Red Flags When Choosing A Wedding Photographer | Huntsville, North Alabama South Tennessee
Congratulations! You’re getting married! Now what? You’re probably overwhelmed and your brain is just swirling with the vendors you need to figure out and the venue and all the details that make up a wedding! While I can’t speak for what to look out for when choosing any other vendors, I can share with you some red flags you want to avoid or be wary of when choosing the wedding photographer for you.
1. You ask for full wedding galleries and they will only send you portfolio.
This is a red flag because you NEED to look at MULTIPLE full galleries to know what your wedding day might look like if you choose to go with that photographer. If all you’re getting is portfolio, you are missing some key elements that may be important to you such as reception, family formals, getting ready. You also may want to know that they have photographed full, real wedding days and not just styled shoots. Styled shoots are a way for photographers to gain portfolio and showcase their styles, but does not indicate experience to photograph in every lighting scenario for your wedding day. Things to look for when you do get sent full galleries: Do you like their style? What does a wedding look like on a rainy day? What does a ceremony look like in full sun? How is the lighting in each scenario throughout the day?
2. They don’t have a contract.
Major red flag. A contract is definitely the most boring part of the booking process and the legal jargon can be hard to understand at times. But if you’re vetting a photographer who doesn’t have a contract this should be a red flag. A contract is there to protect both you and the photographer. Without this contract there is nothing binding them to actual show up and perform the way that is expected of them. Also what happens if the photographer ends up in the hospital and cannot come? The contract should cover this. Do you remember the controversy of the photographer who’s bride and groom wouldn’t feed her a meal so she deleted their pictures? The contract should cover this. Please don’t skip this part.
3. Their style doesn’t match your vision.
This is more something to be wary of because its not necessarily something that they did wrong. If you aren’t in love with the style they show in their portfolio (which once again make sure matches those full galleries you asked for) then you won’t be in love with it for your wedding either. Some photographers may still be finding their style so you may notice inconsistencies and I’d be wary of that just because its hard to know what you can expect from your wedding day. While others may really have spent years perfecting that style and that is their signature style and exactly what you should expect from your day. My personal style is true to color with a bold, contrasty pop. If your style is very bright, airy and white skies, I likely won’t be the photographer for you. This is why I always ask my bride to go through my portfolio and some galleries before booking.
At the end of the day, you want to pick the photographer that is the best fit for your vision and budget. When I get a new client who I didn’t photograph their wedding and they tell me how much they hate their wedding photos it really makes me want to cry. This is a day you should want to look back on and soak in all those memories!
