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3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Hiring a Wedding Photographer

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So many articles out there have lists of questions to ask your prospective wedding photographer. But I believe that an important decision like that can’t just hinge on answers provided by an external party. So here are three questions to ask yourself before hiring a photographer for your wedding.

3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Hiring a Wedding Photographer

#1: Do I love their style of photography?

There are so many different styles of photography and editing out there— from light and airy, to warm and moody, to high-contrast true colors. Think about the style that you and your partner gravitate towards. Can you imagine yourself in those photos? Your wedding photos are an important investment, both financially and emotionally. You want to make sure you are in love with the imagery they capture, and you should look forward to having your big day captured in the same style.

Note that social media is a great way to showcase highlights of a wedding day and the overall mood and style a photographer is trying to capture. But it’s always a good idea to ask a prospective photographer to see a gallery from a full wedding. This will give you a better picture of how they approach all of the different parts of a wedding day, especially posing formal portraits.

#2: Do I love their personality?

Do you want to hear something crazy? You’ll spend more time with your photographer than with your spouse on your wedding day. The person you select as your wedding photographer will be alongside you for most of this important day. They will even be in your getting ready space, an area that is pretty intimate and only shared with the most important people in your life. Because you’ll be spending so much time together, your photographer’s vibe and energy can really impact your mood on your big day.

Again, social media can be a good way to get an initial read on a photographer’s personality. But I invite you to take it one step further: set up a meeting with them, either in person or via video conference. See what your dynamic together is like. Whether you prefer lots of bubbly interactions or a more calming presence, it’s a personal preference. But their personality should meet yours and leave you feeling comfortable and at ease.

#3: Do they understand what’s important to me on my wedding day?

A good wedding photographer will provide guidance and an overview of what the wedding photography experience looks like for their typical client. But the right photographer for you will seek to understand what the wedding day means to you as a couple. What aspects of the wedding or moments are you most looking forward to? Your photographer’s approach to the day might look a lot different if you say you’ve spent the last 3 months poring over handmade favors, versus talking about this being the first time your siblings will all be all together in years. They should be invested in learning about your priorities and capturing the day in a way that’s meaningful to you.

3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Hiring a Photographer for Your Wedding

Your wedding day experience should be enjoyed fully. Your wedding photos are precious heirlooms that you should treasure for years to come. By taking the time to ask yourself these questions, you’ll be able to give yourself the experience and photos that you deserve.

If you’ve seen my work and answered, “YES” to question 1, let’s move on to the next two questions! You can schedule a consultation by filling out my contact form.

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BEHIND THE LENS

meet LESLIE joy

Passionate about turning your most heartfelt moments into your legacy of love

When I was first getting to know my husband, Michael's, family, I loved hearing the stories of their marriages— the good times and bad, better and worse, joy as well as sorrow, and always love. But the very first time I saw his grandmother’s collection of family wedding photos perched atop her mantel I had to stop and take in what over 200 years of marriage looked like on display. As I looked on at the images framed on the mantel, immediately all of the stories shared by Michael’s grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins came rushing through my head, and it was so easy to trace them all back to the days they said “I do.” In my role as a wedding photographer, I capture all of the raw emotions of your big day, so when you look back at those images you are reminded of the fullness in your heart and you can see how that first day of marriage created a legacy of love.

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