tips from a Souterhn alberta wedding photographer
oh hey - You're engaged!
Your ring is blowing up on Instagram, you can't stop smiling and you and your fiancé are on cloud nine. Your venue is officially booked, your date locked in - so now what? Hire your wedding photographer, of course!
... but where to start?
Choosing a wedding photographer (specifically if you do not have a favourite local photographer) is no small task for the decision fatigued bride-to-be. There are no hard rules when it comes to making your photographer selection, but as a Southern Alberta (Lethbridge based) Wedding Photographer, I can offer some helpful tips when going through the process of selection.
Let’s break this down in order of importance below.
editing style
Select and view portfolios by photographers that show work and edit in your favourite style. Do you like very bright, white and airy photography? Do you like emotional and moody photography? Are you drawn to brown/western inspired images? Do you prefer film photography over digital? Here are a few tips when trying to figure out which style of photography you prefer...
Look At The Greens
This is the easiest way to see what “ style” of photography draws your eye
- Light, brighter greens – Airy & Bright Photography
- Deep and dark greens – Moody & Emotional Photography
- Brownish/yellowy greens – Western Inspired Photography
- Grainy, slight blur + bright or true to colour greens – Film Photography
- True to colour, crisp greens – Natural Photography
Look At The Blacks
Another indicator of your photography preferences
- Muted / dark grey tinted blacks – Airy & Bright
- Dark charcol, crisp blacks, clear contrast– Moody & Emotional
- Soft, muted blacks, slight blur on edges – Western or Warm Leaning
- Grainy blacks (may appear dark grey) – Film
- True to colour, natural contrast – Natural
love their edit
Loving the style of your photographer is extremely important – these are moments that only happen once, and these images will be hanging on your walls and over your fireplace for decades to come. Capturing them in a style that draws your eye and will reinvoke those moments repeatedly is your top priority when choosing your wedding photographer. Read photographers about and experience pages for a more in depth look at their personal editing style and the way they aim to capture your day.
*I am considered a “moody” photographer – meaning I prefer deep greens, dark blacks and a mixture of bright and muted whites. I aim to capture the emotion and romance of the wedding day, using this editing style. I create art that makes me happy, and the right clients always follow.
Approach
Wedding photographers generally use a mixture of approaches/styles when photographing any wedding. These will most likely include candid images, staged moments and posed portraits. Some photographers focus heavily on composition and have a primary goal of generating cinematic or magazine worthy portraits / images throughout your day. Other photographers do not do any posing, staging or portrait suggestions and prefer to capture the entire day in a documentary format. It is important to ask potential photographers how they typically photograph a wedding, and view their portfolios to see the style they typically shoot in.
For example, I would describe myself as a cinematic storyteller (fancy speak for "elevated documentary"). This means I work hard to compose my subjects (bride and groom, bridal parties, families) and stage the background (remove unsightly objects and distractions etc.), when doing formal portraits. The rest of the day unfolds naturally and features candid, raw emotion - leaning heavily into the atmosphere and feeling of the day.
When my clients open their gallery, I want to take them on a complete journey of their day – from the getting ready details to the big goodbye, sparklers blazing and all. As a “cinematic storyteller” I provide my couples a large variety of posing prompts and guide them through each dream image. Communication between me and my clients is key when selecting which portraits inspire and excite them.
Small moments such as holding hands, secret whispers, stolen kisses and brushing loose hair back are also documented and edited in a way that elevates the emotion of those quiet moments. My ideal clients love trying new things, having fun and moving a few inches out of their comfort zone for incredible and unique shots.
Photography styles are unique to photographers and finding out how your photographer plans on documenting your day is important. If you are “not really into photos, but know you should have some” (btw, that is totally fair!), a photographer with a completely candid approach might be what you are most comfortable with.
personality
OK – this is something many couples don’t really consider when selecting their wedding photographer, but I will tell you this is so much more important than you can imagine! Your wedding photographer will LITERALLY be by your side the entire day. They will be in every room with you, during every moment, taking up close and personal images of you on the most important day of your life. Your photographer’s personality, demeanor and communication style are KEY. If you are a laid-back and outgoing couple or who loves to have fun and wants to create fun moments & memories on your day – choose a photographer that is excitable, outgoing, friendly and fun! If you are shy, quiet and reserved, choosing a quiet, more introverted and/or serious photographer just might be exactly the right fit for you.
Your initial consultation call should tell you almost everything you need to know about your photographers personality but here are other important things to watch for:
-Is your photographer on time for your meeting/consultation?
-Did your photographer respond to your initial inquiry or follow up questions within 24 hours (MAX!)?
-Did your photographer seem interested in you as a couple and your vision for the day? Did they ask you questions?
-Did your photographer have adequate answers to all of your questions?
-Does your photographer seem to have a personality that is complimentary to yours, or do you feel put off?
If a photographer hasn't responded to your inquiry promptly, takes a long time to answer follow up questions, or seems generally uninterested in securing you as a client - run! There are so many wonderful photographers waiting to see your inquiry hit their inbox - they are the ones that will provide the best and most consistent client experience.
reviews
Photographer's reviews give you invaluable insight into the client experience you will receive if you decide to hire them. What are the main themes that stand out from reviews of their services? Punctuality? Good communication? Timeline planning and assistance? What are their thoughts on the final images they received, and how long did it take them to receive the complete album? You may find answers to these questions when browsing through their reviews. Check out their Google reviews and their Facebook reviews!
contract
Any serious photographer will have a detailed contract, outlining all aspects of your agreement. The longer the contract, the more likely they are experienced and detail oriented, covering all bases. Contracts should be comprehensive, and you should finish reading the contract feeling satisfied that you have all relevant information. Things to consider when reviewing your photographers’ contract:
-Do they have clear terms and conditions?
-Do they have clear cancellation and rescheduling policies?
-Do they have total costs, payment dates and payment information listed?
Make sure you read the entire contract and understand it before signing; this is a legal and binding document!
turnaround time
Will you be bursting at the seams to see your completed wedding gallery? If so, secure a firm commitment from your photographer about their turnaround / gallery delivery timeline. Many photographers shoot all summer and edit all winter (fair enough, wedding season is crazy busy), but this system can push your estimated delivery time to 10-16 weeks after your wedding day. My personal wedding photographer took 13 weeks to return our wedding gallery (750 images), with little communication or update. This left me (as a photo loving bride) feeling super disappointed and frustrated, which inspired my 30 day wedding gallery delivery guarantee.
Some photographers would call this crazy or even hate me for saying this, but I seriously can't wait to cull, edit and relive my latest wedding. Scheduling my wedding and independent session bookings with this in mind allows me to edit and perfect my clients wedding albums in a timely and efficient manner.
If you are a very patient couple, a 12-16 week turnaround may be no issue - it's all based on client preference, but is important to keep in mind.
investment
Your budget may impact your decision when choosing your photographer. Wedding photography is considered a luxury service and comes with a “luxury” price tag. A good wedding photographer will be worth every penny, and may even be undervaluing their services to secure you as a client. Here is a brief overview of what is included in your photographer’s wedding photography price tag:
• Consultations, follow up meetings, venue research and preparations: 4-6 hours
• Round trip travel to your wedding: based on your location
• Engagement Session and editing: 5-6 hours
• Day of Services: typically 8-12 hours
• Editing & Gallery Delivery: 30-40 hours
Other expenses: There are big overhead costs that need to be paid by your photographer to operate a successful photography business and provide the best client experience and images. Here are just a few expenses to consider:
-Editing and software programs
-Liability insurance and taxes
-Bookkeeping and accounting fees
-Gallery delivery software
-Invoicing, contract and CRM systems
-Web hosting and marketing costs
-Storage systems
-Equipment upgrades & repairs
-Gas, travel time, car maintenance, repair or replacement (traveling wedding photographers)
-Paying contracted workers - i.e.. second shooters, assistants, content creators
According to 2024 Canadian Statistics, the average, medium priced photographer charged $4,500 plus gst for 8-10 hours of wedding photography services - to give you a rough number. Featured, hugely followed and award winning photographers may charge up to $10,000 for wedding photography - it's all based on the artist.
Your wedding photographer wants to provide you with the best possible experience and understands the costs involved in executing a flawless wedding day, while also considering their operational expenses.
conclusion & recap
If you decide to hire a professional wedding photographer for your day – choose someone with:
-An editing style you love
-An approach that makes you feel comfortable and excited
-A personality that compliments your own
-Detailed, complimentary reviews
-A clear and agreeable contract
-A turnaround time you are satisfied with
-A price tag that makes you feel confident they can and will deliver – beyond your expectations!