Choosing a wedding photographer is a very personal thing. The photographs from your big day will be one of the only tangible things that are left long after the cake has been eaten and the band has packed away.

With that in mind, where do you start your search and what should you be looking for? The Wedding industry is packed full of photographers competing to be picked so how do you know where to start?

The “where to start” is actually the easy part:

• Do a Google search for photographers in your local area;
• Ask friends and relatives for recommendations;
• Look through online directories;
• Scour wedding magazines; 
• Attend wedding fairs and pick up information.

The difficulty comes to narrowing them down, cutting through all the noise and finding the photographer that is perfect for you.

Instead of looking at website after website after website and getting totally confused, consider these four important factors whilst you browse to help you decide on a shortlist. It really is as simple as playing a game of SNAP.

Style // Nature // Amount // Package

So grab a notebook, list all of the photographers you are considering and then make some notes as you start investigating:

STYLE

Lets not try and run before we can walk. First, take a look at each photographers style. Do you love their photos? And I mean, do you reeeeeally love them? 

Dig deep – check out their website, their blog, their Instagram feed, their facebook page etc… If you love what you see and are excited to view their images then you then need to consider exactly what their “style” of photography involves. Are there lots of candid, unposed moments that tell the story of the day? Is that what you want? Or do you want a traditional photographer that will take lots of formal photographs with people looking at the camera? Essentially, can you imagine yourself in their images? Do their images convey the atmosphere that you want for your own wedding?

Finally, consider whether their portfolios are consistent. Do the images have a similar look and feel throughout? This will give you a good idea of the sort of images you will receive after your wedding. If their portfolios are inconsistent then this leaves a big question mark over what your final images could look like! At this early stage, if you’re viewing their images as “just ok”, should they even be on your list?

NATURE

This is a slightly trickier thing to decipher without actually meeting them in person but it is important to consider each photographers nature and personality. Let’s face it, you are likely to be spending a lot of time with them on your wedding day so you need to feel comfortable with them.

First impressions go a long way so read through their website and take a look at their social media pages – do they seem like the sort of person you would like to have at your wedding?

If they make it onto your shortlist then arrange a phone call or, even better, meet up in person. Make sure you “click” before booking them for your wedding – if you feel uncomfortable with them, this will ultimately translate across into the photos. 

AMOUNT

No matter what your budget, the cost of a photographer should not be the deciding factor. Although it is obviously important, in my opinion, style and nature should be of a higher priority. The amount that a photographer charges should therefore be considered alongside these two factors and not over-ride them. Don’t sacrifice the wedding photos you truly want just on the basis of price.

Take a look through each photographers website and see if they list prices. Some will offer a “typical” range. How closely does this compare to your budget? Will you need to pay VAT on top? What about travel costs - are they included? Don’t forget the cost will go hand-in-hand with….

PACKAGE

What do you actually receive for your money? Are you looking for a no-frills, coverage only package or do you want all the bells and whistles – pre-wedding photoshoot, framed prints, luxury albums and a second photographer?! If there is a specific item that is on your must have list, can the photographer provide what you want? Don't worry if you aren't quite sure at the moment, simply use this in conjunction with the amount they are charging to help you gauge whether they are within your budget.

And there you have it – have any of the photographers won in your game of SNAP?

By this point, I’m sure you have a list of a few favourites! The next step is to email each of them and request any information that this research exercise has highlighted. 

Don’t forget to tell them the date and location of your wedding so they can check their availability. Popular photographers can get booked up years in advance, especially for Saturdays in the summer!

If they are available – FANTASTIC – arrange to speak to them, either on the phone or in person, get to know them a little more and see if they are the right photographer for you!