Tips for Choosing a Wedding Photographer
After 8 years of doing photography, I have seen all sorts of mistakes made by photographers, and have made plenty myself that I have been able to learn from. One important time that you don’t want to make a mistake as a photographer is someone’s wedding day. I personally couldn’t think of something more horrifying than messing up someone’s once-in-a-lifetime photos. Below I’m sharing some tips when choosing a wedding photographer.
I want to share my unpopular opinion for wedding photographers, and give you some tips for choosing a wedding photographer.
“Styled Shoots” are becoming more and more common among photographers. These are used to create beautiful portfolio pieces that can be shown to potential clients, especially potential wedding clients, to earn their business. What makes up a styled shoot you may ask? For starters, everything is pretty much perfection. .
Photographers don’t make money doing these shoots, they actually pay knowing that everything is flawless and it will be a jaw dropper for their portfolio. The subjects of styled shoots are models that get their makeup and hair professionally done. Many times, their wardrobe is even provided to make everything as beautiful as possible. These models are no beginners when it comes to posing. They strike the proper poses without being directed by the photographer, looking natural and GOOD. The entire session is laid back, and it takes place at some prime location with prime lighting. It is pretty impossible for anything to go wrong.
What’s the problem with a styled shoot?
As much as everyone wants to have a flawless wedding, with nothing but models in attendance, that couldn’t but further from the truth when it comes to a real-life wedding.
Real weddings have real people that feel vulnerable, and sometimes even awkward in front of the camera. Wedding photographers need to know posing, how to direct large groups of people, and how to make people feel comfortable and natural in front of the camera. Not everything with a real wedding location can be controlled, especially lighting. As far as timing goes, most weddings are not scheduled around when they will get the prettiest light for pictures. Weddings have to keep moving and can feel rushed to get all the shots needed. Time doesn’t stop during the wedding, it will fly by. Emotions at weddings can also be high and stressful; a photographer should know how to handle stressful situations and make the best of it and ease some stress. (Using Steele’s Decor can also help relieve some wedding stress).
My tips for choosing a wedding photographer:
So here are my tips for choosing a wedding photographer – Styled shoots are pretty and all, but they are so far from realistic. Make sure when photographers are showing off their portfolio that you request to see a real-life wedding that they shot. This can show you how well they really know their camera, how do they handle different lighting situations? How well can they pose everyday people? How do they handle the stress and rush and long day on their feet? Can they handle your controlling aunt or nosey uncle and direct large groups? How well can they edit out eye sores using Photoshop (like some unfortunate trashcan that happened to be in a first dance photo)?
You get the idea. Styled shoot = not real. Real-life wedding = real.
-Kylee
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