How to choose a wedding photographer: tips from a pro!
What do you consider when choosing your wedding photographer?
You are engaged and you couldn’t be more exited! Everyone has to know, right? After the greatest euphoria, you start planning, and that’s where it starts…. So how should you choose a wedding photographer?
A wedding photographer is often chosen early in the planning phase. Often, but by no means always, couples start looking for a wedding photographer just after their date and location are chosen. That means most couples start contacting photographers from 1.5 to 8 months before their wedding. I heard very often from clients that they found it hard to choose a wedding photographer. You often only get married once, and if you’re one of the firsts in your familiy or friends, it’s really hard.
Often clients come to me via word of mouth or through social media. Often clients already have a very good idea of my work and my approach.
I am also very happy to explain to you what it is best to pay attention to when shortlisting wedding photographers. Just for you: a free guide “How to choose a wedding photographer.”
STYLE & USE OF COLOR
Style is probably the first thing that will grab your attention. You will most likely be overwhelmed by everything you will see in your search. It’s very important to think about what 1) suits you as a couple and 2) what suits the mood of your wedding. Most photographers will say they “go for the unforced, spontaneous images. Realize that 80% of wedding photographers are behind this statement, so dig a little deeper.
So ask yourself if you want a photographer who:
- is a fly on the wall and thus only photographs “as it is” OR a photographer who nevertheless gives small pointers and prompts
- photographs EVERYTHING, including the not-so-elegant-double-chins-and-weird-faces OR a photographer who looks for the most elegant version of the day
- photographs everything technically perfect OR a photographer who leaves room for experimentation and looks for artistic and creative images
You can’t seem to make sense of the different terms when we talk about “style”? Let me give you a hand.
‘Reportage‘: mostly journalistic style. Capture what happens, with no to little interference. Wide-angle lenses are often the way to go. Technically often very well executed, one image is often a story in itself. In post-processing, often involves highly saturated colors and bright contrasts. A reportage is “life as it is”, including the funny but also non-flattering moments.
‘Fine art‘: mostly a soft style and a more dreamy way of photographing. Photographers really look for beauty, for the most beautiful light, for the most beautiful environment. In this style often photographs are made with portrait lenses, which creates a beautiful isolation of you as a couple and a dreamy atmosphere. As a couple, you will be guided a bit more by your photographer. Post-processing is often very light and low-contrast.
‘Analog‘: Analog photography, yes you know, ‘with rolls of film’ is back on the scene. A number of photographers consciously choose to go back to basics. The charm of film rolls, it does something special to you, as a photographer. In the 21st century, if you choose a photographer who works analog, you will also just get your photos in a digital way, because every shot is scanned by a professional lab. The mood of the images and the use of color and contrast depends on the film rolls chosen. It’s more quality over quantity, and the process of shooting is much slower and more relaxed, because one roll consists of 36 photos…. The previous style “fine art” is somewhat influenced by the analog effect. Many fine art photographers try to give their digital photos that analog look.
‘Editorial‘: Whereas wedding photography was very classic 15 years ago, in recent years the style and trends have also completely changed again. Insert editorial wedding photography. Think of a fashion magazine, but this time the models are a wedding couple. In this style, there is no limit on creativity. Anything is possible! Often photographers are influenced by fashion, art, music bands, movies, etc. Frequent use of flash has also returned.
TIP 1
Ask the photographers on your shortlist if you can view an entire gallery. That’s a full reportage, as delivered to the client. Why? It’s so easy as a photographer to show only your best images on instagram or your website portfolio. The difference between a good photographer and a mediocre photographer lies in the consistency of an entire gallery. Does the photographer succeed in 1) creating a wide variety of images, 2) obtaining consistency in processing and colors, 3) controlling light and composition (even if the available light is poor?) and 4) surprise with an eye for humor? Then you’ve probably come to the right place.
Be sure to ask to see images with flash as well, because almost every wedding ends with a candlelit dinner and dance party and then your photographer should be an external flash master. So don’t be fooled if your favorite photographer claims he can only do it with the ‘natural light’. This is often a sign that he/she does not know how to flash technically well.
EXPERIENCE & PRICE
You won’t be surprised to hear me tell you that experience matters. On several occasions in my 13-year career, I have had an email from a bride who was unhappy with her wedding photos because she had chosen a photographer who was 1) a photography student, or 2) uncle Bob with the professional gear, or 3) very inexpensive (with little to no experience). People often think that bad photos can be improved with “a filter”, but that’s just bullsh*t. You cannot possibly make a good picture in post processing if the original photo was bad. And no, it is not the intention to unleash photoshop on every photo….
Looking back on 2011’s Leentje loves Light portfolio, the only thing I can do is smile (from embarresment). Because when I was just starting out I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t even have 1/4th of the knowledge I had now. I had little understanding of light and technique, I didn’t know what my vision and mission was, I didn’t know how to ensure that every important moment of a wedding could be covered, I retrained several times each year through workshops and coaching. Every wedding I photographed, and there have been more than 300 by now, I got better, photographed more consciously, looked more and more for images that would blow my clients away, as well as images that made me happy as a creative.
Price often goes hand in hand with experience. The more you do something, the better you (often) become. The more experienced and the better, the more expensive. But also: the more you as a client can trust the photographer you chose. Because with a higher price also comes a much better client experience. You will be pampered, there will be frequent check-ins with you leading up to your wedding, your photographer will serve as an extra helpline, your photographer will be in close contact with other vendors such as a wedding planner and florist…
As a coach for photographers, we calculated that a photographer, in Belgium, should have at least a starting price of €3,000 to be profitable in the long run. Because as you may know, our work doesn’t stop at the hours “shooting,” we have a backpack with tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment, an arsenal of software subscriptions and … do you have a minute? … Do you have your eye on a photographer who charges “only” €2,000? Then there is a real chance that something is wrong….
TIP 2
Don’t be focused too much at“trends” in the wedding photography industry. Instead, look for a style that you will still love in 15 years.
TIP 3
How is the photographer’s portfolio structured? Do you see lots of guests, funny events or out-of-life wedding scenes? OR, and here is the pitfall, is the portfolio composed only of picture perfect styled images in the most beautiful locations with couples who are too handsome to be true and always pose perfectly? Yes? Well, that’s because those couples are often professional models and the shoot is staged. We call that a “Styled Shoot. Fair? It is very easy to photograph beautiful images with professional models in a setting that is completely perfect and thus involves little to no human spontaneity. In my humble opinion, this says nothing about your ability as a wedding photographer. Unfortunately, there are many photographers whose portfolio consists of 80% styled shoots. So be wary of this. Also, back to Tip 1: be sure to ask for a full gallery of a real wedding. In other words, you should see lots of other people besides the wedding couple….
How to check this too? See if the photographer has a blog with “real weddings. Very easy to find out the authenticity of a portfolio
NETWORK & TEAM
As a photographer, you usually work alone. On a wedding day, that is all very nice, but behind our desk, with the hours of edit work we have, it is often lonely. What makes our lives more bearable? A mega good network. Community over competition, as we say so nicely.
You might now be thinking, “how stupid is it to befriend your biggest competitors?”. Until your photographer breaks his or her leg 2 days before your wedding and you have to announce with clammy hands that you no longer have a photographer. At that point my network is my lifesaver, we have each other’s back and do everything we can to be a worthy substitute for each other. So be sure to check your shortlist to see if that network is there.
Outside of that good network, I have a handful of photographers I trust with my eyes closed. Some work sporadically for me, as a so called associate shooter. Sporadically, because I don’t want to become a factory, and always by agreement and after the client’s approval. These associate shooters have apprenticed with me several times so they know what is important to me. This allows me to photograph 2 weddings on some Saturdays: one wedding by myself, the other wedding by my trusted associate shooter.
TIP 4
Beware of“quantity over quality“-yes, you read correctly. Some photography companies book weddings by the score, without guaranteeing you, the client, which photographer will come to photograph your wedding. This way of working can go 2 directions: 1) you are lucky and the desired photographer shows up, or 2) you still don’t know until 2 days before your wedding which photographer will come and worst case scenario this photographer has only photographed 2 weddings. Beyond the risk of “lack of experience,” the social aspect is also important. And that brings me to my next point. (below the photos)
SOCIAL SKILLS & PROFESSIONALISM
Being a good wedding photographer is so much more than taking beautiful pictures. So ideally, how you choose a wedding photographer should also be related to ‘a click’. After all, a photographer is close to you for an entire day, or sometimes an entire weekend. I am not claiming that you must become best friends with your wedding photographer, but you must like and enjoy each other to some degree. So the social skills of a photographer, and how they fit you as a couple as well as the wedding day you dream of, is mega important. This is one of the reasons why I do a detailed introductory interview with each of my clients AND, after booking, schedule a short engagement shoot with them. Anything for that personal connection!
Also not to be forgotten: how professional and mature is a photographer? Whether or not you think this is important probably also depends on the style of your wedding. If you go for a hippie festival DIY wedding, you probably won’t care much about how the photographer is dressed and how they act. But if you want a stylish castle wedding with dress code ‘black tie & cocktail’ then you will probably appreciate less that the photographer shows up in worn sneakers and shorts…. (Okay, that’s very caricatural, but you get my point).
Photographers who have been in the business longer and are therefore more experienced usually know very well how to behave professionally at a wedding. What that means to me? I dress in monochromatic colors (black culotte with a black or beige shirt or shirt and a black vest), decent clean loafers or sneakers and definitely no lipstick (I get too close to white wedding dresses, and don’t want to be responsible for stains, aighhttt). And how I act? I try at all times to bring calmness to spaces where stress is present. I am super helpful, help keep an eye on timing and communicate with each party (couple, wedding planner, ceremony speaker), to make sure the day can go as smoothly as possible, resulting in the best photos.
TIP 5
Choose a photographer whose social skills suit you. Make sure you are aligned, that you are comfortable with him/her. I have already had several second shooters whose attendance was not repeatable. What bothered me? 1) That they were too outspoken and thus talked too much with you as a couple and with the guests. 2) That they caused additional stress and 3) That they photographed too much ‘in your face’
DOES ALL OF IT FIT YOUR WEDDING?
You have now thought about some characteristics that a wedding photographer should meet. But then you also have to think about this: “does all of this fit the wedding of my dreams?”
- What is the atmosphere you want at your wedding? Are you going for a loose festival atmosphere, a bohemian low key wedding in the woods, or a stylish château wedding where every detail has been thought of?
- What do you think is important in photographs? Do you want wacky photos of all your guests, do you want lots of group photos, do you want a long couples shoot, do you want photos of the lavish decorations, details and flowers?
- How present can the photographer be? Do you want him/her to not intervene and just capture, or do you want the wedding photographer to work with you to find the most beautiful light, patiently instruct you and thus strive to create an elegant whole?
- How were your suppliers chosen? Often there is a very good collaboration between wedding planners, florists, graphic designers and photographers. Do they know each other and worked together before?
What I personally think is important as a wedding photographer?
My style: I look for the most stylish and elegant version of your day. I am not a fly on the wall, but I am not omnipresent either. I bring peace to any space, I help where needed. The close family and friends know my name and know they can come and ask me anything. Beautiful light always prevails, which sometimes causes the bride to put on her dress in the hall. I photograph to create a visual story, full of small details, funny anecdotes and mysterious conspiracies. I am that extra pair of eyes that captures everything. Often far away, hidden behind bushes, but sometimes very close. I am Leentje, who feels like one of you. I adjust where necessary, in a very gentle way, and let everything happen as it is. I dare to claim that I am empathetic and sense well what you want as a client. Don’t feel like an hour-long couples shoot? All good, after all it’s your day! Trust and communication are 2 of my basic values.
I love beautiful things and will make sure all that beauty is captured in the most creative way. You don’t necessarily make me happy with 5 course dinners, old-fashioned traditions and because-my-mom-wants-it-so etiquette. But you do make me excited with a day full of positive energy, pro vendors who will make your day memorable, and a good dose of humor and “let it gooooooooo” mindset.
My attitude: The weddings I photograph are usually very stylish, I think it is important I blend in. A wedding is successful when all vendors work with each other, that we communicate with each other to ensure together that the experience is at its best for you as a couple. Will there be a wedding planner and/or stylist present? Then I work in close contact with them, so that timings can be adhered to ánd the most beautiful photos are made.
“For the high end lovers & low key party animals”.
To make it easy for you.
