Why is picking the right wedding photographer so stressful? 

I hear this statement from time to time and I just want you to know that it doesn’t have to be! Yes, there are ton’s of awesome wedding photographers out here in the Raleigh area for you to choose from, but how do you know how to define what style/aesthetic you even like or where to start to find your perfect match? It can all feel a bit overwhelming. I get it and I am here to help :)

Here are 10 steps to figuring out what your wedding photography style match is and how to narrow your search in finding your dream photog.  No worries!  You've got this. 

1. Just google “wedding photography styles” and check out the image results.

2. After a few minutes of scrolling, you’ll start to notice that there are several common visual aesthetics out there (like recognizing commonly used Instagram filters). It’s all about light, color reproduction and tones.

3. Some pics will look light ‘n airy or have a darker moody- romantic feel. Others may appear to incorporate a more “real life” aspect in appearance of colors & exposure rendering in their photographs.

4. As your'e clicking through photos, take note of which ones overall color & light aesthetic draws your attention most strongly, ie. makes your heart skip a beat because you can see yourself in these pics on your own wedding day. Are they colorful or have a faded look? Do the colors in these images look "natural" or toned in a warmer or cooler way? Overall are your favorites brighter or darker lighting wise?

5. Save the photos that caught your eye to a folder or inspiration board, then try to identify which color/ lighting style appears most often in your selections. Light ‘n Airy, Darker Romantic, or Realistic, ect.

6. If your’e still unsure, ask a few wedding photographers to give you hand on figuring out how to define the style niche that you like. Show them the examples of the photos that you’ve saved and tell them why you liked each photo. describe the colors, mood and lighting that appeals to you. The best of us are out here are always happy to help people with this kind of thing :)

7. After you’ve figured how to define what color/lighting aesthetic you love the best, now it’s time to decide if you would prefer a candid/photojournalistic or traditional appearance in your wedding photos.

*Candid/photojournalistic approach: People engaged in conversations or experiencing intimate moments together, not looking directly into the camera, often documented with an illustrative style.

*Traditional approach: Beautifully  posed shots with subjects often looking directly into the camera with a smile on their faces.

8. If you’d like to see a lot of illustrative styled candid, and unexpectedly beautiful moments reflected in your gallery, go with a photojournalistic photog.

If you’re in love with perfectly captured images, requiring people to stand still while putting their emotions out there, go with a more traditional photog.

9. Once you’ve nailed down these choices in color, style and approach you can find your photog by searching terms like...

“Real colors candid wedding photographer + your town” or “Dark and moody romantic traditional wedding photography + your city” ect...

This are the local search results where you’ll find what your looking for.

These are the terms that define my personal style... Candid, Illustrative, Real Colors, Photojournalistic  Wedding Photography

10. Last, choose your local favorites.

Check out their portfolios in depth. 

Read the photographers “About” page. Stalk them on Instagram.

See how they respond to others on social media.

Contact them immediately if you have fallen in love with their work, like their personality and if they are in your budget.

Book your favorite photog and relax knowing that your wedding photos are going to be gorgeous  :)

Cheers to you!