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6 Insider Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Photographer from a Pro Who Knows

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Mike Allebach, also known as The Tattooed Bride Photographer, shoots colorful weddings in Philadelphia and around the United States. And he's a total pro when it comes to overcoming those awkward, camera shy, "I hate photos" moments, making couples feel perfectly comfortable. There’s no way to sugarcoat it: Choosing a wedding photographer is a daunting task. Type “wedding photographer” into Google and you’ll get a mere 97 million results – it can be overwhelming, to say the least. And nowadays, when anyone can slap a photography page on Facebook and claim to be in business, it’s even harder to find a wedding photographer you can trust.
Here are the six most important factors to consider when choosing a wedding photographer (and one word of warning you can’t afford to ignore!). 
Photography. 
Don’t hire a talented photographer and assume they’ll be able to replicate all your favorite Pinterest photos. It important that you love the photos they capture. The top wedding photographers won’t want to follow a checklist or recreate images you found online; they want to capture your wedding in their own way. Whether you like light and airy images, or dark and moody, choose a photographer whose suits your style. Be aware, no photographer can totally change how your wedding looks. Yes, we have a few tricks for making a basic banquet hall look like a glittery wonderland, but we can't make an indoor ceremony look like a sunny garden wedding.
Last but not least, always ask to see a complete wedding album or online gallery. Portfolios are a highlight reel, but you need to know your photographer can handle different lighting situations and tell a whole story rather than getting one lucky shot. The posing should feel natural, not stilted. Can you imagine yourself in the photos? If you can, it’s time to move to the next factor – one which is too often overlooked. 
Personality. 
When it comes to wedding photos, personality matters. No matter how insanely talented a photographer is, you need to like him or her. You’ll likely spend as many moments with your wedding photographer as you do with your spouse (possibly more!) so I can’t over-stress the importance of a good connection. Are they enthusiastic about your wedding? I absolutely love my job and always try to convey that to my clients. Do they mesh well with your energy level? If they’re keyed up and you’re more low-key, you might not be on the same page when your wedding day rolls around. 
Processing. 
Digital photo processing is the recipe your photographer uses to edit the photos. It’s a matter of taste. Make sure you like the way the photos are processed. Are the photos mainly black and white, or are they rich in color? Were they shot on film, or processed to emulate film? Make sure you like their finished photos – and not just the potential for awesomeness – because once a photo is processed, it’s cooked and finished.
Professional photographers won’t hand over raw files for you to edit; it would be like a chef handing you a raw steak. Processing is an integral part of creating a photograph, so be wary of any photographer who’s willing to let you do half their work. 
Price. 
You know the saying: “You get what you pay for.” Wedding photography is no exception. I’ve watched bargain photographers go out of business because they realized their low prices couldn’t sustain a business. (And what happens to your photos when a photographer suddenly closes up shop?) So what should you expect to pay?
To get to the bottom of the great pricing debate, I asked full-time photographers what they are actually charging. If you’re spending less than $3,000 for a full day of coverage, you likely have a hobbyist or someone who’s still new to the industry. In a metro area, you can expect to spend around $4,000 to $8,000 for eight hours of coverage, an album and two full-time photographers. Luxury and celebrity wedding photographers typically run from $8,000 to $18,000. When budgeting for your wedding, decide what is most important to both of you. If photography is priority number one, expect to shuffle a few other expenses around to accommodate. I’ve had clients spend 50% or more of their budget on my photography. Know what you want, and plan a budget that reflects your priorities. 
Professionalism. 
It’s important that your photographer runs their business like…well, a business. Google their name. (You’d be surprised what can come up!) Check online reviews; the occasional bad review is par for the course, but if the same issue pops up over and over, it’s a red flag. See if they’ve been features on blogs, in magazines, on vendor websites, or in newspapers. Make sure they haven’t been featured on StopStealingPhotos.com, a website that tracks “fauxtographers” with a history of stealing images and passing them off as their own work. If you find an amazing photographer at a quarter of the price of everyone else, there’s a good chance they fall into this category. Make sure your prospective photographer is attentive. When you send an inquiry, you should hear back quickly. Occasionally emails go to spam, so consider calling if you don’t hear back within 48 hours.
Any photographer who doesn’t respond to a call and an email should be immediately removed from your search. During the whole process, trust your intuition. If something doesn’t seem right, the photographer is not a good fit. Period. 
Products. 
The days of receiving nothing but a disc of digital files are coming to an end. Couples are remembering why it’s so important to have heirlooms on display, not just in a desk drawer on a USB drive. Ask to see samples of wedding albums and other products. Make sure the photographer offers a high-quality product line to help you show off your images after the wedding.
And finally… WARNING: Beware the Bait & Switch Photography Mills. 
Watch out for “wedding photography mills” where you talk to a salesperson, view the best sample images from their huge team of photographers, and end up stuck with whichever photographer is available on your wedding date. One easy tip-off: If their portfolio is amazing, their price is unbelievably low, and they promise to “match” you with a photographer as your date gets closer, you’re probably dealing with a mill. And this gives you no way to gauge their photos, personality, processing or professionalism. Don’t take the gamble. Wedding photography isn’t one size fits all. The best wedding photographer for you may not be the best wedding photographer for someone else. Be sure to trust your intuition; anything that seems to be too good to be true usually is. Remember, after your wedding ends, you’ll have the photos, the rings, the dress, and each other. If you find the right wedding photographer, your photos will serve as a timeless reminder of the love you felt and the good times you shared on your special day.
Kellee Khalil
About The Author
Kellee Khalil is the Founder & CEO of Loverly. She lives in upstate NY with her fiancé and two dogs.
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