Knowing how to choose a photographer can be tough. We have photographed a lot of weddings and spoken to a lot of couples over the years and have put together some tips.
You need to find a photographer/s that you get along with.
You spend a lot of time with your photographer, more than you will spend with most of the other people at the wedding (your soulmate excluded). 
This means that you need to get along well with them. Some of the best weddings we have done are ones where we feel like part of the family by the end of the night. As a photographer you build a bond with the couple in the lead up to, and over the course of the big day. Weddings are momentous occasions and you want to be surrounded by people you like.
You need to like the photography
If you have a style in mind then seek that out in your photographer. Generally the work that the photographer/s have on display will be their style of shooting. While creative folk can be flexible with the shooting style and ways of working, you generally do not want to ask them to shoot in a completely different style. This ensures that you are getting their best work.
Know how they work
How do you want the day to run? If you want the photographer to document the wedding candidly with minimal intervention then you need to be sure that your photographer can work like that. If you want set-up and posed shots at every step of the way then you need a photographer who can create those moments. Generally a photographer can create a range of posed and candid photos throughout the day but you need to know how the photographer works and what their preference is.
Are you talking to the photographer that will shoot the wedding?
Some larger wedding photography companies will have multiple photographers that will shoot with them. You want to make sure that the person you have been talking to and planning your photography with will be the one shooting the wedding. If they are not, then you need to meet the person that you will be working with and see specific examples of their work.
The Price is Right (Come on Down)
Sorry bad pun… could not help myself. Price is obviously a factor when planning the wedding and you need to balance the budget with each of these other important factors. Within reason the price is the last thing to consider, I said within reason.
At the end of the day you need to be happy with your photographs and be proud to show them off for years to come so invest the time in getting the right person for the job.
Words by Daniel Smith
