My best advice on choosing a wedding photographer
Over the years I have come to learn something about wedding photography which is that when when the client is paired with the right photographer the photos come out AMAZING, but when the vision of the bride and the style of the photographer don’t match up, nobody gets what they really wanted.
So how do brides make sure they hire the right photographer for their wedding?
Below is what I hope to be an amazing resource to help make that decision.
Shooting Style
Starting out it is very hard to define “style” some may describe it in terms of how the photos are edited, but there is a more important factor….. How the photographer is going to tell your story.
Simply put, the shooting style of the photographer will determine how your wedding story is portrayed no matter what takes place or who is being photographed.
I see mainly 3 types of styles: Traditional, Editorial and Photojournalistic. Below is a quick description along with some visual insight into each style to help you understand what each one has to offer.
Style 1 Traditional
This style looks exactly like it sounds. The bride and groom are looking right at the camera, hold the bouquet, a few kiss shots, etc… This is the foundation of wedding photography the way it has been done for a long time, but don’t get me wrong, just because it’s simple does not mean it isn’t absolutely beautiful. Not every bride is look for something totally unique and out of the norm. Often this style is preferred by parents as well.
Style 2 Editorial
This style is centered around fashion magazine inspiration, It tends to be more serious and dramatic than traditional or photojournalistic images. Below are a few examples of this style.
Style 3 Photojournalistic
This style is very feels very natural and unlike traditional or editorial it does not feel posed. Over the years I have fallen in love with the personality driven images that come from this style and have focused my work solely on shooting it. It is fun, lighthearted, and captures the essence of a couples connection.
What story do you want told at your wedding? Is it one of fashion, luxury, and beauty? or is it of fun, love, and connection. Most photographers will shoot a slight mix of each but will lean pretty hard in one direction. Make sure to look though their blogs to see if they are consistent with their style and if it is the one you connect with most.
So which style do you like?