Hiring a wedding photographer is no easy task. It can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start, or even what you’re looking for. Consulting with many couples over the past few years, and working closely with brides and grooms has given us a bit of insight that we’re dying to share with you. In our {humble} opinion, there are 5 things that you absolutely have to know before heading into your first meet and greet…

1. Know Yourself:

This is a huge one folks. A photographer will never be able to capture the real you if you don’t know who that is yet. Are you introverted or extraverted? Logical or emotional? Are you a sucker for the finer details, or do you love the grand scheme of it all? What are your strengths, your fears? Are you type “A” or type “B” {or “XYZ”??} Getting to the core of “you” is a journey. It’s not a simple list, or an overnight discovery. It’s exhausting, exhilarating, and freeing….but necessary in order to come to a decision that will make you happy.

2. Know Your Budget

RESEARCH PHOTOGRAPHERS BEFORE YOU SET YOUR BUDGET!!!! This is a very BIG deal. Often, couples have a lump sum to spend, and blindly allot dollar amounts to each category, having done little to no research on local vendors. This one seems a bit obvious, but couples often select photographers to meet with, without having previously checked their pricing. Most photographers list their starting prices on their website, some even list all of their packages and detailed information for all of the world to see. Wedding Photography is an investment, albeit one well made. In our experience, couples typically spend the majority of their budget on the venue/catering, and next is photography. Some photographers will be willing to negotiate their prices/packages with you, so be honest about your budget up front. You may be surprised with the outcome. Remember that you will have your images for the rest of your life….love them or hate them. Invest wisely.

3. Who Is Being Interviewed?

When you meet with a photographer, you should NOT be doing all of the questioning. He/she should be genuinely interested in you, how the two of you met, where/when the wedding will be, how many members will be in the wedding party ECT. If the photographer is sitting back, letting you ask the questions, run. They should care about your family dynamics, your timeline, and ask about any requests that you may have for your big day.

4. What Do Other Local Vendors Think?

Photographers photograph everything: the flowers, the cake, the venue, the makeup on your lovely face, so chances are they’ve dealt with many local vendors. Don’t be afraid to ask for other’s opinions, and also for a preferred vendor list. Vendors in the wedding industry are brutally honest, and love to refer others that they feel are talented and great to work with.

5. Have You Done Your Homework?

The internet is so helpful when it comes to planning a wedding. You can view entire portfolios online, compare pricing, packages and press all with a click of the mouse. While photographer’s websites are great tools for showcasing gorgeous images and providing information, you’ll typically see more of their personalities on their blogs. Blogs allow photographers to have a voice, to share a bit of themselves, their families, their opinions and their dreams. Please, please, please read photographer’s blogs! If you find yourself coming back to a particular blog over and over again, chances are you’ll have a great connection with them, and it’s worth a meet and greet. Remember, you’ll spend more time with your photographer than anyone else on your wedding day. You must LOVE them, and they must LOVE you!

We’d really dig your feedback on this one! If you have a question that wasn’t answered here, be sure to leave it in the comments below and we’ll do our best to answer each of them 🙂

Happy planning!