One of the most important decisions you’ll make when planning your weddings is your photographer. The venue, the cake, the food and decor are enjoyed on the day, but the photos are precious mementos you’ll enjoy forever, so you need to make sure you choose the perfect wedding photographer. Here’s how to go about it.

  1. CHOOSE THE STYLE

Different photographers specialise in different photographic styles. These may include portraiture, documentary, fine art, natural light and illustrative-style images, as well as a combination of any of these. Once you know what style you want, you can begin your search for a photographer.

  1. DO YOUR RESEARCH

Ask for recommendations on social media. Word of mouth is one of the most common ways that couples find great photographers.Visit Instagram and Facebook to search for photographers in your area, or even further afield if you’re willing to pay for their trip. Pay attention to customer reviews. Look through wedding blogs and magazines for photos you love and find out who took them.

  1. MEET THE CANDIDATES

When you’ve narrowed your choice down to three or four photographers in your price range, you need to meet them. This is essential because it will quickly reveal if their personality is a good match with yours. You don’t want a photographer who is going to stress you out or irritate you on your special day, so don’t skip this step!

Look for someone who is calm, attentive and professional, who listens to what you’re saying, happily answers all your questions and understands exactly what you’re looking for in terms of style. You don’t want a pushover though, you should also look for someone that will present their own ideas – they are professionals after all, so definitely take their recommendations on board.

  1. VIEW PORTFOLIOS

Highlights are great, but they don’t tell the whole story. Ask your candidates to show you a completed wedding album that they’re responsible for so you can gain a complete view of their work over the course of an event. For example, a photographer may be excellent at portraits, but terrible at capturing candid shots, but you won’t know this unless you see a full album.

  1. AGREE ON THE DETAILS

There are many important details to go over when you meet the candidates:
– Make sure your photographer is willing to sign a contract.
– Will they bring assistant photographers on the day to ensure that no detail is missed.
– Ask about the prices of their wedding packages.
– Establish how quickly you’ll receive the photos, as well as any additional costs for retouching, printing, etc.

– Ask about rights to the photos and how they will be delivered to you.

Follow these tips and you’ll find your perfect wedding photographer in no time and without much hassle. It’s worth the effort because the payoff is the gift of beautiful mementos you can enjoy forever. Looking for the perfect wedding venue as a backdrop for your wedding photos? Contact the team at Merrimu to arrange a meeting with one of our experienced in-house event coordinators.

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