First of all… congrats!
This is such an exciting time - you’ve found your person, you're planning a day to celebrate your love and you’re going to create something truly unique and special!
You might be far along in your planning process, or just beginning but selecting a Photographer is one vendor that you want to get right. Your Wedding Photography is the one part of the day that will create lasting, tangible, sharable memories - heirlooms for your family.
But how do you know if you’re hiring
the right photographer for you?
Here are a few simple tools to help you sift through the options and find the perfect fit for you. NEWSFLASH: That might not be the same photographer your cousin chose! (and that’s ok!)

1. Do you LOVE their work?
It’s important to separate the current trend from the images you actually love. Trends come and go...
So -- when you look through their portfolio, how does it make you feel?
Be honest, chat with each other about what you see - what do you like about certain portfolios and what doesn't resinate?
Outside of the current trend, or the recommendation from a friend or family member - does their work make you smile/cry/laugh? (insert whichever emotion is most important to you here).
Do you like the vibe showcased throughout their portfolio?
Remember: Every Wedding Day is unique but if you love the overall feel of the images this is a great start!

2. What type of style or approach feels right to the two of you?
There are a few main categories or styles that Photographers will use to define themselves, it’s nice to understand these when making your choice. The amount of feedback, instruction, posing and interaction you have with your photographer will often be defined by the style (or styles) that they resonate with.
Sound confusing? Not to worry... I’m here to help you understand what you like & want!
Here are the key styles that you’ll see referenced by photographers
and a short description of each to help clarify things..
Photography Styles In a Nutshell: Four Main Types
Traditional
Shooters who have a traditional style offer a lot of specific guidance and many poses throughout the whole day. They’ll set up (or re-set up) scenes to capture them and focus on classic poses (ex: standing together, looking directly at the camera). They also specialize in neatly arranged, large, posed group photos of family members. A great traditional photographer offers lots of direction and the results are images that look cultivated, posed and put together. This is labelled as "traditional" because back in the beginning days of Wedding Photography film was utilized. Due to the high cost of film and low number of images captured at a Wedding, this approach was most common.
Candid / Documentary
Documentary or candid photographers will sit back and let the day unfold: their focus is on capturing real moments as they happen. It’s a ‘fly on the wall’ approach that, when done correctly, should produce images that tell a story - one that is authentic and true to your personalities and your day. This means that if mom doesn’t do up your dress, they’re not going to ask her to “just for the photo”, if your dad cries when he sees you for the first time, they’re going to capture it. It’s authentic and sometimes messy - just like real life.
Artistic
A photographer who identifies as Artistic will add an element of creative style to their set ups or compositions. The imagery they create will have more of a stylized and creative element to it. This could be achieved through unique compositions, camera effects, angles or post-production techniques but it is usually creates a mood or feeling. Just as different painters produce very unique results, so will an Artistic Photographer, which means you’ll have to really look at their work to ensure that you resonate with their personal style.
Fashion / Editorial
With a more stylized approach to poses and often a higher element of post-production (re-touching of the skin and/or enhancements or changes to the scene) Fashion or Editorial photographers aim to create imagery that is deliberately constructed but made to look effortless. Like the pages of a high fashion magazine their final product is sleek and well composed. It's less about real moments and more about creating shots that have a stylized feeling to them.

Bonus Info:
Style vs. Post Production: An Important Distinction
One thing I have to point out here is that a post-production style sometimes gets confused (or deliberately marketed) as a shooting-style.
It is not.
Post production is the way that the photographer edits the photos. It’s the look that is added to digital imagery once the day is over. “Light and Airy” “Dark and Moody” these are not shooting styles… they are post production applications. A technically sound photographer creates images that can be edited to any type of look and feel.
That said, most photographers have a consistent post production style that represents them - this can be seen throughout their work.
As a classically trained photographer with technical understanding of exposure, and as someone with a heavy commercial studio background, I can add post-production techniques to any image to make it have a specific look & feel.
This is not a shooting style, but a post-production application.
Is it important to like the post production style of your photographer? Oh yes!
Can it be adjusted to your needs? For sure.
Can the shooting style be adjusted after the day is over? No, it cannot.
If you are unsure about the photographer’s post-production but love the images they capture it’s worth having a chat with them about it before booking. So, note that 'light & airy' is not a shooting style... it's a post-production style. Your photographer should be able to describe their approach and style to you confidently, and it should resonate with you.

3. How was your virtual or in-person meeting?
Be sure to book a time when you and your partner can sit down together with your photographer(s) to chat about your plans and get to know each other. Key things to consider after your meeting:
Did you find them approachable and easy to talk to?
Did you like what they had to say about their work, and their process?
How did you feel around them?
Your photographer will be spending a lot of time with you on your wedding day and it’s important that you enjoy their company and have an air of comfort around them, and ease of communication.

4. Image Usage / Printing Rights
Some photographers include all high resolution images in their packages, while others offer this as an add-on item. High resolution images are high-quality digital files that are suitable for printing and required for creating tangible prints for your wall or album.
Web-ready or low-resolution images are suitable for sharing online, in emails or social media but will not print well as they don’t have enough detail included.
Be sure that you understand what you’re paying for (and budget accordingly) and that it covers your personal plans for the final photos.
5. One Photographer or Two?
Packages will vary and some Photographers offer a second shooter for Weddings.
Do you need or want two? Well… that depends…
Second shooters can be helpful in a time crunch, particularly if they split up throughout the day to cover different elements of the event. For example, if they each go to a different location for the getting ready portion of the day, or if one does the couples session while the other photographs the cocktail hour.
It can be a good way to ensure that extra images are created but it can also be overwhelming, particularly for smaller celebrations or for couples who want a more laid-back atmosphere at the wedding. For some, having two photographers moving about during the ceremony and intimate moments can be distracting, while for others it's comforting.
If you do opt for a second shooter be sure that you know who they are and ask if you can see sample images / their own portfolio prior to the day to ensure that you like their style and are confidant in their abilities.

6. Editing and Culling of Images
This one will be controversial, but I stand by it: More is not always better…
Be sure to ask approximately how many images you are going to receive in your final gallery.
A part of your photographer’s job is to cull (aka selecting only the best images from a series) the photos from the day to a manageable, enjoyable amount. If your day includes 8 hours of coverage, 3000+ images is overkill. Many of them will be near-duplicates and it can become a chore to edit them down and find your favourites. There is of course a balance here - everything should be included, but in a nice package that offers an overview of the day. One that does not require the couple to do the photographer's job of editing down to the best of the best.
With a Fine Art Photography background part of my training was recognizing how to create a story using images. This requires a keen eye and time dedicated to the process of culling. Ironically, providing more images to the client is less work for the photographer, leaving a part of their job to the clients in the end.

7. Do they fit your budget?
We all know what it’s like to be working within a budget and this element is one to consider when selecting all of your vendors.
Photography prices will range greatly: keep in mind that you’re not only paying for experience and technique, but for the level of equipment, back up gear and reliability.
Consider what feels most important to you and start from there - it’s key to find the right balance between cost and all these elements to decide what you're willing to invest.
After 17 years in the photography industry, and shooting hundreds of weddings ~ these are the top considerations I think couples should keep in mind ~ I hope they helped!
Choosing the right Wedding photographer in Ottawa (or anywhere!) can feel overwhelming... but I hope these tips provide the groundwork to help you find the perfect match, and that you are able to move forward confidently in your choice. Happy Planning!
Tell me your thoughts!
Which one of these was most surprising to you as your plan your day?
Do you have another key-element you would include in the list? I'd love to hear your feedback below!
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