click here to contact me!

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KIND WORDS

“I could not have dreamed of a better wedding photographer! Brynna was professional, kind, flexible, and very communicative. She knew the “look” I was going for in my wedding photos, and gave us something even better than I could have ever imagined. She truly knows how to capture the magic of a wedding day. I was nervous that taking wedding photos would be awkward, but her calming and fun personality created a relaxed and comfortable environment. I can’t wait to work with her in the future!”

– Tara Novick