Shopping for wedding vendors is overwhelming. *understatement of the century right there* So, I’ve put together a few ways to help you weed through the masses & pick the best wedding photographer for your dream wedding, one who will exceed your expectations & go above & beyond to serve you.

At first glance you may love the photos presented on a photographer’s website. The photographer herself/himself may have a winning smile. But how do you determine which one is better than the other 20 photographer websites you have open in your web browser?

0.1 personality

First things first. If you can’t picture yourself being friends with a photographer you’re considering, they probably won’t be for you.

Hopefully their bio offers some insight into their personality. Look them up on social media. If they have any behind the scenes highlights on stories, go watch them. Like what you see? Schedule an in-person meeting.

While you may spend the most time leading up to the wedding with your wedding designer, your photographer will be right next to you throughout your entire wedding day. This is why it’s so important to meet with your photographer in person (or Zoom!) so you can get to know each other better.

By the time I’ve delivered the final wedding album, my brides & grooms feel like old friends.

0.2 look for consistency across an entire wedding day

Many wedding blogs & magazines will prompt you to ask for a full gallery from a photographer you’re considering. I think this is incredible advice & something you should definitely do if their website doesn’t feature at least one full wedding.

Why? What are you looking for when you see this full gallery?

You want to look for consistency throughout an entire wedding day. Can a photographer produce great detail photos amidst the chaos of the bride’s room? Can they wrangle your extended family & get the formal photos your mom wants & make everyone look good while doing it? Do their reception photos live up to your expectations?

If you need to ask to see more, let them know your venue (or at least the type/style venue) so you can see something similar & have an idea of what to expect your entire day to look like from their perspective.

Lastly, if you can compare a few different weddings, that’s even better. Are their weddings consistently pleasing to you?

There is no right way to photograph a full wedding day.

Wait. Let me rephrase that.

There’s plenty a photographer should NOT do, like wear sweatpants the day of or interrupt a ceremony (I’ve witnessed this happen before). But stylistically, there’s no wrong way.

All that matters is that *you* like the photographer’s approach to the entire day, specifically the photos that mean the most to you.

Ok so those first two things are pretty standard & most people will agree on these. The rest of these points are purely my opinion (hey, this is my blog, after all!) on how to find a photographer who can go above & beyond & exceed your expectations. One who excels at their job & can deliver you stunning images despite a whole lotta crazy thrown their way.

0.3 can handle various lighting scenarios

Let’s go back to the ‘consistency’ point from above. Look through those photos again & study the photos presented. I mean really analyze the content. Are a wide variety of lighting scenarios represented?

Alright, Emily. You lost me. Why are we talking about lighting scenarios? I don’t know anything about cameras & lighting!

Your wedding day may take place in at least 4 different locations: the bride’s room, the ceremony, the reception, & anywhere that portraits take place.

The bride’s room may have fluorescent lighting with zero windows.

The ceremony space may have huge stained glass windows bathing the room in a rose-colored light.

The reception space may be a large barn with dark wood paneling throughout. And it’s party time, the lights are dimmed & the disco ball is going.

Not to mention that most wedding portraits are usually photographed outside, weather permitting.

From a camera’s perspective, all four of these lighting scenarios are vastly different. Cameras see things so differently from our eyes & there’s more to it than simply owning an expensive camera. Before I nerd out & get too techy on you, let me just prompt you this question: Does the photographer you’re considering showcase an ability to capture beautiful images no matter the time of day or the location?

If yes, then keep them on your list! If you can’t tell, ask to see more photos.

0.4 real weddings vs styled shoots

Be sure you’re looking at real weddings a photographer has shot, not just styled shoots.

While beautiful, stunning & full of inspiration, photos from styled wedding shoots can give brides a false sense of security in the ability of any photographer.

I promise I’m not hating on styled shoots. I love them.

From a vendor’s perspective, styled shoots are great for showcasing our talent, allows us to try something new, & are great for networking. They’re wonderful for giving brides inspiration for their big day.

But, styled shoots are just that: styled. They are perfect. And, they are perfectly controlled. The hair stylist attends to every hair between every photo. The dress designer fluffs & smooths the dress every 5 seconds. The cake is styrofoam so it won’t melt in the heat.

Most importantly, there’s no timeline. Guests aren’t waiting for a ceremony to begin or dinner to be served. For outdoor styled shoots, our only time constraint is the sun setting.

All this to say, real weddings have a mind of their own. There’s the pressure of the timeline. There’s good old fashioned family drama. There’s a myriad of things that could flip the timeline on its head. Being able to work in these types of environments & still produce quality photographs that meet & exceed your expectations is not something just anybody can do.

0.5 specialty photographers vs does-everything-photography

This is where I may step on some toes. I know this is a broad statement & plenty of photographers are exceptions to this rule. But, I recommend hiring a photographer who specialize in weddings instead of a photographer who seems to “do it all.”

An analogy would be a general family doctor versus a doctor who specializes in one thing. A general family doctor knows a little bit of a lot of things, while a specialized doctor knows a lot about one specific thing. (I mean absolutely no disrespect for general family doctors. Your job is much needed & appreciated, & you get the most business from me!)

Likewise, a photographer who specializes in weddings is one who pours all their time & energy into being the best at that one area of photography.

So there you have it. Five ways to help you pick your wedding photographer. Liked this list? I have a few more things to look for in a wedding photographer, so stay tuned!

If you’re still looking for an Austin wedding photographer (or want to bring this travel-happy girl to you) check out my portfolio & get to know me better by following me on Instagram @dreamyelkphotography!

Already picked out your photographer or been married for a while? Comment below with what was important to you when you were shopping for your own wedding photographer!