4 Ways to Get the Wedding Photos of Your Dreams

You can’t understate the importance of wedding photos. 

Your wedding is one of the most meaningful days of your life. Countless hours and dollars go into planning it, in hopes it goes perfectly. 

You strive for your wedding to be two things—magical and memorable. So after years of blissful marriage, when memories fade, you have breathtaking images to gaze at. To remind you of that astonishing day, years ago, when you committed yourself—heart and soul—to your true love. 

So that begs the question. What can you do to ensure you get the wedding photos of your dreams? 

Follow these 4 simple steps to get the best wedding photos

1. Finding the right photographer

Photographers are artists, and not all artists are alike. So you need to find a photographer whose work fits your own aesthetic. 

To start your search, Google photographers near your wedding venue, and look through their portfolios. Most photographers will have a section of their website dedicated to their work. If they don’t, that’s a big red flag. 

As you look through each photographer’s portfolio, take notice of which images strike you and why. Noting this will help you build a list of what you want and what you don’t want in your wedding photos. 

Once you’ve narrowed your search to a few photographers, interview them. Spend some time talking with them about their packages and processes. If your personalities don’t click, that’s a good sign they’re not the right photographer for you. You don’t want to hire a photographer who could potentially take any enjoyment away from your special day. 

Also, check reviews on each particular photographer. Don’t use the testimonials on their websites. Look for impartial review sites for honest reviews. And know your budget to help narrow down your choices. Photography can be pricy, so calculate how much money you want to dedicate to photography.

1. Schedule a low-stakes, pre-wedding session

Once you’ve decided on a photographer, schedule a low-stakes photoshoot. Perhaps a more casual engagement session to show off your shiny, new rings. 

Think of this session as a precursor to your wedding day. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Was the photographer on time and prepared? 

• Did they get the shots you asked for? 

• Did they keep the process moving forward? 

• Would they work well with your families?

Weddings are hectic. There is always a lot going on, so gathering people together for staged pictures can be difficult. You need a photographer who can speak up and direct people without seeming pushy or rude. 

If you’re happy with this low-stakes photo session, you will feel more confident and less worried about photos on your big day. 

1. Know the types of shots you want

Most photographers have a list of traditional wedding photo must-haves: everything from the first look to the grand exit. But there are so many opportunities that could get skipped over if you don’t ask for them. 

Do some research to find the unique shots you want to be added to your list. Pinterest is great for this. Simply search for unique wedding photography for original ideas. You don’t want to find yourself saying, “I wish we had done that!” after your wedding. 

1. Don’t wait, start early

Weddings are all-day affairs. So you might wonder if you need a photographer there all day. 

You do. 

You want a photographer available to capture those unplanned moments with your family, your bridesmaids, and even hair and makeup. 

And you also want someone there to capture similar moments with your spouse-to-be. And since one photographer can’t be in two places at once, you’ll want to make sure your photographer has another photographer with them to capture both parties simultaneously. Having multiple photographers also allows for moments to be captured from different angles. 

The best part about having the photographer arrive early is that as special, unforeseen moments arise, you can request to have them taken. Or if an idea pops into your head, you can ask them to add it to the shot list. You don’t want to be thinking, “Shoot! I wish the photographer was here for this!” Especially not on your wedding day, when you should be thinking about your brand new spouse. 

Having a great photographer is as important as the food and the DJ, so you want a photographer you can trust and rely on. Take the time to follow these steps, so years down the road you can reminisce over the magic of your wedding day.