The Ultimate Guide to Regret-Free Wedding Photos
If you’re planning your wedding, I’m willing to bet that you’ve heard some advice to the effect of: “Your photographer is SOOOO important, be sure you get a good one.” This advice, solicited or no, is well-meaning, but can often add stress. This is especially true if the person offering the advice also shares their own tale of regret.
When it comes to wedding photography, I’ve heard more regret stories than you can imagine. From last minute cancellations, to photos that aren’t remotely as good as the photographer’s portfolio, to missing important moments, to wildly unprofessional behavior on the wedding day. People tell me these stories all the time, usually accompanied by “we don’t want that to happen at our wedding, which is why we’re talking to you.”
I’ve been a wedding photographer for 15 years, and I teach other wedding pros about customer service. I’m going to share my best advice on how to save yourself from wedding photo regrets.
And no I’m not going to just tell you to spend more money. (though that can help in some situations)
Tip #1: To pick the right photographer—always ask to see full galleries.
When you’re initially looking for your wedding photographer, you can and should let vibes be your guide. Your wedding style, your favorite colors, and the photos that inspire you are unique. Your photographer is not just one piece of the puzzle on the wedding day—they are involved with every part of your day. their job is to preserve everything about your wedding so you can enjoy remembering your day years into the future. The look and feel of the photos are something that you alone can know if you love or not. I suggest looking at wedding photographer’s websites and compiling your favorites based on your gut reaction to their photos.
Once you’ve found a few photographers whose work makes your heart skip a beat—now what? The next step is to inquire with each photographer. This will likely be the only way to find out if they have your date available, and for many photographers, you’ll have to inquire to receive a full price list.
After you inquire—this is where it can sometimes feel overwhelming. Every photographer is their own small business owner so their process and pricing might be wildly different than other similar photographers in the same market. It can feel like comparing apples to oranges, and a lot of people get stuck here.
Here’s your next step: Ask each photographer you’re considering if you can see a few full galleries from weddings they’ve photographed.
Any professional should be able to easily provide this for you, in fact many photographers will be eager to show you a more in depth look at their work. If someone can’t or won’t provide galleries, that’s a red flag.
Why do you have to ask? Why don’t photographers just provide links to full galleries on their websites so we don’t have to go through this? The short answer is privacy. Most couples are comfortable with some of their photos being displayed on their photographer’s website or even being published in a magazine—but every single one of a thousand or so photos of every significant person in a couple’s life is a little much to share with the internet at large.
Also, wedding photographers, like every business owner, like to put their best foot forward. Their websites and social media are going to contain their best-of-the-best photos, because you’ll be comparing those photos to other photographers’ best. When you ask for a full gallery, you also get to see the less-than-perfect moments images that are still worth including because they are part of the couple’s story. Seeing how a photographer you’re considering captures imperfect photos is, of course, the point. I don’t care if you’re the best photographer on the planet, a wedding day is several straight hours of photographing everything that happens. There’s no way for every photo to be completely perfect.
When you look at full galleries, here’s what you’re looking for:
Tip #2: Before you sign the contract, look for hidden costs, and verify that you feel comfortable.
Chances are, after looking at full galleries, you’ll have a really good intuitive sense of which photographer is at the top of your list in terms of style. Now it’s time to make sure you like the way they work, including how they listen to you, how much trust you feel, how comfortable you think you’ll be in front of their camera, and which package, collection, or coverage time is right for your wedding.
Tip #3 Once you have your photographer booked, clearly communicate your wants and needs.
Wedding photographers are artists, so you may have heard the advice to pick the one that aligns with your vision and then just stand back and let them do their thing. While there’s some truth to this, (no one does their best work when they’re micro managed) the art that’s being created isn’t just for their portfolio or a gallery—its art that is for and about your unique life. Your input and your priorities are information your photographer needs to do their best work for you. You just don’t want to end up saying: “Hey copy these photos on my Pinterest board,” because copying grinds the creative process to a halt. This is both because the photographer may feel like you don’t trust them if you’re asking for overly specific copy images, and also because copying another photographer’s work isn’t actually possible. Instead, try communicating the following with your photographer.
How to get the best out of your photographer:
- Tell your photographer about your favorite photos in their portfolio. Is there one image of theirs that you imagine yourself in it? What drew you to them over other photographers? Is it the way they capture candids? The overall colors in their portfolio? A particularly emotional moment? An epic landscape shot? By letting the photographer know why you chose them and what you like about their work, you’re not just letting them know how to please you; you’re also building trust.
- Be upfront about your worries and insecurities. Most people are worried about looking good in photos, but “looking good” can mean different things to different people. If you’re worried about your arms or double chin, or bald spot, say this out loud to your photographer. This helps us know exactly how we can be part of your solution. Believe it or not, we don’t see your perceived flaws the way you do—and probably don’t even notice them at all. If something about your look is going to bother you later, speak up at the shoot, or even sooner. A lot of people think Photoshop can do anything, but it’s way more important to get it right when we’re shooting. Posing, camera angle, and lens choice can do way more to make a photo flattering than Photoshop ever could.
- Tell us about any wedding drama. Unfortunately, even with the perfect plan, your wedding can sometimes be stressful. Your photographer is the one vendor who is around you all day on your wedding day, so cluing us in to anything that’s affecting you can help us help you. If you have stepparents who don’t like to be around each other, for example, telling your photographer keeps us from causing a potential scene by cluelessly lining them up together during family photos. It’s also always good for us to understand your headspace. How you feel in your photos is how you look in your photos, so if you’re managing a situation in your head that might come out on your face. If we know what’s going on with you, we can better be a part of your team.
- Tell us about the photos you have in your head. Imagine yourself on your first wedding anniversary. You sit down at your coffee table with your spouse and pick up your wedding album. You’re feeling all the squishy newlywed feelings, and you want to look at your photos and remember what one of the most significant days of your life felt like. What images come to mind when you close your eyes? For some, it’s an amazing portrait of you and your partner looking stunning with the gorgeous venue you carefully selected behind you. For some, it’s the candid photos of family and friends smiling their genuine smiles or making that face only they make. For others, it’s a specific moment of the day, like the kiss at the altar, the first dance, or cutting the cake. Whatever it is, let your photographer know what you are most looking forward to seeing. They might just spend a little extra time on that shot, and it definitely won’t get missed.
Last but not least, remember that the only thing that matters about your wedding photos is how YOU feel about them—whether that’s when you first see them or on your 20th anniversary. It’s easy to feel pulled in different directions by all the different wedding inspirations that’s out there, but try to remember that at the end of the day, the only thing that really matters is what you personally like. Following your gut on what you like might make you a trendsetter, too! I’m sure the first person to use disco balls or pampas grass in their wedding decor felt like they were going against the grain—but they set the biggest trends of the last decade. Maybe your unique touch is the next big thing—and your photos will tell the story.
Libby Dollar
Libby Dollar is a Texas-based photographer specializing in timeless wedding and portrait photography. She captures authentic moments with a storytelling approach, creating lasting memories. Discover her work at LibbyDollar.com.