5 tips on how to choose your wedding photographer… (and a bonus one)
(My 2p worth love from Dave Zaple Photography)
Planning a wedding can be stressful with so many suppliers all pulling for your attention. Let alone photographers!
There are so many photographers with so many differing styles, personalities and approaches. The good news is that once you know what to look for, finding the right fit for your wedding day becomes much easier.
As a documentary photographer based in Hampshire and shooting weddings across the UK and beyond, here are the things I always recommend couples focus on.
1. Pick a photographer whose style you genuinely love
Every person sees the world differently, photographers are no different.
Some lean toward classic poses more traditional styles. Others perahps a more editorial look - fine art and polished scenes. Others blend in with the crowd chasing the candid moments and emotion. There’s no right or wrong, it’s what you want, for your day.
Spend time browsing portfolios and notice the images you keep coming back to. If the style makes you feel something, that is a good sign!
My style falls into the candid, documentary style. I want the photographs to be about your day, not your day about the photographs. My approach is unobtrusive and documentary focused - I love to capture moments as they are, without staging.
2. Meet them. Check the vibe.
Your photographer will be with you, your family and your closest friends throughout the day. They are your shadow, your hype person, third wheel, sometimes your calming force. So the connection genuinely matters. Grab a coffee, head for a little stroll. If geography or circumstances doesn’t allow then there’s always a good old Zoom call, right?
Notice how you feel around them. You want someone relaxed, friendly and able to blend in without taking over.
This is me. Don’t worry I won’t come and meet you with a camera, these were from a fun little branding shoot I did with my pal Emily Scotney.
3. Ask to see a full wedding gallery
Instagram and websites highlight the best of the best. A full gallery shows the truth. It reveals how a photographer tells the story of an entire wedding day from the morning nerves to the dance floor chaos. Look at the consistency, the moments, the way they capture people being themselves.
4. Be open about your budget
If you love a photographer who is slightly out of budget, tell them. Most of us are more than happy to recommend someone with a similar style who might be a better fit. The wedding photography community is surprisingly collaborative.
If you want an idea of my pricing and what is included, take a look here:
View wedding pricing
5. Do not worry about whether they have shot at your venue before
This comes up often and the truth is that it does not matter as much as people think. Fresh eyes often lead to creative and original ideas. A photographer who is not tied to the same three locations is free to explore the light, the atmosphere and the small moments unique to your day.
Familiarity can be useful but it is not essential. What matters is their ability to adapt.
6. Destination wedding? Same same.
Whether your wedding is in France, Italy, the Himalaya or five minutes from home, the same rules apply. Meet your photographer. Check full galleries. Make sure their personality matches the celebration vibes you’re going for.
Travel costs and time away often mean higher fees for destination weddings, but the process for choosing the right person is exactly the same.
TLDR
Choosing a wedding photographer is a blend of instinct and information. Find someone whose work you love and whose presence feels right. Someone you would happily spend a day with. Someone who will tell the story of your wedding as it truly felt. If you want to explore my approach, you can see more here:
View weddings on my portfolio
If you want help, if you want to chat through plans or if you want to see more full galleries, just give me a shout.
