Not every wedding photographer is for every client.  If I could just give you 1 tip to make sure you get the best wedding photos possible, it would be to tell you to choose the photographer whose photos you like the best.  It’s that simple. 

Your wedding photos will be what you have to remember this important day by.  You’ll have these for the rest of your life.  I always find it funny when someone is willing to spend $2,500+ on a wedding ring and not on wedding photos.  The logic is that the ring is what’s going to last and be with them every day after the wedding, but so are those photos and video.

What will you do with your wedding photos?  Hang them on your wall?  Create an album that you can show to your friends and family who come over?  Have as a background/screensaver on your computer? Hang around your desk at work? Use as your profile photo and cover photo and show off on Facebook? 

You want photos that you’ll be proud to have your guests and family see when they come over.  Get amazing photos that will make your friends jealous!  Okay, you don’t have to make your friends jealous, but get photos that wow them.  Don’t you want something that you’ll be proud of? 

We had a bride decide not to hire us this past year.  She found someone cheaper and closer, so she went with them.  She came back to us in tears and said that her wedding photos were terrible and that her greatest regret was in not hiring us.  She said that she’s too embarrassed to show anyone her wedding photos.  There isn’t one that she feels she can hang on her wall or post to Facebook.  She’s not the first person who has decided not to hire us and later returned to say these same things.

I understand a budget is important.  Many photographers are willing to set up payment plans and/or adjust the package so that you can make it work for you.  We understand the importance of our job, and we want to make sure that every bride gets stunning memories of her day. 

This is how I recommend you choose your photographer.  I know budget will come into play, but use that as your secondary factor in choosing your photographer and not the primary factor.  Look up lots of photographers, and then place their work side by side.  Ask yourself whose photos you want to see yourself in.  Literally, picture yourself in these images.  Then narrow it down to your top choices.  Look at your budget and set up meetings with your top choices.  If there is a photographer you have to have who is out of your budget, let them know you love their work and want to know if you can set up a payment plan or get a custom package.   They may be willing to work with you.  Not as common, but some will even let you make the last payment after the wedding.  It never hurts to ask.

Please, do NOT be a bride who regrets not getting beautiful images of her wedding.

Article by Trina Heppner with PS Photography & Video.  Servicing the Greater Seattle area and worldwide.  http://psphotography-video.com