Finding your PERFECT wedding photographer
When I close my eyes, I can see it all. I see myself walking through the hallway of our first home, passing the photo held in a wooden frame, a moment trapped in time of the best days of our lives. It’s the same photo that our kids will gaze at in amazement, teasing us for how different we look when we’re older. And it’s the photo that will sit on my nightstand when I’m 80 years old that takes me back to when we were young.
To me, photography is far more than just photos. It’s a way of bottling up memories and peeking into the past, unleashing emotions and memories that have been perfectly preserved throughout my lifetime, patiently awaiting my return.
With that dramatic introduction under our belt, I think maybe you can see why choosing a photographer for our wedding day was one of the toughest decisions in this process. To me, it’s entrusting our most precious memories to someone who can tell our story so perfectly. It’s knowing that I will have these moments bottled up and ready for me 80 years down the road.
Questions to consider when choosing a wedding photographer
What’s your budget?
I will tell you right now that this is an investment. Unlike the food that you eat or flowers that wilt, these photos will last a lifetime, so it’s wise to treat it as such. For reference, most photographers that we considered were between $3,000-$4,500 for roughly 8 hours. That’s not to say you can’t find someone cheaper because you definitely can, but just know that the skill level will likely change.
What’s your timeline?
It’s important to think about what your timeline will be and how much you are willing to pay for it. I know Pinterest has drilled into our brains that most weddings have those beautiful getting ready shots of bridal parties and crazy sparkler exits at the end of the night, but I’m here to let you in on a secret: not everyone does that!
Most photographers that I’ve worked alongside have left after capturing just enough images of dancing to show the party, without staying until things get rowdy. While it is fun to have those photos of your crazy college buddy grinding to some T-pain, I guarantee there will be someone who has video evidence on their phone that you will see one day. So my advice? If you had to choose between starting with your photographer earlier in the day or having them stay late, I would opt for the early.
Where is your venue?
If your venue is far from a city like Minneapolis, you will likely have some additional travel fees from photographers. Don’t let this deter you from choosing your dream team simply because of the extra hundred bucks, just make sure you build it into your budget. Vendors will tell you exactly how much you can expect to pay, but I would say most venues that have travel fees are usually $0.50-0.65/mile.
What’s most important to you?
At the end of the day, do you need someone who can fit your budget or is there some wiggle room to hire someone you really want?
Where to find wedding photographers in your area
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So you know what kind of photographer you want, now what? These are some of the best ways to find photographers in your area!
Ask your venue for recommended vendors! Oftentimes your vendors will have some awesome photographers that they’ve used in the past, and in some cases, those photographers are willing to offer a discount or drop travel fees because they love the venue! This is also a great way to see exactly how they would shoot photos at your actual venue!
Search Instagram. If your venue didn’t have many recommendations or they don’t fit your style, it’s time to do some snooping on IG. I would start with looking at the photos the venue is tagged on and go from there. If that’s not drawing any luck, start using #’s to narrow things down. I would try using #mnweddingphotographer #mnbride #mnwedding, or any things like that because they will generate content in the wedding world. Since the entire state of MN can be a wide array of people, feel free to narrow it down (i.e. #twincitiesphotographer).
Pro tip: if you find someone you like, save their photos into a folder using the archive button in the bottom right. Collect tons of photos as you go, then sit down and review what you are seeing. Do you notice any trends like warm tones or light/airy vibes? You can also see what accounts IG suggests for you that are similar to the person. Just hit the down arrow by the username and you’ll see suggested accounts pop up!
Questions to ask your wedding photographer before booking
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Once you’ve narrowed down the search and found some potential photographers, it’s time to do your prepping. Photographers are a vendor that I would say you should absolutely chat with before booking! As someone who has been booked as both a photographer and videographer, I always set up a call with couples before booking. Why? Because you need to make sure you jive with your photographer. This stranger is someone who will be with you during the most intimate times of your big day, so you better search for someone who you trust and gel with.
There are a few questions I would have in mind during these beginning conversations:
Will they be shooting the entire day or should you expect a second-shooter to come along?
How involved are they during the day? Are they more laid back or do they take more of a hand-on director approach?
How long is their delivery period?
Take note of if they are good in natural lighting or indoors, and choose someone who can do well in your venue. Also good to note, some photographers tend to be more like a day-of coordinator as well, which can be super beneficial if you aren’t hiring one (like us!).
Wedding Photographer Recommendations!
The moment you’ve been waiting for! All my favorite photographers who I would trust to shoot my wedding :)
Midwest Photographers
Southern Photographers
Afar (aka other places)
I know this is a lot of information coming at ya, but hopefully this helps you during your search for the dream wedding day squad!