5 Green Flags When Choosing a Wedding Photographer
Believe it or not, there are often clear red flags and green flags for wedding photographers.
Everyone always talks about the obvious reasons to run away fast and those are usually obvious, you can always sense it in your gut when someone isn’t the right fit for you.
But what about those times that you just aren’t sure about it?
If you are someone who struggles with committing to a decision, choosing the right wedding photographer for you can feel really daunting.
We here at Tom Russo Photography wanted to give you a thumbs up to picking a wedding photographer with the following green flags. These are the things that can help you feel absolutely certain about your best yes decision!
Wedding Photographer Green Flag #1: Experience
The most important detail for your wedding photographer is experience!
If your wedding photographer has years of experience to back up their business, that is a great sign!
You can feel confident in booking someone that has been in the industry for a while.
Being able to look back at their previous work and client testimonials can be affirming for this big decision.
Another check mark to proceed is the knowledge that with experience comes someone who can work efficiently and creatively, you don’t have to worry about your photos being experimental, and what they’ve gained from their experience they will pass on to you.
Whether that experience lends its way with tips on how to pose, previous knowledge of your venue or wedding shot locations, or even just knowing they’ll have a backup emergency wedding kit in case your wedding planner forgets something can all help you feel confident in making this decision.
Wedding Photographer Green Flag #2: Consistency in Their Work
This is a big flag to keep an eye out for! Consistency is so key in having confidence in your wedding photographer.
If you can look at their wedding albums, website, and Instagram and all of the photos have a consistent cohesive aesthetic, then you pretty much know what you’re getting.
While sometimes taking a chance on something new can be exciting, when it comes to your wedding photos, you only get one chance to get it right.
Even if you renew your vows and have a celebration again, you’ll never get this exact moment back.
So if you can see that consistency across all their platforms, you can trust your gut on this one.
Wedding Photographer Green Flag #3: An Established Brand
Experience is one thing, but does your wedding photographer have an established brand?
If the brand message of this photographer matches who you are, then you can take this as a happy flag.
Are they a high-end luxury photographer who specializes in capturing authentic moments? (Is it us?!) Does that align with your desires for the wedding?
If you feel like you are in sync with the established brand of the wedding photographer you are interviewing, then green light, go, go, go!
Wedding Photographer Green Flag #4: Personality
Again, this is a gut check.
Do you vibe with your wedding photographer?
If their energy makes you feel uneasy or anxious, or maybe like they’re not listening to you – take a pause.
But if you all jive really well together, this is a major plus!
It’s so important to find a wedding photographer that you feel comfortable with.
After all, they’re going to be all up in your face on one of the biggest days of your life. It’s of utmost importance that you like them!
Sometimes everything else is perfect, but if you’re not feeling a connection with their personality that can really put a damper on your day.
What type of personality is best is up to you.
Do you need someone who has an extroverted and dominant personality that can help reign things on the day of the wedding or do you prefer to work with someone who matches your upbeat happy persona?
No matter what, if you feel a connection with your wedding photographer, this is a positive sign!
Curious what traits you should look for in a photographer? Check out this article from Shoot Dot Edit.
Wedding Photographer Green Flag #5: About the Passion, Not About the Business
Your wedding photographer should care about their business.
That’s important, of course!
But they should also be excited to learn about you and your partner, they should be passionate about your wedding day, and they should be eager to learn the details and help brainstorm your day with you.
If they only want to cover contracts and payments and feel like they’re just going through the motions, take caution.
You deserve a wedding photographer who shares your excitement and passion to capture your big day!
So if they are exuding that joy with you, take this as your sign that you’re in the right spot!
Wedding Photographer Green Flags
At the end of the day, any of these green flags can be red flags. It just depends on your perspective.
We like to keep things positive here, your gut will let you know if there’s a red flag out there.
Check those feelings against this list and see where you land. While this isn’t a fail-safe method to guaranteeing nothing will go wrong, we know that these details matter.
If something seems off with one of these, you may want to check around and see if you can confirm your feelings or if you can find someone else that may be a better fit.
We wish you all the best in your search for your best wedding photographer! If you are in the NJ area looking for a luxury wedding photographer, reach out to us! We can check all the above boxes for you. If you’re not in the area, look around the blog for other tips to help plan your wedding day!
