Before Hiring Your Wedding Photographer: View a Full Gallery Sample

I talked to a fellow wedding photographer friend about this topic recently and some great points came up that I want to share with you. If you are newly engaged and/or just starting the exciting process of wedding planning, I hope you find this helpful!

Before hiring a wedding photographer, ask to see a few full galleries.

Why? Well, it’s simple… Anyone can pull a few great photos from an event and post them to Instagram. Heck, people can even pay for Instagram followers so that they look more established than they actually are (I see people that do this all the time). Because of this, I strongly encourage you to ask to see a few examples of the final product, collectively.

Here is the key things to look for when looking through these full gallery samples:

• Consistency in the edit throughout the gallery and from gallery to gallery.
• Do you like the family formal variations? Are they properly cropped, and do folks look comfortable?
• The overall posing. Are there any classic portraits of the couple looking at the camera, is it all candids or a happy mix?
• Reception flash photos. This is crucial, especially if you are having a portion of your reception indoors. Is there an off-camera flash or a direct flash, is there any creative light drag or movement? Are they all horizontal do you see vertical mixed in? There is no right or wrong approach, but notice these things and see what you gravitate towards.
• Attention to detail. Do you see anything messy or distracting in the background?
• Candids, grab & grin photos of guests. Are there a good number of these from cocktail hour and throughout the day, or is it minimal?
• The details. Are details and environmental photos thoughtfully captured and showcased?
• B&W conversions. Are there photos that were duplicated and converted, and do you like the B&W edit?

All of this and more make a well-rounded final gallery, and I am giving you permission to be picky and make sure you’re making a decision you’re going to be happy with… not just in the moment, but also years down the road!

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