You’ve heard it before: your wedding day photos are the one, lasting treasure from your wedding day. When the day is over, your wedding photos allow you to relive the magic and memories of that day again and again and again! For that reason, we think your choice for wedding photographer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your wedding. While we’re a little bit biased that our own wedding photography is the best of the best, we also are aware that there is a photographer out there for everyone! This post is all about helping you find the wedding photographer who is the perfect fit for YOU.

#1. Identify a Clear Favorite Style

First thing’s first: you’ve probably already started to admire a certain type of wedding photography style. There is the trendy dark-and-moody look, the girly light-and-airy look, the classic, straightforward old-school look and many others. Understanding which look is right for you and then starting to narrow down your choices from there is the first step in making the short list of who you’ll reach out to!

In order to identify which style is a good fit for you, head over the Pinterest and start scrolling “wedding photos.” If you want to get even more specific, search for wedding photos at your wedding venue or in the city where you’re getting married. Create a new board and spend 30-45 minutes looking and pining everything that appeals to you. At the end of that time, look at your board. What patterns do you see in the style? If you are torn between two different looks, that is OK! Keep reading . . .

I’ve been asked by friends, family members and clients alike about my own personal opinion for photography style. Again, this choice is ultimately up to you and what you like best. However, many couples do feel torn between a few different options. We personally are a little bias, but we believe classic always trumps trendy. Classic, not overly-edited photos will be beautiful for years and years to come. Additionally, a great photographer knows how to use light and setting to make you look your best and direct you in the most flattering ways. If you feel uncertain about one style over the other, look at the subjects’ faces. Is the light even and beautiful? Is the bride’s skin glowing? Does she look radiant? A great photographer emphasizes this beauty and draws it out in her photography!

If you’re wondering about the HBP style, we shoot and edit in a classic, timeless way look that mirrors the look of classic film. We shoot on a combination of film and digital cameras to achieve a look that we believe will never go out of style and you’ll love forever! True to life yet artistically composed and curated – this style is always beautiful!

So, identify the style that is right for you as a starting point. This will help you cross out photographers right away and put you on the right path! At this point, you can start to make a list of those photographers that fit that style and start reaching out!

#2. Schedule a Phone Call with your 3 top options

After you’ve narrowed down your style of photographer and made a list of possible options, narrow it down to your top 3. Reach out to these three photographers to schedule a phone call so that you can learn more and also get a sense for their personality. During this call, ask any and all questions that you have. Don’t hold back! A great photographer will be more than happy to answer all of your questions with ease. The main purpose of this call should be to generally identify if you like this photographer’s personality and style of working. You’ve already seen their portfolio, so you already know the look of the photos you’ll receive. Now, it really comes down to who they are as a person! The next few tips will walk you through what to look for during this call and afterwards!

#3. Pay Attention to their Customer Service

Engaged couples, I cannot stress this highly enough! You may see a photographer who has gorgeous photos, thousands of Instagram followers and an impressive resume, however that does NOT mean he/she is going to be fun to work with. As you are talking with photographers in the first stages of booking, pay careful attention to a few things:

First, is she combative or collaborative? Does she have a friendly, teamwork-focused attitude, or  does she interrupt frequently and disagree with your requests? Does she encourage you to ask questions and make you feel good about yourself, or does she seem frustrated or negative when you ask your questions? You do not want to work with someone who is combative – a photographer who assumes she knows it all and is set in her ways. This type of photographer will not listen to your special requests – she already knows how she plans to photograph your day, and your unique needs will not be important to her. Look for a photographer who is excited about your vision for your day and thrilled to bring it to life. Make sure she is on board with your special requests early on, before you make a decision!

Second, is she confident and organized when handling your questions? This might seem obvious, but, reality check: photographers are artists. And while many artists can balance the business and the art form at the same time, many others cannot. This is unfortunately true of some really talented photographers – they just can’t get organized and focused. While their work might seem beautiful from an outsider’s view, they’re too concerned and self-absorbed with making art for their own enjoyment and don’t know how to put the focus on their clients. This leads to photos that are beautiful to strangers but disappointing to the couple themselves – the ones whose special requests went unnoticed. A great photographer will answer all your questions with confidence and ease – these are true professionals who know how to mix incredible artistry with incredible customer service. She’s on top of things and knows the business inside and out! This is who you want to work with!

Third, is the follow-up consistent? Some photographers can talk the talk but then don’t walk the walk. If she made a lot of promises on the phone, is she following through with those right away? Are you receiving prompt responses to your emails and an easy-to-sign proposal to get start working with her? Are her emails organized and easy to read and understand? In general, is it a breeze to communicate with her, or difficult to understand and get in touch? If you aren’t being treated as a priority before you pay her, then this definitely won’t change after you sign on the dotted line! Be sure that your photographer is a professional and can communicate clearly, because this is the difference between an enjoyable friendship with your wedding photographer and a constant stressor in your engaged life!

#4. Ask Yourself: “Do I Like them?”

This is going to sound ridiculous, but when it comes down to the final decision and all other factors have been considered, you need to ask yourself: Do I like this photographer? Your relationship with your photographer is so important. She will be with you in the most intimate, special parts of your wedding day. You’re going to be working with her for months in advance, and she’s going to be directing you and making sure you look beautiful. If you just don’t like her that much, that is going to be a huge issue! If you get a weird feeling about a photographer, walk away. It doesn’t matter how many times she’s been published or how successful she seems, it’s not going to be a good experience for you if there are weird vibes. Choose a photographer who made you feel comfortable and at ease from the start – someone who is easy to talk to and you enjoy. Trust me when I say this makes all the difference in the world!