How To Choose Your Wedding Photographer 101: Insider Tips to Guarantee A Happy Ending

February 27, 2024

Choosing a wedding photographer can be a challenge - will you be happy standing in the woods for your bridal portraits like this couple?

There are so many options, editing styles, and price points when you start looking for a wedding photographer in the Netherlands or Belgium. It can feel overwhelming but it doesn’t have to.

Because today I’m here to help you break through the noise & find your perfect match.

Hoorah! You’ve said yes to the big question. And then you both sit down excitedly to begin planning your wedding together when it hits you both - there are so many variables when choosing a wedding photographer! Not only that but there seems to be no way to compare the coverage offered between different photographers. What they offer can vary so much. And don’t get me started on the differences in editing. Some photographers prefer darker moodier images, some turn skin tones & the whole photo a shade of brown, & still more are so light and airy that they seem to fade off the screen as you scroll through.

A bride and groom stand arm distance apart in a garden and the groom lifts the bride's hand to kiss it — From a September garden wedding

black and white photo of a woman with black hair leaning in to kiss a man with black hair in the keukenhof garden — From a September garden wedding

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A wedding photographer is an artist

Key to booking a photographer you’ll be happy with is an understanding of photography & editing styles. That doesn’t mean you have to know what all the different styles are or what they’re named. More importantly, does the style of photography speak to you?

Like I said, there are many different editing genres like dark & moody, light & airy, Fine Art, or sepia toned images. There are also styles such as photojournalistic, candid, and formal. A photographer’s editing style is a reflection of their individual journey as an artist. One of the most powerful things you can understand is that you choose your style of editing by booking the photographer you book.

I recommend finding photographers who’s editing style consistently reflects what style of photography you’re looking for. Look at their social media pages & websites. You can be quite disappointed choosing a photographer and then asking them to edit your wedding gallery in a way that’s inconsistent with the work they’re already producing.

Three people are seated on a vintage ochre sofa outdoors. The man closest is a witness for the wedding and he signs the marriage record as the bride and groom look on — Break through the confusion of choosing a wedding photographer by finding your own style and asking the right questions.

Ask the right questions for you as a couple

I understand. Wedding photography is a huge investment, and one that you have one chance to get right. Before you approach wedding photographers with questions, it helps to start with the two of you. Do you like the photographer’s work you’ve found? Are you happy with & can pay the prices for that photographer? Do you understand the costs of the package and what’s included in that photographer package?

Have you done your due diligence reading reviews & looking out for red flags? Do you feel connected to the photographer’s words & images? Are you seriously considering hiring the photographer? Once you’re satisfied with your own feelings & research, consider asking the photographer some questions like the following;

A smiling bride walks towards the photographer backlit with sunshine and with her family behind her in the city park in Apeldoorn

A bride and her maid of honour pose together for a photo outdoors in the city park after the ceremony

Ask the right questions for your wedding photographer

Often the first email I receive from couples asks about my costs. And I’m happy to share that information- it’s also actually available on my website and I send all couples my Pricing Guide when they inquire. But there are other questions that are equally if not more important - like what kind of backups are there in place to protect your wedding images from hard drive failure or memory card corruption?

For my part, I provide my Amy Harper Couples with The Wedding Experience, an 88-page complimentary wedding guide, where many of these questions are answered. I’m also more than happy to answer any questions through email, in person meetings, or through a Zoom or Skype meeting. With that in mind, here is a list of potential questions to ask your photographer.

For Before The Wedding

Is it possible to view a whole wedding gallery?
What do your booking process & gallery delivery process look like?
Do you make the timeline for my photos or does my coordinator or I make the timeline?
What is your cancellation policy?

For During the Wedding

Do you shoot in RAW format & manual mode?
Do you have backup equipment?
Do you photograph on dual shot slot cameras?
Do you have a second shooter?
Do you have equipment for reception & night photography?

For After the Wedding

How do you backup & save images after the wedding?
How many photos do you usually deliver?
When can I expect to receive the completed gallery?
Do I get the digital images?
Do you offer prints or albums?

A good relationship with your wedding photographer is essential to capture your day well

Possible Warning Signs

Each wedding photographer is unique that it can be difficult to say what’s a real red flag. But there are a few things that should raise some alarm bells. Those things would include not having a contract - contracts protect both photographer & the wedding couple.

Also poor communication or an unwillingness to share full wedding galleries can be a red flag. You don’t have to be in constant contact but you should fully understand what to expect, what happens next, and have your important questions answered.

A portfolio only full of styled shoots & models can be a red flag. That could mean they lack actual wedding day experience. Wedding days & real life couples are completely different than styled shoots where the photographer is able to control all of the variables.

Lastly, definitely run if the photographer gives you the ick. Trust your gut feeling & read the reviews.

A groom in a beige suit leans against the doorframe of a traditional Dutch monument where his business and home are in Nuenen

My Beige Flags

My oldest daughter likes to make fun of how much I love beige but I honestly don’t see that there’s any problem. I love all colours but my comfort colour is currently beige & other neutrals. So here’s a short list of my beige flags as a wedding photographer.

Backups:

I live by the 3-2-1 backup rule. Your wedding is photographed simultaneously on two memory cards. When I get home after the wedding, I immediately back up your images to both my two external hard drives, Mary Kate and Ashley, while also creating a Cloud based back up.

Contracts:

Agreeing to and signing the contract is part of the booking process for Amy Harper Couples.

All Good Guarantee:

I can shoot between 50-100 images per hour when I’m actively photographing. All good photos from your wedding are included in your wedding gallery.

Clear Pricing:

My prices & what is included at that price are listed on my website as well as in the Pricing Guide I email with the initial wedding inquiry.

Sample Galleries Available:

Not only do I have many examples of happy Amy Harper Couples on my website & in my Google reviews, but I’m also happy to allow you to view a completed wedding gallery during an in person meeting. Wedding galleries are password protected for the privacy of my couples, so in person viewing is the best way to view a complete gallery.

Sneak Peak & Journal Post:

I love providing my Amy Harper Couples with a sneak peak within 48 hours & I love sharing beautiful wedding moments through my journal post featuring some of my favourite images from their special day!

I’d describe my photography style as true to colour with a bit of light. I love both candid moments & posing my couples in such a way as to help tell their love story. Always pushing my own boundaries, you’ll find me excited about the latest photography technic or trick I’ve learnt. You’ll also never find me drinking, smoking, or using drugs at your wedding due to my faith. Honestly you might even not see me eat much because I have a special diet due to my chronic stomach paralysis!

In conclusion

Finding the perfect photographer ultimately comes down to whether you’ve had your questions answered satisfactorily & you feel a click, or a connection, with the wedding photographer you’re booking. And that click is super important because you’ll be spending quite a lot of close time together on your wedding day! After finding & booking your photographer, congratulations! You’ve made significant headway in planning the wedding day of your dreams.