Choosing a wedding photographer is one of the biggest decisions you will make in your wedding planning process. The artwork your wedding photographer creates and the memories they capture will be one of the few aspects of your wedding day that you will take with you into married life. These photographs will be something you will treasure for a lifetime and help you relive such a special day. Here are 5 tips for choosing the right wedding photographer.

1. Start your search by following along with a few wedding photographers who pique your interest on social media and exploring their websites and blogs. This will help you narrow down the aesthetic style you love, looking at the colours, lighting and mood of their images.

2. When choosing the right wedding photographer for your special day, be sure to take some time to think about what is important to you when it comes to your wedding photography experience and final images. Once you have decided on this, start reaching out and talking with a few photographers whom you have been following. Have a call or meet in person to ask them questions and see if your vision aligns with their style, services and experience.

3. The final images of your wedding day are, of course, a very important aspect of the wedding photographer you choose, but learning about how your photographer works and the experience they provide is also very important. Do they pose, prompt, play games, document or is it more free choice for you to do whatever you like? Choose a photographer who will make you feel comfortable and create the experience you desire, whether that be candid or more posing/involvement or a combination of both?

4. When choosing a wedding photographer, you want to think about what other services are important to you. Check to see if they offer things like an engagement session, a second photographer and artwork purchasing options (e.g., albums and prints). Every photographer offers different options from very basic to full service. Be sure to find someone who will be able to provide you with exactly what you are looking for.

5. My final tip is to talk to family and friends who have been married recently, and who you liked their wedding photos. Find out how their experience was and if they would recommend their wedding photographer. Getting personal recommendations is a great way to find an amazing photographer, and you get to hear from the couple’s personal experience.