Opening a photographer’s website and immediately being greeted by fun features and cool photos can surely be eyecatching, but it isn’t everything. Let’s chat about some things to be on the lookout for besides a flashy website with eye catching fonts.
Full Galleries — Not Just Highlight Reels
Anyone can put together their best of photos, but not every gallery they deliver is going to be straight hits. A photographer who is confident in their full body of work, and who will display full sample galleries online, is one who’s going to always put their best foot forward when approaching a wedding day.
Photographers who can stand by full galleries are the real professionals who are well rounded. Those who refuse to show you a full gallery are a red flag, and may be hiding something.
Communication Skills
Someone who’s going to have a hand in your special day should be able to communicate well and in a timely manner. But more than that, look for a photographer with a realistic approach to promises.
When planning a celebration like a wedding, it is easy to get ahead of yourself. Hiring a professional like a photographer should help you manage your expectations, and be open about their own. Photographers who know their own boundaries and limits are going to be able to deliver quality and be able to manage their time as well, meaning they provide a good client experience all around. When a photographer has good communication skills, it bodes well for courteous replies and on time gallery deliveries.
Another important facet of communication skills comes with discussion of price. Respectful communication about cost is important, but so is a photographer who knows their worth and stands behind their pricing. If the price seems too good to be true, it could be a red flag.
Affordable photography isn't inherently a red flag because new photographers need to build portfolios, and every photographer sets their own prices. But if someone is dramatically undercharging without a clear understanding of their costs, workload, or deliverables, it may be worth asking more questions.
People Skills and Emotional Intelligence
In a similar vein, when in the early booking and inquiry stage with your wedding photographer, it's important to take note of their people skills and emotional intelligence. This person is going to be involved in one of the most emotional days of your life, and part of what makes a good wedding photographer is one who understands moments.
Someone who knows better than to interrupt a tearful exchange to preserve a schedule, and who will instead capture this once-in-a-lifetime moment. I specialize in a mix of different “types” of photography, but I focus on documentary photography that you can feel. My clients desire story-driven wedding photography in Clemson, S.C., so I know better than to intrude on how their story is unfolding when my job is to capture it.
Your photographer needs to be able to work with people, not just cameras. Additionally, families can bring all sorts of different folks together, and bring all types of emotional stress. A photographer who will hold respect for those different beliefs and for all people and relationships is one who is going to actually make your day easier.
Adaptability in Different Conditions
Simply put, your photographer cannot control the weather. Someone who breaks down when they day doesn’t go to plan and it rains, or snows, isn’t going to work well under any other type of pressure the day may bring.
I brand myself as a natural light photographer for real moments. When I and you say that aloud or read it, you likely envision golden rays of sunlight, but sometimes natural light looks like a torrential downpour and light seeping through barely parted clouds. If that’s what the universe has in store for your day, then that’s what I’m there to capture, and you best believe I’ve got an umbrella with me.
Technology can be unreliable as well, look for a photographer who has backup gear and can unpack a situation that may have gone wrong, and that they have navigated and gotten back on track. We’ve all been there, and it speaks to skill and character how someone handles it. Look for photographers who have a file backup system, it protects both you and them.
A Personality and Approach That Fit Yours
I talk about values a LOT in my blogs, but that’s because they’re so important, as well as style and personality. Your photographer is going to be by your side for a majority of your wedding day, so it’s important to like them, at least a little bit!
Plus, when they click with you, they can more easily understand the vision, and are suited to the photos you want them to take. A photographer who gravitates towards soft, documentary photos and candids is not going to deliver the gallery a couple looking for fine art photos with lots of editorial flash is looking for. That’s why different strokes — and photographers — exist for different folks. Your perfect picture match is out there, and if you look and ask the right questions, you’re bound to find them.
Looking for a photographer to deliver images meant to be lived with and returned to? Hi, I’m Sydney, Documentary-style wedding photography in South Carolina with heart. Let’s get to know each other!
