HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

BY SARAH DE RANGO

As important as it is to pick the right venue, the perfect dress, the best florist, etc., and let me reiterate, that is very important, some might argue that all of this can get outweighed if you don’t have the perfect photographer ready to capture it all so that you can relive it for years to come!

Sadly it’s not as easy as booking anyone who knows how to use a camera, and you’ll want to be assured that whoever the lucky pick is, they’ll be able to bring your aesthetic and style to life through their shots.

To make life easier (you’re welcome!), we’ve come up with the top 5 tips for picking the best wedding photographer.

#1 Decide on your ideal style for your wedding photos

Before you can begin hunting for your dream photographer, you need to have a long, hard think about your ideal style and vibe of your wedding photos.

Some couples are all for the crisp, clean portraits that look like they’re straight out of a magazine, while others adore soft, romantic candid shots that breathe personality and love.

Do you prefer black and white photos, or are you all for the colour? All of these factors are important and need to be ironed out early on to ensure you’re choosing a shooter who is going to provide the album of your dreams. We want to be able to show the grandkids these photos one day, remember?

If you’re not sure what your vision is or where to start, don’t worry, Art of Grace photography has got you covered! The team at Art of Grace has curated a beautiful questionnaire that takes the guesswork out of this whole process, they’ll take you through it when you enquire.

Picking your brain about your overall personality, style, and how you want your day to be captured, Art of Grace then uses this information to pair you with the perfect photographer that will encapsulate your energy, vibe and personality through every shot!

#2 Choose your wedding venue and see if they have photographer recommendations

If the Google and directory searches just aren’t cutting it and you find yourself still searching for the one, ask your venue! Your wedding venue is likely to have had a plethora of photographers come through their doors over the years and is bound to have a recommendation or two for you based on past couples glowing reviews. There are many features of a good wedding photographer, one of the most important ones being their ability to photograph a venue well, so asking the venue to see previous examples of albums is a must. For example, Art of Grace photography is known for their epic shots at The Wool Mill in Brunswick East. Being the photographer of choice for Nudo venues means that they spend almost every weekend in one of their amazing venues and are extremely well versed in getting the right angles of every aspect of the venue. Don’t believe us? Check out their perfectly curated instagram account!

#3 Pick a wedding photography specialist

Your wedding day is one of the most special days of your life so you’ll want to be sure that whoever your photographer is, they are poised and ready to capture every moment from getting ready with your entourage, all the way to the dance floor at the end of the night. Booking a photographer who specialises in weddings means that they have ample experience with getting the perfect lighting and angles throughout your ceremony and reception, as well as taking natural, candid shots that you’ll swoon over for years to come. Nobody has ever photographed more kisses, champagne sprays or loved up portraits than wedding photographers!

#4 Why picking your friend might not be a good idea (choose a professional photographer)

So your friend is a photographer, hey? We love that! Wanting to involve some of the special people in your life on the big day is such a great idea, but there are a few things you may need to consider first. It’s important to think about the kind of photography experience they have and how it’ll suit the vibe you’re looking at for your wedding day. For example, they may photograph products or landscapes beautifully, whether it be for work or as a hobby, but not have much experience shooting real people in candid settings and may struggle to capture the little moments such as during the ceremony or your first dance. But let’s be real, what most of us worry about when it comes to letting friends or family be our photographer, is that it’s hard to be critical if you’re not absolutely happy with the outcome. We want our loved ones to know how appreciative we are for their hard work and effort on the day, so often we struggle with how to give feedback and ask for changes in a way that won’t upset or offend. Choosing a third party professional wedding photographer is bound to eliminate any awkward encounters while ensuring you receive the photos of your dreams!

#5 Meet with the wedding photographer and ask questions!

We’ve all heard the saying ‘try before you buy’, and that somehow relates to picking a photographer too! As easy as it could be to book someone based on their epic Instagram shots, what’s most important is how comfortable you two feel around them and if their energy matches yours.

We recommend locking in a time to chat with the photographer, whether it be virtually or over a glass of bubbly, to see if they can bring your vision to life, and also to get to know them on a more personal level. Ask lots of questions! After this meeting, it should either be an emphatic YES or a hard no.

Remember, this person is going to be with you all day long on your wedding day, capturing you with your loved ones at home, being present in the intimate moments of a first look, and tearing up the dance floor with you at the reception!

The last thing you want is awkward touches and fake smiles on the day if you’re not comfortable, and trust us, this will definitely translate into the photos. Instead, opt for natural poses, candid moments and have a laugh, even if it’s at your photographer’s expense!

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Nudo is a wedding planning service based in Melbourne that looks at weddings a little differently. With a complete collection of the best vendors in Melbourne under their roof, they offer thoughtfully crafted, complete wedding packages for couples who love the creative, but hate the logistics. From a wedding planner, to design team, florist, photographer, celebrant, cake, DJ and even transport – Nudo offers everything you need for an incredible wedding, without the stress. Completely customisable, couples can add or remove as many of the vendors as they need.
If you’re looking for a wedding planner in Melbourne and would love a team of dreamers and doers on your side to guide you through the journey step by step, drinking glasses of bubbles, and making wedding planning fun, then contact us to learn more.