Beyond the Images: Everything to Know Before Booking Your Wedding Photographer

Photography Style

First off, learning about wedding photography styles can be a great starting point to categorize the difference between photographers. However I would emphasize to use this as a starting point, as the work of photographers can easily cross boundaries - for example, I categorize my work as documentary style, but that doesn't mean I never pose and direct the people I photograph (more on that below).

Here's a brief rundown of a 4 different styles, feel free to watch the video below for a deeper dive into each genre.

Traditional

A style focused on the formal and structured moments of the wedding day as planned out in the timeline with a clean and professional look.

Fine Art

A stylized approach that focuses on the photographer's artistic vision for the wedding day, often using creative lighting, unique compositions, and dreamy tones.

Editorial

Inspired by trending looks, this style features deliberate and intentional poses from the photographer to create beautiful, images of your wedding day that could be published in any magazine.

Documentary / Photojournalist

A style focusing on genuine and spontaneous moments providing a naturalistic, sentimental, and even imperfect look.



For me being a documentary style photographer means a commitment to real memories. Personally, I believe these moments can and oftentimes require staging and direction from the photographer which for some people's definition might push the boundary of documentary style.

Artist or Company?

One big factor that will impact your photographs and wedding day experience is how your photographer operates. Are they working as a self-employed photographer taking on a limited number of weddings per year, or a company capturing a large number of weddings per year?

To explain how this will make a difference for your wedding day experience, think about big companies vs local shops in other industries. McDonalds for example, will have the goal to mass produce Big Macs so they will taste the same no matter where in the world you are.

Similarly, if a wedding photography company shoots over 50 weddings a year, they're probably going to strive to create a predictable and industry-standard experience for their couples which they can easily rinse and repeat. Meanwhile, a single self-employed photographer probably strives for a service that is more artist focused with a personal touch.

Personally I work as self-employed photographer taking on a limited number of weddings per year. I started shooting weddings and studied at NYU Tisch because I wanted to create work which I can express myself and share my vision in. (That's not to say one option is better than the other - I for one love myself a Big Mac, but it's up to you to decide what type of experience you want for your wedding day.)

Approach

Another important factor is how your photographer will go about directing and capturing moments. What type of poses and prompts will they use? Will you feel comfortable, joyful, and beautiful?

But for me, posing and directing is so much more than just the prompts I give you during a portrait session.

Being an invisible observer, a fly on the wall, is a lie to me. Like any person, photographers will change how people act when they enter a room. And for me it's about embracing this impact I have when I enter a room, I want to be a person who makes others feel relaxed and like the best version of themselves. So when I arrive at your wedding, I don't want to show up wearing all black like I'm there for just another gig, I want to dress nicely and feel like a part of your wedding, cracking jokes with your friends and family. I believe when I do this people will feel like themselves around me, and then when I photograph not just you two but your guests as well, they will look like the fun loving friends and family they are - even if it's just for just the day for me.

Timeline

How the day is planned will have a huge role in your photos. Oftentimes a wedding day of planner will take control of this instead of the photographer, but since this inevitably has such a huge impact on the day, I always make sure I'm looped in when planning.

How structured or flexible do you want your timeline to be? Do you want more structured, formal moments, or a focus on candid, and "imperfect" moments? Do you want your first time seeing each other to be walking down the aisle, making the moment feel even more magical? Or a private "first look," allowing you to share an intimate moment and spend more of your wedding day together? Your timeline and plan for the day will set the tone and expectations for how people will behave on your wedding day.

Number of Cameras

If you are hiring a team of photographers, videographers, and newly popular content creators, how many cameras will be around? (in that case it can be 6!)

Couples may think hiring more photographers and videographers helps them ensure that no moment will be missed with lots of alternative moments/angles captured. That certainly can be the case but did you consider how certain moments may change from having 4-6 people with cameras around you? During a portrait session, would you feel more relaxed if there were just one or two photographers/videographers allowing you and your partner to have a private and intimate moment and be yourselves instead of having to "perform" for a production crew. Maybe with 4-6 camera people on the day, 2nd photographers and videographer will feel pressured to create moments to take "enough" photos, leading to over posing and turning the day into a photo and video production day instead of a wedding.

I do believe in some portions of the day, less is more (like a portrait section), while other moments like the ceremony a second photographer can be great (Capturing a groom's reaction to his beautiful bride walking down and aisle and the crowd's reaction).

Conclusion

You're going to invest thousands of dollars into a wedding photographer but more importantly, trust them to capture one of the most important days of your life. I've seen so many wedding days hijacked by photographers and turned into a day filled with fake moments of putting on earrings in the "modern and industry-standard wedding day" that oftentimes just doesn't fit the couple and makes them feel uncomfortable. I hope this guide can help you shape your vision and taste for your wedding and allow you to find a photographer that fits that plan.

Planning the day with the photographer is so crucial to have the day to filled with real emotions. If you'd like to dive deeper into what your wedding day can feel like with me as your wedding photographer, you can contact me below to have a chat!