Choosing a wedding photographer can feel overwhelming, but you can actually figure out whether someone is a good fit in about ten minutes. You don’t need to know every technical term or understand camera gear. You just need to know what to look for, and what questions to ask.
start with their wedding photography portfolio
Scroll through a full gallery or a few recent weddings. Don’t just look at the highlights. Ask yourself: do these photos feel like the day actually happened, or like a heavily edited Pinterest board? Focus on expression, moments and consistency. If the work feels natural, warm and fun, that’s a good sign.
check the wedding photographer’s approach
Every photographer works differently. Some give lots of direction, and stage a lot of the photos. Some shoot quietly in the background. Some do a mix. Look for how they describe their style and how hands-on they are. If you want editorial, unposed photography, make sure their portfolio shows real couples photographed that way. Not styled shoots using models (and note, this is common - because there are companies that stage mock weddings to enable newbie wedding photographers to develop a portfolio. So there’s nothing wrong about this at all, indeed it’s a good training ground. But it’s important that any wedding photographer does make clear if there are staged weddings in their portfolios).
Read about my approach to photographing your wedding day.
judge the vibe
This is the part people rush through, but it matters. In a consultaton call, does your wedding photographer speak plainly, or in a salesly way? Do they sound like someone you’d be happy to be around you and your guests for the whole of your wedding day, or are they a little bit... 'extra'? You don’t need a best friend, but you do need someone who feels steady, calm and respectful. If you feel awkward on a consultation call, that usually won’t change.
look at full-day wedding coverage
A photographer should be able to show a whole wedding, start to finish. This is where you’ll spot if they’re consistent in all lighting conditions – bright mornings, dark dance floors, ceremony spaces with mixed lighting. Ten minutes of skimming a full gallery will tell you more than any Instagram grid. (Note, my website portfolio contains literally 100s of full galleries!)
trust your immediate reaction
If you find yourself thinking "I can imagine us in photos like this" or "that’s exactly the style we want", you’ve probably found the right person. Your instinct is usually right. If you’re unsure after ten minutes, keep looking.
check what’s included
You don’t need to compare spreadsheets. Just look for clarity. How many hours do they cover? Do you get high-resolution files? When will they deliver? If they explain things simply, clearly and without upselling, that’s usually the sign of someone decent and professional.
read a few reviews
Seeing reviews and testimonials is really imporant. Look for comments about how the photographer behaved on the day – not just that the photos were nice. Words like calm, organised and unobtrusive usually point to a good experience. (btw, I have 200+ five-star Google Reviews).