There’s a weight to wedding photography I never fully understood until I held the grief of a couple in my hands. Too often, I’ve been told that my photographs are the final, cherished photos of someone very dear to them who has passed away.
It’s a humbling truth: wedding photographers don’t just capture smiles and dances. We capture the very essence of love and family on one of the most important days of your life, the fleeting beauty of a moment, and the precious legacies that have been passed down for generations.
A great wedding photographer does so much more than take beautiful photos of what is sure to be a beautiful day. It’s important to remember that photos DO last forever, so please make sure you hire someone who is capable of capturing your day perfectly. I’ve seen too many horror stories in social media groups about extremely unprofessional photographers.
So, here are just a few (there’s so much more!) things you should be looking out for while you search for your perfect wedding photographer:
- They operate with contracts // This protects you AND the photographer and outlines all the expectations of your time together.
- They can show you a complete, CONSISTENT, wedding gallery of *their* work // It’s important to see full galleries to know that they are capable of capturing the entire wedding day with consistency. This also gives you a better idea of what to expect.
- They have the necessary editing skills and equipment to get the job done, and done WELL // Photographers spend so much time honing their style via their technique and their editing. It’s important that they have the skills to do so, because that can make a huge difference in the final product of your photos.
- They have both technical skill and artistic eye to get great images of your day from start to finish // You’re hiring them for the way they capture a day. You’ve seen their work and their style speaks to you. It’s important that they have technical skills to handle all the challenging situations that may arise on a wedding day, but also that they have an eye to bring your day to life in the photos.
- Plenty of good reviews // Make sure the social proof is there that they are upstanding humans that you’ll jive with! 🙂
In theory, you only get one shot at this. Your wedding photos should be something you love to look at for years and years to come.
P.S. I do all those things 😉 If you’re still looking for your perfect wedding photographer for 2025 or 2026 – let’s chat! linda@lindabarryphotography.com
Linda is a Portland-based photographer specializing in weddings and creating family legacies from Portland to Boston and across New England. You can see more of her work online at lindabarryphotography.com, on Instagram, or on Facebook. If you want to reach out directly: linda@lindabarryphotography.com.
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