Planning a wedding can be an exciting but stressful experience. One of the most important decisions you will make is choosing a wedding photographer. Your wedding photos will be a lasting reminder of your special day, so it's crucial to choose a photographer that meets your needs and captures your vision. In this blog post, I'll cover how to choose a wedding photographer give and other helpful tips.

I. Determine your preferred photography style: Before you start looking for a wedding photographer, determine what photography style you prefer. There are various styles of wedding photography, including traditional, editorial, artistic and documentary. Look through different photographers' portfolios, create a pinterest board and be attentive as to whether or not a certain style truly resonates with you. My advice: Look around your home, your wardrobe and really think about what speaks to you. Is everything in your home light and airy? Or are you a free-spirited person who loves bold colors? Or maybe you prefer it neutral and classy. Try to get a good idea of what you really like and what speaks to you the most. When you are set on the colors, you can think about the "vibe" you like. Do you love candid and unposed moments or are you really into a high fashion/editorial kind of look?

II. Research photographers: Once you have an idea of your preferred style, research photographers who specialize in that style. You can, for instance, check social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest to look for photographers who showcase their work on these platforms. You can search for general hashtags like #weddingphotographer or search for a specific area (e.g "#weddingphotographytuscany") to find wedding photographers, or browse through the profiles of wedding planners or other wedding vendors you've already hired to see if they've tagged any photographers. Make sure to look at full portfolios to see whether the photographer's style is consistent and maybe look for reviews from past clients.

III. Pick 1-3 photographers and schedule a consultation. This is a great opportunity to get to know the photographer and see if there is a good vibe between you while learning about their services. One of the most important parts, and I cannot stress this enough, is the photographer's personality: does it mesh well with yours? Your photographer will be spending a lot of time with you on your wedding day, so it's important to choose someone who makes you feel comfortable and at ease, knowing you can trust them fully.

IV. Sign a contract: while this is surely one of the more boring parts of booking your photographer, it will give you( security.

Some other helpful tips:

Ask for a second shooter: Consider hiring a second shooter to capture different angles and moments or even video sequences.
Get an engagement photoshoot: this way, you can get to know your photographer and have beautiful photos to use for your save the date cards.
Ask for help: Your photographer has been to multiple, maybe even hundreds of weddings. They will be more than happy to provide advice or help you with vendor recommendations.
And lastly, trust your photographer: Remember that your photographer is a professional and is very aware of how important and special these memories are. Trust their expertise and let them guide you through the photography process.

I hope these tips were helpful and you will find your dream wedding photographer.

Until next time,
Julia