Whenever you make a significant investment, you do your research. That goes without saying. But with an online world that is saturated with information, it can be overwhelming. Also, you probably haven't hired a professional photographer for more than a few hours before. So this article will cover how to check a photographer's portfolio, so your expectations are met and hopefully exceeded.
You are looking for a photographer who shoots the style you like. It might be light and airy, dark and moody, documentary, candid, or traditional.
When you find your dream team, you should ask to see 2-3 full galleries of images. That means getting access to all the images the client received, including the getting ready photos right through to the high-vibes dance floor moves late at night. Of course, not every client would allow a photographer to show all their private images, but a photographer who has been shooting for several years will have some clients who agree to share their photos with potential clients. It should be a red flag if a photographer can't show you at least one full gallery
When you get into a full gallery, you will probably see hundreds or thousands of photos. On the photographer's website, you probably see a selection of the best photos of the day on a blog post. Compare the curated collection of images with the full gallery. What you are looking for is consistency in the quality of work.
It takes a lot of physical, mental, and creative energy to consistently shoot well for 8-10 hours. You need to be fit and healthy, focused and alert, and able to see the magic moments for the whole day. Are you still being wowed by the reception photos?
Also, you need to see if the photographer is skilled at working in all kinds of light conditions. A wedding day will present dreamy natural light, dim light, and sometimes darkness that needs flash. Photographers need to control the light and exposure in the best and worst lighting and weather situations.
Looking through the whole gallery of a wedding can make you confident you've chosen the right photographer. I'm always advising couples to check and research portfolios for all wedding vendors as thoroughly as possible.
When you have taken 2,000 images, it isn’t difficult to pick out ten great ones to show on your website, even if you are a hobbyist, beginner, or average photographer. So it's easy for couples to hire someone who doesn't have the talent they seem to have. When they get the images back, they can be disappointed because they expect the whole gallery to be similar to what they saw on the website. It can be a heartbreaking moment for newlyweds who should be crying for joy, not sadness, over their wedding album.
The information in this article can apply to hiring your videography team and other vendors like florists, celebrants, and make-up artists.
The process is time-consuming. There is no way around it, so start researching early and put in the work. You might take hours or even days scrolling through portfolios, but you will spend a lifetime adoring your wedding photos. When you think about it like this, the research time is a wise investment.
If you are getting married inIsraelor abroad in the United States, Europe, or beyond, I'd love to hear from you. So drop me aline and let's talk about your wedding soon.
