How to find the right wedding photographer for you

This is a question I see posted in wedding groups online all the time. And its a fair one. If you haven’t planned a wedding before, you’re entering a new world. Its one that most people do once anyways. So there is a lot to learn in your year or so of planning.

Well, I have been working in the wedding industry now for almost 4 years (holy cow). Over this time I have learned so much about the whole wedding planning and wedding day process.

So, where to start?

The First thing To consider when planning your wedding is- Do you want to hire a planner/ Coordinator? I want to preface this with: before working in the wedding industry I thought planners were over-rated. Since then I have completely changed my tune. There is SO MUCH work that happens behind the scenes. Having someone to guide you, and be there on the day of to handle anything that may come up makes a monumental difference.

If you do plan on hiring a coordinator, I suggest doing so first. A coordinator who is good at their job will have so much knowledge that would take you years to learn. With every single one of your wedding venues, Please check their reviews! I also suggest getting on the phone and getting a vibe for them. These people will be at your wedding! You want to make sure you want them there.

If you’ve decided to hire a coordinator, lean on their expertise! But if you have vendors you want to use outside of them, look into these vendors as well.

Now, If you’re finding your vendors on your own, youll have to put in some time. I find that Pinterest and Instagram are great tools for searching for wedding vendors. You can start by searching key words like “*your area* wedding photographer” or “your area florist” etc. Don’t just click on the first few though. Take your time, and dig a bit deeper. Search Hashtags. Click on other tags on posts. Get deep in the web of wedding vendors. There are so many, that You really dont have to settle.

Another possibly more streamlined way to find a vendor is by joining a local or niche wedding facebook page. Make a post clearly stating what you’re looking for, your location, and your estimated budget. an exple may be, “Im looking for a cincinnati based wedding photographer who specializes in queer and ecclectic weddings, available on october 10th, 2026, and my budget is $6000.” Now, the hassle with this, is you will really have to weed through the replies. Many people who dont fit your vision will answer. I suggest looking through each one. Then go to their website and social media. read their comments, read their reviews.

Once youve selected a few that you have interest in, get on a phone call with them. Listen to their process and view on a wedding day. Does this match what you’re looking for? Does this person seem like someone you would want to be in your space on your wedding day? For wedding photographers specifically, This person will be with you all day. Potentially more than your partner. Make sure they can be trusted not to kill your vibe.

Outside of their style, vibe, and approach there are a few other things to ensure. Are they a professional? Are they going to know how a wedding goes? Do they have insurace? Most wedding venues will require this down the line.

Now, what should you do if someone is out of your budget or booked on the day of your wedding? If it were me, I would ask this vendor if they have any trusted recomendations. If they’re in weddings for the right reason, they’re likely to help you.

I hope these tips have helped!

If this blog has brought up any further questions feel free to reach out!