Sure, a lot of photographers are both portrait and wedding photographers like myself, but not all photographers are created equal!
The difference between a portrait photographer and a wedding photographer
A portrait photographer is in control of everything that happens at your shoot. Lighting, studio, location, time of day, etc. Worst case scenario, you can reschedule the session. Your portrait photographer may not know, or have the experience to handle all the different scenarios a wedding can bring. I’m not saying they can’t handle it! Portrait photographers are amazing! Weddings are just another beast! Wedding photographers have been trained and are equipped to handle all the wild things a wedding day can toss your way. We even had a tornado during an outdoor ceremony one time!
Disney's Grand Floridian, Disney Wedding
Ask them how many weddings they have photographed
Looking at their profile, you may think they have done many weddings, but that’s not always the case. Lots of photographers do styled sessions - which are essentially staged weddings. These styled sessions are GREAT for building your portfolio, working with lighting, learning how to photograph wedding details, and for meeting and learning from other photographers in the wedding industry - BUT - they are not a wedding. You want your photographer to be as prepared for your wedding as possible.
Retro Wedding Styled Session
Ask your photographer if they are comfortable shooting at your venue and ceremony location
Wedding photographers are trained and equipped to handle all sorts of lighting situations. Golden hour is AWESOME for photos, but the reality is that's only an hour of your wedding day. Are you getting married outside in broad daylight? What about getting married in a dark church that doesn’t allow flash? Maybe you’re getting married in the winter and it’s going to be dark for the majority of your wedding? Ask them how they would handle it if it rained all day. A seasoned wedding photographer will not only be able to tackle any of these lighting situations, but do it in an artistic and elegant way to showcase your beautiful day!
Don't be afraid to ask your potential photographer these questions
At the end of the day this is an INVESTMENT, and you want to be confident in the team you have chosen to capture these once in a lifetime moments!
North Bank Pavilion, Columbus, Ohio Wedding
