Finding your wedding photographer is one of the decisions that happens early on in wedding planning. It is also one of the most important decisions. You are selecting someone who will be responsible for capturing the moments and feelings from your wedding day with photos that you will look back on for a lifetime. All this hard work that goes into wedding planning for that ONE big day, will live on… in photos! Not only that, you will also be spending a lot of time with your photographer, and you better make sure you like having that person around.
To help you understand how to find your photographer, I did a Q&A with Texas wedding photographer, Kelly Bazely. Kelly’s photos are featured in this post and I actually got lucky enough to have her do my engagement photos in NYC! She has a ton of experience shooting weddings and I couldn’t think of a better person to give you all advice on how to find a wedding photographer.
Can you start by introducing yourself? How did you get into wedding photography?
Sure! I started shooting in high school, after my dad gave me his old Canon A-1 film camera. My best friend and I would spend our weekends driving around to random places and taking photos. We would then develop them in the darkroom at our high school. Those are probably my best high school memories. When I went to college, I ended up studying journalism but not loving it as much as I anticipated. I started taking photos for our college newspaper, and also taking photos for friends.
As part of my degree, I was required to complete an internship. I ended up getting one in New York City in the photo department for a teen magazine. I ended up working for the same magazine after I graduated. Around the same time, some of my friends started getting married and were asking me to take their wedding photos. This is when I started to become really passionate about wedding photography. It wasn’t until a few years later when I even considered wedding photography as a career. I didn’t think it would be possible to make a living off of something I loved doing so much, but as time went on and I kept shooting weddings, I realized it was possible. I’m so thankful to be doing something that makes me so happy.
Where do you suggest that brides look to find their wedding photographer?
I know a lot of brides look on Instagram these days, which is not necessarily a bad place to find a wedding photographer, but I would definitely look to friends for referrals as well. Wedding photography isn’t just about gorgeous photos, but it’s about the experience with your photographer on your wedding day, and the relationship you build with your photographer up to your wedding day.
To find your wedding photographer, I would look for a photographer who wants to really build a relationship with you by asking a lot of questions, setting up video chats, and responding to your emails thoroughly. I think the better relationship you have with your photographer, the more comfortable you’re going to be with them on your wedding day, and it’ll reflect in the photographs you receive. If you have a friend who had a great experience with their wedding photographer, chances are you will too.
How can brides learn about the various photography styles to better understand and assess the photographers they interview?
Honestly, everyone has their own preference when it comes to photography style. My opinion is to trust your gut with what you love. It’s easy to go down the rabbit hole of thinking you should have a certain style because everyone else is doing that style, or because a particular wedding photographer might have tons of followers on Instagram. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve talked to who regretted picking their wedding photographer based on Instagram followers. If you see a style and love it, and create a connection with that photographer, go with it.
How many photographers do you suggest couples consider and what should they ask when interviewing?
My biggest advice to couples is to ask photographers to send a couple full galleries. As photographers, we are going to highlight all of our best photos on our websites and Instagram pages which include lots of couples in gorgeous scenic settings with magical golden hour lighting. But what you really need to see is how photographers work in more difficult lighting situations like dark churches and venue spaces without windows.
Some photographers use more ambient lighting, others use bright flashes, and while neither is right or wrong, it’s important to know what you like and what you’re going to get with your photographer. Full galleries can also help you see how many photos you’re going to receive, what type of color to black and white ratio to expect, what type of candid to posed ratio to expect, etc. A lot of photographers will try to send you full galleries that are similar wedding venues to yours. It’s a bonus if the photographer has already shot at your venue before.
Should couples hire a second shooter?
I get asked this a lot. It really depends. Some photographers like myself always include a second shooter in all of their packages so you don’t have a choice. However, if you have a choice then there are few things to consider. First, the size of your wedding. If you’re having a smaller wedding (100 or less people), you probably don’t need a second shooter. If you’re having a larger wedding (150 or more people), you might want to consider a second shooter. It’ll be tough for one photographer to capture everything that’s happening with all of your guests at once, especially during the cocktail hour and reception. With a second shooter, you’re likely going to get more photos, especially from different angles and perspectives.
How should couples think about their wedding day timeline?
If you don’t have a wedding planner then talk to your photographer! They’ve had to figure out timelines so many times, so they can really be of huge help. They know what time of day you’re going to get the best lighting for couple portraits, how much time you’ll need for family portraits, bridal party portraits, etc. Timelines can be really overwhelming for couples, so my biggest advice is to let your wedding planner or photographer help you and to trust them.
What are some mistakes couples make when it comes to wedding day photos that they should avoid?
Tight timelines: I think sometimes couples try to fit 10 hour wedding day timelines into 8 hour wedding day timelines. It’s important to make sure you allow enough time for everything on your wedding day so you aren’t feeling rushed the whole day, and can actually relax and enjoy your wedding day. Again, your photographer is a good person to advise you on how many hours you’ll need to book for your wedding.
Mismatching bridesmaids while getting ready: Making sure your bridesmaids match for getting ready photos. I learned this after I shot a wedding where every bridesmaid was in very different outfits, including one in a rainbow tie dye t-shirt. I always suggest matching robes because they look so pretty and cohesive, but if not, definitely give your bridesmaids a soft color scheme so everyone blends well together.
Small getting ready spaces: Making sure your getting ready venue is cute and not too small. I’ve shot about a dozen groomsmen in some very tight spaces before. The getting ready photos are some of my favorite photos to shoot, especially the bride putting on her dress so consider this when you’re choosing where to get ready. I always suggest to my brides to find a cute Airbnb.
Guests using electronics during ceremony: Asking your officiant to ask everyone not to use cell phones and tablets during the ceremony. This is a huge one for me! I can’t tell you how many almost perfect first kiss and ring exchange shots I’ve had ruined because someone’s arm is stretched out in the middle of the aisle with a huge iPad. You spend money on a professional photographer for beautiful wedding photos, so don’t let your guests ruin them.
What should couples make sure the contract includes?
I think contracts are more for photographers than for clients, but I guess the only thing I can think of that would be important for the client would be the photographer’s cancellation or rescheduling policy. You should know what to expect if your photographer has to emergency cancel, or if you have to emergency postpone your wedding. So many people were in this situation and recently had to deal with this during the pandemic.
When should couples book the photographer?
As soon as possible! I’d start looking a year out, maybe even earlier if possible, especially if you are planning a Saturday wedding. Photographers book up quickly, and with all of the Covid postponement weddings, most wedding photographers I know are super busy and booked right now.
How many photographers should they interview before selecting one?
It’s honestly up to you, but I wouldn’t interview too many unless you really aren’t feeling a strong connection with any of them. I would find 3 in your budget with a photography style that you love, set up chats with them, and go from there.
Any other tips that you have for our brides?
Trust your wedding vendors. Use them for insight and advice. They are on your side and want you to have the best wedding day. Have fun, and try not to stress! Your day will be what you make it. I’ve shot so many weddings that didn’t go as planned, especially rainy wedding days, and everything always works out. It is possible to get beautiful photos on a rainy day.
Where can our brides find you?
You can find the photos here and many more on my website, or on my instagram.
Thank you so much to Kelly for taking the time to provide guidance on how to find a wedding photographer. If you are getting married in the Texas area, consider yourself luck because you might have a chance to book Kelly for your big day! Not only is Kelly’s work amazing, she is also the sweetest and definitely someone you would want to have around on your wedding day.
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xHappy planning bride babes!x
Thanks for the tip that social media can also be a good place to look for the right wedding photographer. I’m interested looking for one soon because I recently got engaged. My fiancé and I haven’t decided when to hold the wedding yet but it wouldn’t hurt to have some preemptive planning.