Choosing your wedding photographer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during planning. Your photographer is with you more than almost anyone else on your wedding day, and they’re responsible for documenting the people and moments you’ll look back on forever. I see so many brides online feeling disappointed because things didn’t go the way they hoped, or worse, because they realized too late that some red flags were there from the beginning.

Make sure your photographer is a real, established business

You deserve someone who is reliable, legitimate, and committed to their craft.

Red flags to watch for:

• No website
• Only a brand-new social media account
• No full wedding galleries
• No reviews (or consistently negative ones)
• Huge discounts for paying in full upfront
• No contracts or unclear payment structure
• Companies that send random photographers you’ve never met

If someone won’t show a full gallery, that’s a sign they may not be able to deliver consistent quality from morning to night. Highlight reels on Instagram are not enough.

Talk to your photographer before booking

At the very least, have a phone call. Even better? A video chat or an in-person meeting. That face to face connection is important! This is your chance to see if your personalities click, if you feel comfortable with them, and if they genuinely care about your day.

Your photographer will be with you during emotional, intimate, stressful, joyful moments. You want someone who feels grounding and trustworthy, not someone who adds to the stress.

Make sure you love both their editing style and their shooting style

Editing style is usually what draws people in first: warm, true-to-color, airy, filmy, dark and moody, etc. But shooting style matters just as much.

Ask yourself what feels most like you:

• Editorial (poses, structure, fashion-forward guidance)
• Prompt-based (movement, laughter, candid feeling but guided)
• Documentary (little to no posing, capturing moments as they unfold)

A photographer will not, and honestly, cannot- edit in a style that isn’t theirs. Their style is their art. Choose someone whose work already looks like what you’re drawn to.

Ask to see a full wedding gallery

A full gallery shows exactly what you can expect:

• Getting ready
• Ceremony
• Wedding party
• Family photos
• Reception lighting
• Dance floor moments
• Indoor + outdoor images
• Detail photos

While every moment is not identical to the next considering all kinds of variable present on a wedding day, you want consistency. Images that fit within the photographer’s style and approach. You want a photographer who can handle all parts of the day, not just portraits in perfect light.

Understand the value of a second photographer

This is something couples often overlook, but it makes a huge difference. I include a second shooter in both of my typical wedding packages because they are essential to telling a complete, connected story.

A second photographer helps with things like:

• Covering cocktail hour while I’m doing family photos
• Photographing the groom’s getting-ready moments if they’re in a different location
• Grabbing candid reactions I can’t physically be there for
• Capturing multiple angles of “one time” moments like the first kiss, entrances, and first dances
• Helping wrangle family for group portraits
• Keeping the timeline flowing smoothly
• Filling in the story so your gallery feels cohesive and rich, instead of choppy or incomplete

A wedding happens quickly and only once. You deserve images that feel full, connected, and complete- like a storybook from start to finish.

Remember that trust is everything

Your photographer should make you feel taken care of, not confused or unsure. You should know what to expect, how communication will work, what’s included, when your gallery will be delivered, and who will be showing up on your wedding day.

Trust comes from:

• Clear communication
• Transparent pricing
• Contracts
• Proof of consistent work
• Strong reviews
• A real human connection

When you find the photographer who feels right, you’ll know. The whole process will feel easier, lighter, and more peaceful.

Choosing your photographer is such a personal decision, and you deserve someone who cares about your story as much as you do. If you’re currently planning your wedding and want to talk through what your day might look like through my lens, I’d love to connect. You can reach out anytime, and we can chat through your vision, your priorities, and what matters most to you.