Just google, “Louisville KY Wedding Photographer” and a million options come up!  Hiring a wedding photographer is hard work!  With the internet and social media, a bride has literally thousands of options when it comes to choosing her wedding photographer.

In today’s post I want to talk about something that might help you narrow down the search for your wedding photographer: personality.

 

As a photographer, I know it may seem a little odd to talk about personality, when gorgeous images are what you’re paying for.  But, have you thought about how much time you will spend with your photographer on your wedding day?  I tell potential clients that it’s extremely important for our personalities to match and jive.  I’ll be in the room when you put on your wedding dress.  I’ll be there when you’re reading that sweet letter from your future husband.  I’ll be there for your first look, and literally every single part of this incredibly emotional day.

Can you imagine what a poor affect this would have on your wedding day if you didn’t really feel comfortable around your photographer, or if they kind of rubbed you the wrong way?  Consider the difference in your body language and speech when you are around people you are comfortable and familiar with, versus people you don’t really know or feel connected to.  I strongly believe that a comfortable bride will give me more honest emotion on her wedding day, than a bride who just isn’t a good fit with me. 

When you look back on your images, will they lack the emotion someone could have captured if you had felt more yourself?

Now, I’m not trying to claim that a good match with a photographer will take away all of the stress on your wedding day, but I truly believe it can be a dramatic help.  It can feel more like having an extremely helpful bridesmaid, than a stranger pointing a camera in your face.

In fact, when reading the reviews my clients left me they talk about their photos, but they talk about how I made them feel even more!

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

― Maya Angelou

But, how do you actually know a photographer’s personality?

• Ask them.

Ask them what their style of shooting and involvement will be like on the wedding day.  Do they want to stay in the background, or do they want to lead the day?  Ask yourself what’s important.  If you’re a very serious couple, then you may not want a photographer making corny jokes.  But, if that’s your personality as a couple, jokes would be perfect!

The brides I work with highly value timelines, and so do I.  If I see something going awry, I will help make quick decisions to get us back on track.  I don’t mind stepping in to fix hair, or help put on a boutonniere.  Every photographer is different!  There’s no right or wrong answer, it’s just about what you want, and what fits your personalities best.  

• Follow them on social media.

Instagram stories are a great way to get an idea of a photographer’s personality.  Most wedding photographers these days a very strong social media presence (Instagram!) that showcases their personality and individuality because we know how important it is.

• Read their website.  

I know this seems incredibly obvious, but I have to mention it because I know that there are many people who do not do this.  I don’t blame you when you can send a quick Instagram message asking for pricing without any of that legwork.  But, if you are truly trying to find a great match, a quick scroll on their website could answer a lot of your questions.

For instance, my about me page talks about the things I find most important in life.  It also explains my “why” behind my passion.  Just this one page on a website will give you a lot of insight.

Sometimes we even have blogs!  Search for the “personal” tag and read their personal posts.  I guess I’m essentially asking you to slightly cyberstalk a potential photographer.   But, when you’re making such a large investment, wouldn’t you like to make sure it’s someone you feel you can trust with such a precious day?

I hope you were able to find this helpful!  I know I certainly serve my clients best when I can emphasize with who they are, and what they are going through on their wedding day.  Thanks for reading!