How to Find Your Springfield, Missouri Wedding Photographer

Ayooo, you’re engaged! How freaking exciting! Since you’re here I assume you’re starting that daunting search for your perfect wedding photographer. It feels like you’re drowning in a hundred names and you’ve looked at so many photos you’re going cross eyed. You’ve also probably seen way too many “Hey Girly *Heart eyes* I’d love to capture your big day!!” Comments on facebook posts in that one wedding group that EVERYONE has joined.

Yup. I was there once. But now I work in the wedding industry. And yes, I am a photographer. However, I’m also a realist. I’ve been the person planning a wedding and I’ve also seen the heart breaking posts from brides saying they chose wrong. This blog is to help you avoid that and find the person who capture those memories in the best way for you.

1.) Don’t post in facebook groups.

Seriously. Everyone owns a camera these days. So our first rule here is do NOT post in that facebook group looking for reccomendations. You’ll get 300 comments and approx 50 messages with the same freaking thing.

2.) Search the Geotag of Your Venue

A great starting point is to search the geotag of your venue on Instagram! You’ll be able to see photos that have been taken there and see which photographers have experience with the lighting there, the locations, and maybe you’ll even get some ideas for your own wedding.

3.) You want them to meet with you

If your photographer requests to do a zoom call, phone call, or in person meeting that is a total green flag. This isn’t like your typical low risk transaction. Chances are you’re about to spend a ton of money on a service and they’re going to be responsible for every memory you get for that day. You want to meet them first! That also leads me to…

4.) Find someone you feel comfortable with

You’re going to be spending 8-10 hours with this person (people) on your wedding day. You’re going to be in small getting ready areas, they’re going to be interacting with your friends and family, and frankly, they’re going to be basically in your business all. day. long. Make sure you get along with them and you genuinely enjoy their presence! There is nothing more awkward than being on a totally separate page than your photographer(s).

5.) Check their portfolio

You want to ask to see a real wedding gallery. It’s important to know you’re getting a photographer who can photograph quality photos that you like in different lighting conditions. You can ask questions like “Do you use flash during receptions?” “What happens if the lighting isn’t ideal?”. A quality photographer knows how to use not only the available natural light, but they bring their own lighting with them to make beautiful photos in dark situations as well.

6.) Ask them about their storage situation

This one is a hard and fast deal breaker for me as a professional. You want to ask how your photographer stores YOUR photos. Do they back them up? How long will you have your gallery access? How long will they keep them on their hard drives?

**It’s also your responsibility to download these photos and back them up in several places, but make sure your photographer is taking every step to safeguard your photos as well. Most photographers make your wedding gallery available for 6 months – a year.

7.) Displaying and printing your photos

Do you want a photographer who can make you an heirloom album? This is something to consider, especially in a day and age where digital rules. Many photographers are going to show up, photograph your wedding, and then send you a digital link in 6-8 weeks. There’s nothing wrong with that, but maybe you want a little more. Albums are a beautiful way to preserve your favorite memories from your wedding day. My wedding photos STILL are not printed and it’s been six whole years. Will yours just sit in your phone for the rest of your life? Do you want someone to take the stress of printing your photos off your plate for you? All of these are good things to consider!

8.) Can you add on a second shooter?

Not every Photography company includes second shooters like we do. Our philosophy is to capture a wedding day in its entirety, which means we include a second in all of our collections. If that’s something you really want with a photographer make sure they can accommodate that.