A tricky one — for both the couple and the photographer.
Here are a few thoughts from someone who’s been around the block a few times ?
One thing that’s 100% true: pricing is not the benchmark people think it is.
You’ll find some photographers charging a fortune simply because a weekend course told them to.
Then you’ve got others with decades of experience charging low prices because they’re too nervous to raise them.
Some have done the big high-pressure weddings for years and now prefer small local ones that fit their family life better.
And some have just been doing it too long and are stuck in autopilot, taking the same old shots — when you might want someone who’s still hungry for new ideas and styles.
So how do you choose?
Look at full weddings, not just a portfolio.
Ask to see something similar to your day — ideally even at the same venue.
The person is essential.
You spend the entire day with your photographer on one of the biggest (and most expensive) days of your life.
Do you want someone loud and bossy, or calm and chilled?
It works both ways too — photographers naturally gel with some personalities more than others. You’ll always get the best photos when you click with the person behind the camera.
And here’s a funny truth I’ve noticed for over 30 years…
Couples decide how much they like their photos before they’ve even seen them — based entirely on how they felt about the photographer on the day.
My honest advice:
Choose the photographer first, then look at the price.
You might be pleasantly surprised that the right person is more affordable than you thought.
If anyone wants help figuring out what to look for (even if you’re not booking me), feel free to ask — always happy to help ?