Top Tips on Choosing the Best Wedding Photographer

How to Choose a great wedding photographer…

Our No. 1 question, without a doubt, is always, “Can you recommend a photographer?”

Choosing the best wedding photographer for you is an important part of your wedding planning. It is often the next thing that couples turn their attention to after booking their wedding venue.
Where do you start?
Here are our key steps to choosing your photographer…

1 STYLE

Research their work style: Traditional, formal, posed, documentary, reportage or stylised. Check out their website and social media, and ask your venue for samples of their work, such as links to weddings shot there.

Click here to check out a selection of real weddings here at Cote How.

2 REVIEWS

It is imperative that you like them as a person! You need to feel confident that you feel comfortable and trust them to get the job done. Check their reviews and star ratings, and look for more personality-driven keywords, such as friendly, relaxed, and flexible. Choosing the best wedding photographer is about relationships, not just the images.

3 PRICING

There is a vast array of packages and pricing, so research a few to understand what to expect. If you are worried about budget, rather than choosing a cheaper photographer, ask whether your preferred photographer could reduce the coverage to fewer hours. Fewer images from a photographer you love might be preferable to picking one with a style that is less in keeping with your own.

4 DATE

Once decided on your preferred photographer, check if they are available. Unlike other wedding suppliers, such as florists, cake makers, and stationers, your wedding photographer can only be in one place at a time! Make sure your wedding date is one your best wedding photographer can attend.
Consider juggling a few agreed-upon dates with your venue to find the perfect wedding date when all of your favourite wedding suppliers can confirm.

5 RAPPORT BUILDING

Personality is important. We suggest a phone or video call with your chosen photographer.
For bigger weddings, it’s also a good idea to meet up. This is not always easy, especially if you are not local, but it can be arranged as a pre-wedding or engagement shoot. It gives you time to get to know each other and helps put you at ease. A successful pre-shoot will allay nerves and build trust that your photographer knows what you are looking for and how best to work with you on the day.

6 Cote how Photographers

Who we recommend is a question we get asked all the time. There are many photographers out there, and it is important to complete steps 1-5 above first. Then head over to our Cote How Recommended Wedding Photographers page.

These photographers have worked here (more than once), and we would have them at our wedding. That is not to say we wouldn’t if they were not on here! We may not have met them before or may not have had time to add them yet.

We are very particular as your wedding photography is important. But we value your wedding day experience even more.
We are responsible for the flow of your wedding, and while you check out their work, price point, and availability, we also value how easy they are to work with to make this day the best day of your life!

We value their trust and willingness to work with us while simultaneously respecting your space. Your wedding isn’t an Instagram photoshoot, and the main thrust of the day must be about your wedding experience, not the “light” or the angle of a glass on a table.
A good photographer should be almost invisible and record the day with the least disruption to the flow and ambience we try so hard to create. We hope this advice is helpful. Happy hunting!