Your wedding photographs will be your most treasured wedding keepsake, and you'll immediately want to share them with your family and friends after you receive them from your photographer. You'll look at photos from your wedding days fifty years from now, reminiscing about the vows you exchanged, the kiss that sealed them, and the first dance you shared.
Choosing the right photographer to capture those poignant moments is an important decision, but it's crucial to find one who understands your vision for your wedding day, as well as how to document it with style. You'll also want someone you can talk with comfortably since he or she will be with you throughout the entire day, asking you to pose in different ways and helping direct you where to go for photos. Otherwise, the photographer will be out of sync with what your needs are for your big day.
To help you find a photographer that meets all of these requirements, follow our guide to selecting a professional that's right for you.
1. Do Your Homework
You'll need to be prepared for your first meeting with your photographer, so think ahead of what you want to ask them. If you have a particular style you want to achieve, tell them about it. Does your photographer have any suggestions for you regarding the type of photos you should request or tips for posing for your portraits? You'll most likely be spending most of your day with your photographer, so it's important to be able to work well with one another. Before the big day, take a few photos for your photographer to see. Ask your photographer what you can change to improve them. You'll then have a better sense of their talents and how you can work with them to create beautiful wedding photographs.
2. Hire Someone Who's Talented
What are the qualities of a great wedding photographer? Talent, of course! You'll want someone who can create captivating photos you'll love for years to come. The best way to find out if your photographer has this skill is to look at his or her portfolio. Do you like the images? Are they capturing the essence of the events they photographed? Can you tell the difference between the images the photographer took and the ones they hired an assistant to take?
3. Consider How Much Experience Your Photographer Has
Another big question you'll want to consider when hiring a professional photographer is how much experience they have. Wedding photographs are taken under many different conditions, and experience is crucial for handling different situations. When you're talking with prospective photographers, ask them about their previous work. What kind of wedding photography portfolios do they have? What type of weddings have they shot? How many weddings have they shot in the past year? It's important for your photographer to have experience with the style of the wedding you are planning. Are you having an outdoor or indoor ceremony? If you are planning a destination wedding, are they familiar with the area where it will  take place? Keep these questions in mind when meeting with your photographer and making your final decision.
4. Does Your Photographer Have a Wide Range of Specialties?
When looking at the portfolios of wedding photographers, you should also note if they have a wide range of photography specialties. It's important to find someone who has experience shooting all the different elements at your wedding. For example, if you're planning a traditional wedding, your photographer needs to take photos of you and your spouse-to-be as well as the ceremony and reception.
5. Does Your Photographer Have Other Services?
While taking photos is their main job, your photographer will be tasked with other items as well, such as helping you and your family to pose for your photos and videoing certain portions of your ceremony. You should also hire a photographer who offers other services as well. An experienced professional will be accustomed to shooting at various locations, such as outdoor gardens and indoors at a large reception hall. In other words, they should be able to handle a variety of environmental settings and still produce great shots.
6. How Will Your Wedding Photographer Communicate With You?
When you're communicating with your photographer, it will be important for you to feel comfortable and to get along well. When you're looking for a prospective wedding photographer, ask to see their personality in the work they do. You can gather a lot of information about a photographer by looking at his or her portfolio. Is the photographer able to find interesting angles and backgrounds? Do you like his or her eye for composition? Then arrange a meeting with the photographer. Listen to the way they talk and see if they seem to share your vision for the big day.
Looking for a wedding photographer in Arkansas to help you on your big day? Get in touch with us today to see how we can help - we offer free consultations and can meet you to help you plan out your wedding.
