On the wedding day, the bride and groom are the center of attention, but from the moment of the preparations to that of the ceremony, up to the banquet, the cake and the dances, someone else will be discreetly at their side: the wedding photographer. The choice of the professional in charge of immortalizing the great day is fundamental: he will be a person who will remain in close contact with you on the most important day of your life and who, therefore, in addition to strong professional skills, will have to know how to create a special harmony in order to immortalize the best wedding.
But how to choose the wedding photographer? Let’s see together the points to take into consideration.
Choose the wedding photographer: find a style that you like
Photography is art, and a well-made photo begins long before the shot. Each photographer has his own personal touch, but in wedding photos there are two great stylistic currents: pose and reportage. In the case of posed photos, the photographer will manage the set: he will tell you where to position yourself to get the most from the background and the lights, he will suggest the poses to take for an impeccable composition and will take care of the photographic portrait without leaving anything to chance. In the reportage, however, the wedding photographer becomes invisible: hiding in the midst of the guests he will identify the best moments and shots for shots with a natural and spontaneous flavor. There are also photographers, like me, who choose to combine the two styles to capture moments exactly as they happen by inserting some “stolen” portraits at some point in the day using the best light and location.
In choosing a wedding photographer, it will therefore be important to understand the style that best represents you, so that you can select a professional in line with your tastes. To choose the wedding photographer that’s right for you, my advice is to start your research well in advance, because the best photographers are in great demand. Personally, for example, I take reservations about a year before the wedding.
As soon as you set the date of the big day, start doing research online, or take a cue from the advice of friends, and carefully look at the portfolios and Instagram profiles of the photographers that most intrigue you so as to create a shortlist of those you like the most and ask their availability in time.
The importance of contacting a professional photographer
Whatever style you choose for the photos of your wedding, it is important that it is taken care of by a professional and not a friend with a hobby of photography who, although motivated by excellent intentions, would hardly be able to manage the amount of work of a photo shoot with all the unknowns that can entail.
On the other hand, a professional specialized in wedding photos will have all the tools to provide you with a service that fulfills your expectations, and we are not just talking about the technical equipment: a professional wedding photographer will know in advance everything he will need on the wedding day, he will know how to deal with you and guests in the most discreet and effective way possible, will know how to deal with any inconvenience or technical problems and will have agreed with you all the details of his work long before it begins.
Meeting the wedding photographer: the moment when the spark is triggered
Now that you understand how to choose your wedding photographer, you are ready to meet him! It is a key moment, because the right feeling must be created with the photographer: you will have to feel supported and understand in your needs and expectations.
In short, during the meeting with the photographer the first click has to be triggered: I mean empathy! Prepare a list of questions to ask the wedding photographer, in order to clarify all the doubts that come to mind in anticipation of the wedding day: if he works alone or with collaborators, how long will it take for any portraits, if he will need additional lights etc. Agree on every detail in advance: the cost of the service, working hours, the type of shots, whether or not to take group photos, the format and number of photos, the support and resolution.
But don’t worry too much: a professional will be able to guide you, discussing all the fundamental points for the success of the job in time. At this point, if the “click” has been triggered and an atmosphere of trust and serenity has been created, there are no more doubts: you have found your wedding photographer!
If you are looking for a professional photographer for your wedding, I look forward to meeting you! I work as a wedding photographer in Liguria and Italy, based in the Cinque Terre, and I can move anywhere you want to celebrate your wedding.
Contact me: I can’t wait to tell your story 😉
