How to find your perfect wedding photographer
Choosing your wedding photographer is one of the most exciting parts of planning your special day. Your wedding photos will be a beautiful reminder of all the love, laughter, and memories you’ll create — so finding the right photographer is truly important.
With so many talented professionals to choose from, it’s all about knowing what you’re looking for and making a choice that feels just right for you.
Here’s a simple guide to help you enjoy the process of finding your dream wedding photographer.
1. Discover and choose your favourite photography style
Before you dive into galleries and portfolios, take a moment to think about the photography style you love most.
Do you prefer natural, documentary-style images that tell a story? Are you drawn to bright, romantic pictures, or do you love rich, artistic tones?
Knowing the style that speaks to you will help you focus your search and find photographers whose work you instantly connect with.
I would consider my style to be a hybrid of documentary natural photographs with an small percent of posed creative photographs. The style of my editing to to represent as near to real life as possible and it is not considered dark and moody, nor do I consider myself as an editorial (Vogue style) photographer. The dark and moody or editorial is not to my style.
2. PLAN YOU PHOTOGRAPHY BUDGET
Photography is an important part of your wedding investment — your images will be a lasting legacy of your day, they are your memories for the future and will be the one item that should transport you back to the moment that happened.
Taking the time to decide on a budget will make your search for a wedding photographer even easier. Remember, it’s not just about the pictures; it’s about the experience, creativity, and care that goes into capturing your memories. If you set yourself a very low budget and booked a photographer that matched that value but did not produce results that preserved those memories, how would you feel? Disappointed? Exactly, this is why I would suggest it is an important element of the day enough to try making your budget bigger for photography so that you can have a professional that does you proud.
3. Explore Professional Websites and Portfolios
While wedding groups on social media can offer plenty of suggestions, you’ll get the best sense of a photographer’s style and personality by browsing their websites.
Look through full wedding galleries, read testimonials, and take your time to explore. Focused searches like “creative wedding photographer in Staffordshire” or “wedding photographer Peak District” will help you find photographers who are a great fit for your location and style.
Once you have an idea of photographers you like, draw up a shortlist of those photographers and make contact with them. When you speak to them always ask them to supply to you at least 2-3 full prior galleries to view and get a feel for what you could get and ensure that their style is consistent, and matches what you have seen on their website. Remember, what is shared on social media by creatives is approx. less than 1% of their work per wedding. It will be their best work and won’t fully represent what you could get.
4. Arrange a Chat or a Meeting
It’s important to feel relaxed and happy with the person who’ll be by your side throughout your wedding day.
Arranging a meeting or video call with your favourite photographers gives you the chance to get to know them, hear about their approach, and ask any questions you may have. It’s all about finding someone you feel confident and comfortable with.
The one question that you should have at the front of your mind is “Can we spend up to 10hrs with this supplier?” If you don’t think your personalities match then my advice would be to continue looking for the right fit.
5. Ask Helpful Questions
When you speak to photographers, a few thoughtful questions can make all the difference:
- How would you describe your approach to a wedding day? Are they very pose driven, are they candid catchers, can they organise your guests well for group photographs or do they have backup plans for if it rains etc.
- What is included in your packages? All of my packages are digital only but there are 2 packages which come with phyiscal albums. Click here to visit my pricing page.
- How do you ensure everything runs smoothly? I usually ask for you to nominate a bridesmaid or groomsman who can help with group shots and I always have backup plans for keys shots e.g summer wedding with outdoor group photographs but what happens if it rains? Afterall we do live in the UK where rain is normally a probability is it
- When can we expect to receive our photos? How long will you wait? My contract and pre-wedding discussions always set the timescales and I am honest that if I am unable to make a deadline I will be contacting to tell you. Keeping you informed is very important.
Finally, get to know them. What do they like about wedding days, what do they do other than weddings, find a connection that you both have e.g I love comedies and if you do too then we usually have something relatable to chat about or I am likely to spout a quote from a comedy during the day (sorry, I am not an expert with Friends though 🙂 )
Creative Wedding Photography Across the Midlands and Beyond
As a creative wedding photographer, I’m passionate about capturing the natural, joyful moments that make every wedding unique. My style is considered hybrid documentary and posed / creative to get you something unique.
I proudly cover weddings across the West Midlands, Staffordshire, Cheshire, North Wales, Merseyside, and the stunning landscapes of the Peak District.
Whether you’re planning a relaxed countryside celebration, a stylish city wedding, or an adventure-filled day, I’d love to hear your plans and create timeless memories together. Bonus points if you have a pooch joining the day (don’t they look beautiful when they have been prepared for a wedding day)
Thinking we could be a great match? Get in touch today — I’d love to chat! .
