Start with the photographs, but do not stop there.
You are choosing the person who will be beside you during preparations, in front of your family photographs and close to the parts of the wedding where emotions can run high. Their work needs to be consistent, but their way of working needs to suit you as well.
After more than 500 weddings, these are the things I would check before signing anything.
Instagram and portfolio pages show the strongest fraction of somebody’s work. That is exactly what they are designed to do.
A complete gallery answers the more important questions. What happens in an ordinary preparation room? Can the photographer handle a dark ceremony? Do the family photographs look organised? Are the guests present throughout the story? Does the editing remain consistent when the light changes?
Ask to see at least two or three galleries, ideally from different seasons or settings. They do not need to be from your venue. You are looking for judgement across a whole wedding, not proof that the photographer knows one particular driveway.
Photography style is not only about colour and composition. It changes what the wedding feels like while the photographs are being made.
Some photographers direct heavily and build a substantial part of the day around portraits. Others take a largely documentary approach and intervene very little. Most couples want something between those two extremes: space to enjoy the wedding, with enough help that family groups and portraits do not become awkward.
Family combinations are only one part of the planning. My guide to whether you need a wider wedding photography shot list explains what else is useful and what an experienced photographer already knows to cover
Look through full galleries and read how the photographer describes their process. If the website says documentary but nearly every photograph is arranged, trust the work rather than the label.
My own approach is to step in when it helps and leave the moment alone when it does not. It is your wedding, not my photoshoot.
You do not need to become best friends with your photographer. You do need to trust their judgement and feel able to be yourself around them.
A telephone or video call can help if you like speaking before you book, but it should not be compulsory. Some couples know enough from the website and a straightforward exchange of messages. Pay attention to whether the photographer answers the question you actually asked, explains things clearly and makes the process feel easier rather than more pressured.
The right fit is not necessarily the loudest personality or the person you would invite as a guest. It is somebody whose presence will not pull attention away from the wedding.
Bright outdoor portraits are only one part of a wedding. Look for ceremonies in dark rooms, winter afternoons, speeches under artificial lighting and evening photographs where people are moving.
You do not need to understand the technical choices. You only need to see that the photographer can produce a coherent gallery when the weather and light are less convenient.
This is also where experience should be visible. The claim itself matters less than the evidence behind it.
A professional service should have clear answers to practical questions:
• Is there a written contract?
See my guide: What should a wedding photography contract include
• What is the delivery timescale?
• How are the photographs backed up?
• Does the photographer carry suitable insurance?
• What happens if they are ill or unable to attend?
See my guide: What happens if your wedding photographer becomes ill
• How many cameras and lenses do they bring?
• Are travel and accommodation included?
• How long will the online gallery remain available?
• What may you do with the delivered photographs?
You are not trying to catch anybody out. You are making sure the service exists beyond a strong Instagram feed.
Every photographer interprets colour differently. Some work is bright and clean, some darker, some warm and muted. Choose the look you genuinely like rather than the one currently filling your feed.
Also check skin tones, indoor photographs and consistency. A strong editing style should still allow a sage green dress to look recognisably sage green and the people in the gallery to look like themselves.
Trends are not automatically bad. The question is whether they support the photograph or become the main thing you notice about it.
Confirm the hours, travel, number or range of photographs, delivery method, albums, engagement shoot and extra-hour cost. Two photographers at the same price may be offering different coverage. Two at different prices may be much closer once the missing items are added.
Do not book somebody purely because they are cheaper. Do not dismiss them purely because they are. Decide whether the evidence, approach and service justify the price for you.
My wedding photography pricing guide explains that comparison in more detail.
Photographs show what was delivered. Reviews can show how the photographer behaved when the timetable slipped, the weather changed or somebody felt nervous.
Look for specific accounts rather than a row of adjectives. “They kept the family photographs moving when everybody disappeared to the bar” tells you more than “amazing from start to finish”.
You do not need a 40-point interview. These questions cover most of what matters:
1. Can we see two complete galleries?
2. How much direction do you normally give?
3. What does the quoted coverage realistically include?
4. When will the finished gallery be delivered?
5. What happens if you cannot attend?
6. Are there any additional travel or product costs?
7. What do you need from us before the wedding?
The answers should be clear enough that you know what you are buying and relaxed enough that you do not feel as though you have entered a sales process.
Have a look through the Real Weddings first. If the work holds together and the approach sounds like something you would be comfortable with, send me your date and venue.
