How to Pick a Wedding Photographer

Figuring out how to pick a wedding photographer may seem daunting, especially if you don’t know where to start. Not to add pressure, but finding the right photographer is a crucial decision in the planning process.

Photos are the one thing you take home and keep for decades to remember the day. And on top of that, photographers are the one vendor that is by your side the entire day. It’s important that you not only like their work, but like them!

A lot of blogs will tell you to ask about insurance, delivery time, a deposit, if they have backup gear and plans in case of emergency, and yes those things are a must. But here are a few details that will help you choose a photographer you are truly excited about.

TL;DR: If you’re wondering how to pick a wedding photographer, here are my best tips as a Raleigh-based wedding photographer myself.

• What to look for in a wedding photographer
• Identifying which styles you’re most drawn to
• What to ask during wedding photography consultations
• FAQs for how to choose a wedding photographer

Finding Your Favorite Wedding Photography Editing Style

When you start searching for a wedding photographer, it can feel like you’re stepping into a whole new world of terminology. Dark and moody? Editorial? Documentary? What does any of that even mean?

Don’t worry — once you understand the main photography and editing styles, it becomes so much easier to figure out what you love and what fits the vibe of your day.

Let’s walk through it together:

Editing Styles

Before anything else, take a little time to scroll through wedding photos online — Pinterest, Instagram, photographer portfolios, anywhere. Pay attention to what you keep stopping on. That’s usually your style showing up.

Dark and Moody

Dark and moody photos tend to have deeper shadows, richer tones, and a slightly desaturated look. A lot of them lean brown or sepia. They feel dramatic and warm, almost like a moody movie scene. If you love contrast and a little bit of mystery in your photos, this style might speak to you.

Bright and Airy

Bright and airy photos are the opposite — lots of light, lots of whites, and soft, gentle shadows. These images can make even a rainy day look glowy. Skin tones appear lighter and softer, and everything feels fresh, romantic, and breezy.

True-to-Life

Then there’s the true-to-life style, which basically means the photos look like… your actual day. If it’s bright, the photos will have that sunny vibrance. If it’s overcast, the images will lean more natural and slightly moodier — but still realistic. Skin tones are accurate, the colors look how they looked in person, and the editing is intentionally subtle. This is the style that ages really well because it’s not overly stylized.

Filmy

Filmy editing is similar to true-to-life but with a little extra charm. Think of the soft texture and gentle color shifts you get from real film. A filmy edit might be slightly more nostalgic, slightly more warm, or slightly more matte. Some photographers even shoot actual film on your wedding day, which can be really cool if you love that classic look.

My personal preference: I shoot true-to-life with just a touch of filmy texture. Enough to make it feel dreamy but still timeless. I’m always thinking about how your photos will look in 30 years, and I want them to hold up beautifully.

Understanding Wedding Photography Shooting Styles

Editing is one part of the equation, but how a photographer shoots your day has just as much impact.

Traditional

Traditional photographers focus on posed, classic images — the ones you probably think of first when you imagine wedding photos. These are lovely, clean, elegant portraits where you’re guided through every pose. They may step in throughout the day to help you look your best or get the shot just right.

Editorial

Editorial photographers are going more for an artsy, magazine-style look. Think dramatic lighting, cool poses, and storytelling moments that make you feel like you’re in a fashion spread. There’s definitely more direction involved, but it can be really fun and empowering if you like that bold, artistic feel.

Photojournalistic / Documentary

This style is much more hands-off. A documentary style wedding photographer is there to capture the real moments as they happen. The laughter, the little glances, the chaos, the sweetness. They’ll still pose family photos and a few portraits, but they’re not going to stage every moment. It’s all about authenticity and emotion.

A Mix (which is super common!)

The majority of photographers fall somewhere in the middle. The trend right now is a mix of documentary and editorial: natural, candid coverage of the day with some elevated, beautiful portraits sprinkled in.

How I shoot: Mostly documentary, but I’ll absolutely give direction if my couples want it. Some want 30 minutes of artsy portraits. Others want five minutes of quick, cute photos before heading back to the dance floor. Everyone’s different — and that’s totally fine.

Figure Out What You Actually Love

As you browse, ask yourself things like:

• Am I drawn to deep shadows, or do I like soft, airy light?
• Do I want lots of candid moments or more posed portraits?
• Do I love direct flash at the reception, or does soft light feel more “me”?
• What kinds of colors feel right — bright, muted, warm, cool?
• Maybe you love high-energy, silly photos of wedding couples… but does that reflect who you and your partner are and how you’ll act the day-of?

You don’t have to know all the technical terms — just pay attention to what makes you feel something.

Really Getting to Know Them During a Consultation

A consultation isn’t just you interviewing them — it’s both of you getting a feel for each other. Your photographer is with you more than almost any other vendor on your wedding day, so liking them as a person truly matters.

Think about:

• Do they seem to match your energy?
• Do they actually listen to what you want?
• Do you prefer someone super direct and no-nonsense, or someone who hypes you up?
• Do you want a calming presence or someone who keeps the energy high?

It’s also okay if certain values matter to you. For my own wedding, it was really important that all our vendors were queer-friendly and made our guests feel safe and welcome. If something like that is important to you, it’s absolutely okay to ask.

A lot of my couples tell me they booked me because I brought up things they hadn’t even thought about. I love digging into the details of a wedding day — what matters to you, what doesn’t, and how you want your day to feel. That helps my documentary style really shine.

And if you don’t totally know what you want yet? Tell your photographer! A good one will help you figure it out.

Look Through Full Galleries (This Part Is Huge)

Instagram is the highlight reel. Even websites tend to show only the “best of the best.”

Make sure you ask to see a full wedding gallery, because you’ll see:

• How they photograph your type of venue
• What their images look like in normal, in-between moments
• How they handle low light or tricky lighting
• What kind of flash or lighting techniques they use
• Whether their style feels consistent throughout an entire day

If your venue is a dark brick warehouse and their portfolio is filled with white barns and bright outdoor ceremonies, ask to see something similar to your venue. Photographers adapt to different lighting situations, and you want to feel confident that they can not only handle yours but you like how they handle it!

I personally use a mix of lighting — direct flash, soft light, ambient light, whatever suits the vibe and the moment. A lot of folks will. I’d recommend looking at speech and dancing shots for a solid look at their vibe.

Evaluating Wedding Photographer Package Details

All wedding photography packages differ slightly. So it’s important to find one that fits the length of your day’s (or weekend’s) activities, delivers your photos in a timely manner, and has policies in place for things like weather, emergencies, illness, etc.

Some frequently asked questions that’ll help you choose the right wedding photographer are:

• How many hours of coverage are included?
• How many photos do you get from a wedding photographer?
• How long does it take to get my wedding photos back from my photographer?
• What’s included (and not included) in your travel costs?
• What happens if it rains on our wedding day?
• What happens if my wedding photographer becomes sick or has an emergency?

These are all good questions to consider when finding the right wedding photographer for your day.

In short, if you’re wondering how to pick a wedding photographer, find someone who makes you feel good (and whose portfolio you can’t stop looking through!).

All the details beyond that will fall into place once you’ve found someone that gives you that heck-yes gut feeling.

Hopefully this helped you feel a little more prepared (and maybe even a little excited!) when it comes to how to pick a wedding photographer. It can take some research and a couple of conversations, but once you understand the different shooting styles, editing styles, and your own preferences, the whole process becomes so much clearer.

You’re not just finding someone to take photos — you’re finding someone to document one of the most meaningful days of your life in a way that feels like you.