feeling overwhelmed about how to decide on who should shoot your special day?

In talking to couples and from my experience on the photographer side, I've compiled my top five considerations when it comes to making the final call. Wedding planning requires a ton of work, and everyone knows how much anticipation leads up to a day that is gone in the blink of an eye. Your wedding photographer is going to help savor some of those moments, so here are some things you can compare in order to feel confident you are making the right decision for you and your partner.

There are countless aspects of vetting out a photographer that are important, but I've boiled the list down to five considerations that I think are most important. As with most advice pieces, this is totally subjective and my own personal opinion. No matter what, ALWAYS trust your gut, but hopefully these tips will help you understand what could be important to look for once you're in the market. Ultimately, one of these aspects could be the dealbreaker between two (or a few) photographers you have lined up.

1. editing + shooting style


In my opinion, there is nothing more important than being sure you love the photographer's editing and shooting style. If you don't like how their editing looks, or you don't like the posing, then you likely won't like how your wedding photos turn out. It is vital to do your research ahead of time - don't hesitate to poke around the photographer's website and social media. I highly recommend requesting to see a full gallery as well, because then you will be able to see what photos from the photographer could look like throughout an entire wedding day. This also covers a lot of different lighting situations (indoors, outdoors, low light, etc.), which is one of a photographer's biggest challenges, so it's important to see how they handle each of those obstacles. In a more extreme case, if you think you like the work but aren't 100% confident, you could always book an engagement session to feel things out ahead of time. Keep in mind that photography is an artistic service, so a photographer isn't going to change their editing style for you. This is why you have to take a look at their portfolio and be sure that the editing style, posing, and overall look of the photos fit with what you are looking for.

2. chemistry

Using the most cliché wording possible - you have to vibe with your photographer. It may sound silly, but think about how involved this person is going to be on one of the most important days of your life. There are many intimate moments throughout a wedding day, and most of the family and friends you love are in the same place, all of which are going to be photographed. Having a photographer that you trust and get along with will only ensure that you will be comfortable throughout the day. With all of the moving parts, it's easy for the wedding to become stressful, so having this kind of chemistry with your photographer (and other vendors) will only make things easier. One of the best ways to gauge this is by requesting an inquiry call if it's not already offered - ask all of your questions, and it doesn't even need to be 100% related to the wedding itself. Truly get to know this person ahead of time and make sure you trust them to spend this day so closely with you and your partner.

3. read reviews


Not only just for weddings, but for any photoshoot, it is extremely helpful to read reviews ahead of time. There's nothing better than hearing it from the source and getting some third party opinions. People won't take the time to write reviews if they aren't planning to be truthful, so this can be a place where you can hear what others had to say about the photographer and any potential concerns to be aware of beforehand. If the photographer doesn't have a readily available place to point you to reviews, consider asking them to refer a client or two that may be willing to talk about their experience. This is one of the best ways to level set on accurate expectations from the perspective of the couple, and I truly believe these connections are why for almost every wedding I shoot, there's somebody who sent me their way in some capacity or I already know them personally. Trust is so important for occasions like this.

4. backup system


This is one that I don't believe many think of, which is totally understandable when you lack experience in an industry like photography. This is why I'm here to give you the tip! Photographers rely on a lot of equipment both during the wedding day and for post-process: cameras, lenses, SD cards, files, a computer, external drives, and a million other bits and pieces to manage. I would highly consider asking your photographer what their back up system looks like, for example:

  • How can you ensure the safety of my images?
  • What happens if a camera, lens, or other piece of equipment malfunctions on the wedding day?
  • How do you backup photos after shooting a wedding?

These questions can be asked in a multitude of different ways, but there's nothing wrong with bringing them up prior to booking. One photographer's process can bring you a lot more comfort than another, and that could be a dealbreaker. Although mistakes and malfunctions can happen, your photographer should be doing as much as possible to protect your images and ensure they have backup equipment/systems in the case that something goes wrong.

5. price


I have a strong opinion that this should not be the number one priority when searching for your photographer, especially if photos are a really important aspect to you. It is very easy to book someone based on dollar signs, but for some of the other reasons described above, it shouldn't be the main decision maker. However, it is obvious that this has to be a factor. With so many photographers out there with a vast range of experience, equipment, and specialty, it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start. Try to plan out your budget ahead of time and know where you can stretch or crunch depending on priorities. If all the boxes check for two photographers, it may ultimately come down to which will cost less. Most photographers will have (at minimum) a starting price on their website, which should give you a ballpark idea of cost. If it's completely out of your range, you may be able to save time and not send an inquiry to begin with. This is just another reason why it's important to do your research, comb through websites thoroughly, and don't hesitate to send out questions before making any commitments.

decisions, decisions...


There are so many to make throughout the wedding planning process. Hopefully some of these considerations will help keep you focused on what matters most. You can use these tips as a reference and compare in order to make the final decision. Remember, this is a two way relationship and as much as the photographer wants to book you, you should feel the same about booking them. Weddings are intimate, beautiful, and huge milestones - so any decision surrounding that shouldn't be taken lightly.


Thank you again if you've made it this far. Remember: you can always reach out and ask questions, no strings attached!

♡ Kylie