{"id":22061,"date":"2017-07-20T09:00:32","date_gmt":"2017-07-20T14:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.weddingsinhouston.com\/blog\/?p=22061"},"modified":"2017-07-20T09:49:39","modified_gmt":"2017-07-20T14:49:39","slug":"5-steps-for-choosing-the-right-wedding-photographer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.weddingsinhouston.com\/blog\/5-steps-for-choosing-the-right-wedding-photographer\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Steps For Choosing The Right Wedding Photographer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Of all the wedding decisions you make, this one’s a biggie, you guys. Your wedding photographer<\/a> won’t just snap pix of smiles, pretty dresses, “I do’s” and first dances. He or she will tell the narrative\u00a0of your day, and the love story behind it, with wedding photos you’ll cherish forever. Here’s our advice for finding a photographer that will do all this and, quite possibly, become a good friend in the process!<\/p>\n

\"Bride-and-Groom\" Photo: Kelli Durham Photography <\/a><\/p>\n

1. Get A Reference<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve settled into the bliss of engagement, it\u2019s time to plan. And that planning includes selecting the photographer who will document your wedding, as well as possibly your announcements and Save the Date photos!<\/p>\n

You want someone who is reliable and trustworthy, with a positive attitude (even in the most stressful situations), and who truly gets you. Photographer\u00a0 <\/u>Adam Nyholt<\/a>\u00a0says it\u2019s a good idea to ask for referrals. \u201cThis could be a friend who was recently married or your wedding planner,\u201d or a trusted resource such as Weddings in Houston.<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n

\"Engagement-Shoot\" Photo: Civic Photos<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Compare Portfolios<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most professional photographers have their own website and blog, which makes it easy for curious couples to peruse photos, read testimonials, and get a feel for their artistic style.<\/p>\n

Aisha Khan of Ama Photography & Cinema<\/a> recommends asking a prospective photographer for more than one sample wedding to view: \u201cIf you ask for one, they might send only their favorite one\u2014it\u2019s important to see what varies from wedding to wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adds photographer Kory Fontenot of Addison J Wedding<\/a>s: \u201cAsk to see the full<\/em> portfolio of a wedding from beginning to end. What you see on a website or in an album is a photographer\u2019s top choices from a wedding. Looking at a full portfolio will give you a better idea of your photographer\u2019s style, creativity and consistency.\u201d After all, \u201cIt’s always good to see the good the bad and the ugly before you make such a huge investment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay Elizabeth Strode of Lindsay Elizabeth Photography<\/a>\u00a0says that the easiest way to determine your favorite photography style is by \u201cpicking images you\u2019re drawn to. If a couple would love to see bright, clean and airy photos of themselves, they should look for a photographer who specializes in shooting natural light.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eric Yeh, who co-owns Serendipity Photography<\/a> with wife Alice Lin, agrees that the lighting question is critical. \u201cExperience with different lighting is really important,\u201d he notes. \u201cSome photographers excel in outdoor lighting, but don\u2019t have much experience with indoor lighting, which can be really tricky to shoot in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Bride-and-Groom\"Photo: Lindsay Elizabeth Photography<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Spend Some Face Time<\/strong><\/p>\n

When you\u2019re ready to reach out, it can be tempting simply rely on email. This is fine for introductory inquiries, but David Jones of\u00a0D. Jones Photography<\/a>\u00a0encourages couples to \u201cinterview or meet with the photographer\u201d in person ASAP. Aside from being confident in their photo-taking abilities, you also want see if \u201cyou truly feel comfortable, since there are a lot of emotions on the big day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Christine Wright, of C. Wright Photography<\/a> advises couples \u201cask them what their<\/em> favorite part of the wedding is\u2014you can get a feel for their work through what they deem to be most important.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAsk your photographer how they would react to family and friends who may want to take pictures on your wedding day,\u201d advises Barett Henry, of\u00a0Civic Photos<\/a>. \u201cWe are very easygoing, and I don\u2019t mind if people who have known you your entire life want to take photos\u2014as long as they don\u2019t get in the way of our professional shots!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Bride-and-Groom\" Photo: Taylor Golden<\/a><\/p>\n

4. Have a Pregame Session<\/strong><\/p>\n

If time (and budget) allows, consider scheduling an engagement session or a Save the Date session. This is an opportunity to really get to know your photographer, see their work, and for them to get to know you. \u201cI recommend that they get their hair and makeup done professionally, and chose two to three outfits that show off their personality and their relationship,\u201d says photographer Shiva Saadi of Dream Photo & Video<\/a><\/u>. She adds, \u201cMaybe also have a couple of drinks before. Trust me, it helps.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe engagement session is a great time to get to know your photographer better, and to get used to their style of shooting, so that the wedding day flows more smoothly, and you are comfortable throughout the day,\u201d adds wedding photographer Taylor Golden<\/a>. \u201cSomething I like to do for my couples is shoot their session in another city, such as where they got engaged, or where they vacation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Bride-and-Groom\" Photo: Ama Photography & Cinema<\/a><\/p>\n

5. Perfect Portraits<\/strong><\/p>\n

Golden reminds couples to ensure your photographer is committed to shooting the wedding day in its entirety, including, perhaps most importantly, those classic family portraits that will become heirlooms. \u201cRemember, your wedding is likely to be an activity-filled day, and you may not be around your family members all that much,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

To ensure excellent portraits, prior to your wedding, \u201cIt helps to create a list of the different family groupings you want to document. Your planner can assist by calling out names for each picture and crossing them off your list to ensure you don\u2019t miss anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adds Strode: \u201cYears from now when you\u2019re looking back at your wedding photos, you won\u2019t remember the tiny details, but you will be reminded of the beauty and fun of your big day,\u201d two things that the right wedding photographer will capture completely.<\/p>\n

\"Bride-and-Groom-First-Dance\"Photo: Kelly Hornberger Photography <\/a><\/p>\n

Writer: Natasha Garber<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Of all the wedding decisions you make, this one’s a biggie, you guys. Your wedding photographer won’t just snap pix of smiles, pretty dresses, “I do’s” and first dances. He or she will tell the narrative\u00a0of your day, and the love story behind it, with wedding photos you’ll cherish forever. Here’s our advice for finding Click here to read the rest of this post \u00bb<\/a> […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/div>
Share this post<\/div>