6 Steps to Choose a Wedding Photographer

 Below are 6 steps to make sure you find the perfect photographer for you wedding! 

Step 1: Choose a Style that you like.

More than likely you've come across a wedding photo and your first reaction was "Wow....that is beautiful." There was something about that photo that you really liked. This is your photo preference. Each person sees a photo differently. For some, a photo can be the best they have ever seen, and for others, the same photo might be one of the worst. You need to find what style of images you like best. There are a couple different styles of photography.

Candid / Documentary: Instead of a series of posed photos, these are candid or spontaneous pictures (not styled or posed) of people, decor, and the action of the day. With a purely photo-journalistic photographer, you won't often see people staring at the camera. Documentary photos are captured exactly as they happened, and together they tell a story.

Posed / Portraiture: Portrait style photographers pay attention to every detail when posing you. Think about your parent's photos. Traditional wedding photos are posed and were directed by the photographer.  Photographer makes sure eyes are looking in the right direction, Hands are in place, and etc...

Fine Art: Though it's similar to documentary photography, this style gives the shooter greater artistic license to infuse their particular point of view and style into your photographs. So while the shots reflect reality, it's the photographer's reality.

We at Capturing Hawaii Photography shoot a blend of these styles. Our may goal with our wedding images is to capture the moment so you can relive it forever. We aim to capture emotion, beauty, and the story in our images. We do this by blending candid emotion (documentary) with posed positions (Portraiture) and adding an incredible / unique background (Fine Art). Emotions will show in photos and there is nothing worse than faking a smile for camera. It's your wedding day, one of the happiest days of your life, we don't need to force you to smile; but we will pose you to look your best. 

See the Caption below the Photos to identify Styles

The image on the Left is an Example of Fine Art.              Two Photos in the Center are examples of Posed        Two Photos on the right are Candid

Step 2: Shop Around

Now that you understand the style of photography that you like, find photographers that fit that style. There are hundreds of wedding photographers in Hawaii and I encourage you to do research. We at Capturing Hawaii Photography want you to find the best photographer that fits your wants and needs! But remember, there is a lot more to choosing a wedding photographer than looking at pretty photos, which brings us to the next step.

Step 3: Set Up Consultations

Wedding Consultations are one of the most important part of choosing a Wedding Photographer. For most, this will be your first interaction with your wedding photographer. This is a great time to see example of printed work, ask questions, and mingle with your photographer. We recommend that you meet with 2-4 Wedding photographers. When you find the right wedding photographer, you'll know. You will feel everything click into place. Your personalities will match, you will share interest, and they will genuinely want you to help you any way they can. 

Things to look out for: You don't want to constantly feel pressured to book by the wedding photographer. Some photographers can be pushy can try to convince you to Book now and sign a contract. WE DON'T RECOMMEND you do this. Always go home and talk to your Fiance about how the meeting went. Talk to each other about things that you did and didn't like about the photographer and come to a decision together. You never want to make an Impulse decision for your wedding date. 

Step 4: The Big Budget Debate

For most couples, budget is going to play a big part in who you choose for your wedding photographer. We highly recommend that photography is not something that you try to get as cheap as possible. Wedding photos are one of the only things that you will keep after the wedding is complete. There are no redo's after the wedding is done, so make sure to find a good and experienced photographer. Don't settle for a lower quality photographer just because they are offering you the cheapest deal. We understand how expensive a wedding can be, but we really recommend that photography is not something you try to save money on. 

Step 5: What can I do with the photos after?

Make sure you understand the rights to the product that you receive in the end. If you are receiving the digital images, are you also receiving the personal and printing rights? Without printing rights from the photographer, the only thing you can do with digital images is share on Facebook and other social media platforms. You wont be able to print the images to hang on your walls for you or your future kids to see.

Step 6: Book an Engagement Session with the Photographer

Engagement Sessions are the best way to get to know your wedding photographer and their shooting style. Personalities, comfort levels, and emotion are all things to pay attention to during the session. If you feel uncomfortable, rushed, or stressed, this photographer may not be the best choice for you. A wedding day, in nature, is stressful and you want a photographer that will be there to comfort you and calm you down. 

Most photographers require a 25% non refundable booking fee before Engagement sessions take place. Although this may feel like a lot of money to walk away from, it is better to choose a different photographer than to go ahead with one that makes you uncomfortable/stressed on your wedding day.

We hope that you enjoyed this guide to finding a wedding photographer. Still have questions? Feel free to contact us here with questions Or leave a comment below and Ill get back to you as soon as possible.