Lifestyle

How to Hire the Right Photographer

February 4, 2016

So excited for the very FIRST installment of our new series here on the blog.

I had every intent of starting when I was planning the wedding late last year but as every bride (or bride-to-be) knows, wedding planning sucks the life out of you, there’s no time for ANYTHING let alone blogging about it. So now that I’m newly wed and still fresh on post wedding high I’ll be detailing EVERYTHING you’ve ever wanted to know about planning your own wedding!

Starting with what I feel is the MOST important aspect to consider:

How to Hire the Right Photographer

My top 5 tips will not only help you to find the right person for the job, but hopefully will help you capture your wedding as you see it in your wildest dreams!

Tip 1: REFINE YOUR STYLE

This might be so obvious but I can’t tell you how many brides overlook this simple task. Scour all your resources (Pinterest/ Instagram/ Facebook/ Bridal Magazines/ Wedding Blogs/ etc) for your favorite images of the bride and groom on their wedding day. Make sure you keep a digital “inspiration” folder with all your faves and keep stockpiling these pictures until you get a basic feel and theme of the look you desire. Love vintage style photography? Don’t hire the guy who shoots and edits with high contrast, vivid colors, and blinding light! Refine your style by looking at the lot of your saved images and hopefully a common theme will appear.

Tip 2: DO YOUR RESEARCH

Now that you’ve locked down your wedding photography style it’s time to hit social media! I have found countless of dozens of my vendors on Facebook and I know Instagram is a hotbed for new, trending talent! Keep another folder for all your faves (this time the file is for specific photographer’s work in your area/ or will travel to your area) and compare the style you prefer to the style these photographers shoot. If the photos have a similar look and feel, then you’re on the right track. Keep playing the matching game until you have a handful of professionals to reach out to.

Tip 3: READ REVIEWS AND ASK AROUND

With your handful of photographers to call and email, make sure you also check out their extended portfolio and read reviews, referrals, and any other information you can get beyond their website. I like to hit up their social media profiles to see how they interact with followers and friends. You may even reach out to past clients to get their take on personal experiences with these photographers, especially the ones who have used them recently. You never know who has a bad reputation or unreliable track record until you can get first-hand accounts.

Tip 4: BUDGET!

Have a budget range in mind and make sure your selected photographer can tailor a package according to your needs. This all happens during your initial consultation. You need to be very clear as to how much you’re willing to spend and what you will get for that amount. Often times I find that the professional will work with couples to get them to the right figure. Start with a basic package and keep adding on until you both agree. Know that you have a small and intimate wedding? You may not need that 3rd shooter for the incurred cost. Instead of 300 edited images, maybe negotiate the package down to 200 edits and that will surely help bring down the price.

Tip 5: CONNECTION IS KEY

Every photographer (like any service-related professional) will always make time for a quickie phone chat, a simple meet-and-greet, or even a trial photo session to get a feel for their client. You want to make sure you get along, enjoy one another’s personality and company, and feel comfortable enough working together so your photos bring out your best, true and honest selves. The more compatible you are, the better the pictures will turn out!

Closing thoughts…

I was super lucky to have found the perfect photographer early on wayyy before le hubs and I even got engaged. Roy Iswanto, local Southern California photographer had been on my radar for years (having seen his work on Facebook HERE) and le hubs even surprised me by hiring him to shoot our proposal (previously seen HERE). I knew Roy would be the one to photograph our wedding and after a full day’s worth of engagement shots that you see above, I was in lalalalalaLOVE!!!

Thank you to my fantastic friend, artist extraordinaire, Roy Iswanto and his amazing team for capturing all the fabulous fun at our proposal, our e-session, our wedding, and our (soon-to-be) maternity shoot! Lol *here’s hoping*

Because sometimes it’s not just about one day, but a lifetime of events loves!

Roy Iswanto Photography WEBSITE | Roy Iswanto Photography FACEBOOK (FYI: His facebook is better than his website)

Next week on Wedding Wednesdays: With a million and one decisions to make- where do you even begin???
I’ll tell you EXACTLY where I started and how to develop your checklist from there!

Thank you for reading guys!

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