How can I choose the perfect wedding photographer?

Here are our tips on how to choose the perfect wedding photographer for your big day (even if it’s not us):

1. Does your venue(s) have any vendor recommendations?: You might get some great recommendations from the staff for your other vendors, or you may realize that you want vendors with experience working at your reception or ceremony sites. Experience at a venue is a good attribute in a photographer, but not required. You should never base your decisions solely off of whether or not a vendor has worked at a location before. They still might not be a good fit.
2. Does their wedding pricing fit within your budget?: In general, it’s recommended that couples spend between 10%-15% of their total budget on photography. That is a lot in proportion to the myriad of other costs associated with a wedding, but photography is the permanent record of your day. Other than the marriage itself, there’s nothing else that lasts through the decades after the wedding. 
3. Do you like their photography style?: A photographer’s style is very important. You can’t change a photographer’s style, so if you find yourself thinking “I wish they did more of ________”, or, “it’s good enough”, then they aren’t the right photographer for your wedding. A photographer’s style is a unique and varied as the people behind the lens, so be diligent and find a photographer whose work really resonates with you.
4. Can you see a full gallery of a wedding they’ve photographed? All photographers put up galleries of their “wow” shots. The real question for most couples should be, “What does their work look like for a full wedding?”. Ask your top prospects if you can see a gallery of a full wedding.
5. Do they have experience with photography in your state’s climate: Colorado, for example, is one of the best places in the world to capture photographs, and also very challenging. The wind can never stop blowing, storms can come from out of nowhere, and the sun can be incredibly harsh and bright. Why choose a photographer that blows out all of their skies to white, or uses dull brown filters on every photo? Colorado is a vibrant, colorful state, and those deep-blue skies are to die for. Whether you’re looking at photographers for a coastal wedding or a beach wedding, finding a photographer with experience in the local climate is key.
6. Reviews from past clients: We’ve worked very hard over the last 15 years to garner dozens of amazing reviews from our clients. There’s no better litmus test of a photographer you might be considering than the experiences of their past clients.
7. Personality and vibe/energy: This is, in our humble opinion, the most important aspect of choosing your wedding photographer. We are around you more on the wedding day than virtually anyone else, except for the wedding party. You know you like your wedding party! You’d better dig the energy and vibe of your photographers, too. A bad match in terms of vibe will affect your entire day, not just your photos.
8. Do they have insurance?: Any small business owner should have insurance, and photographers are no exception. Most photographers should have at least liability insurance.
9. Do they have backup equipment?: Even the most cautious photographers still have mishaps on shoots. The last thing you want is an accident to sideline the coverage of your wedding. Photographers should have backups for every piece of critical equipment they use.

There you have it: 9 steps to guaranteeing your love your photographer you hire to capture your wedding day.