Determine your budget

Determine how much you are willing to spend on a photographer and look for photographers who fit within your budget.

Key Piece of Advice: Allocate 10% of your budget for your photographer.

The cost of a wedding photographer can vary widely depending on a number of factors, such as the photographer's level of experience, the location of the wedding, and the package options that are included. The average wedding photographer cost is $2,500, (costs typically range from $500 - $5,000) and 90% of weddings hire a photographer, one of the most common vendors hired for an event.

Set the budget before you start looking. It narrows the field to photographers you can actually hire, and it forces the trade-offs against your other wedding expenses into the open early, while they're still easy to make.

Some photographers offer different package options at different price points, so you may be able to find a photographer who fits within your budget by selecting a package with fewer hours of coverage or a smaller number of edited photos.

Look at their portfolio

View the photographer's portfolio to see if their style aligns with your vision for your wedding photos.

Key Piece of Advice: Find the style that works for you

Some couples place more emphasis on the style of photography when deciding who to hire. This can potentially affect wedding photographer prices. When researching vendors, ask about additional services that are offered. Many photographers may offer packages and capture other wedding-related events (like the rehearsal dinner), as well as an engagement session. They may also bring a second shooter to your wedding venue to help cover all the action. Wedding photography package prices can also vary based on additional hours of coverage before and after the wedding, as well as the amount of photos you receive at the end. Make note of what you'll receive with your potential package. Some photographers will give you raw digital files once the wedding day is over, or some prices will include edited images, organized albums, online galleries or USB drives.

Meet with the photographer

Meeting with the photographer in person will give you an opportunity to get to know them and see if you feel comfortable with them. Your wedding photographer will be present for many intimate moments on your big day, so it's important that you feel comfortable with them and trust them to capture those moments.

Key Piece of Advice: meet them in person to discuss your vision and get a sense of their professionalism.

Use the meeting to discuss your vision and ask about their experience shooting weddings and how they approach the day. Pay attention to personality, too. A photographer can be talented and still be someone you don't want following you around on a stressful day.

Ask about their experience

Ask the photographer about their experience shooting weddings, and if they have experience shooting at your wedding venue. Here are some questions you may want to ask:

• How long have you been a wedding photographer?
• How many weddings have you photographed?
• Do you have experience shooting at my wedding venue?
• Consider the time of day you want to get married - will it be dark before the ceremony ends? How long are you willing to do pictures after? Will that mean it's too dark or cold outside to do good photos?
• Can you provide references from past clients?
• How would you describe your style of photography?
• How do you approach wedding photography?
• Do you have backup equipment and a backup plan in case of unforeseen circumstances?
• Do you have liability insurance?

Ask to see a portfolio of full weddings, too. Anyone's best twenty photos look good; a full wedding shows you the other three hundred.

Consider their package options

Consider what is included in the photographer's packages, such as the number of hours they will be shooting, the number of edited photos you will receive, and any additional items such as albums or prints.

Key Piece of Advice: you can sometimes cut costs by changing how many hours they will be present, or how many pictures they will deliver.

Every photographer offers different packages, which vary by time spent at the site, post-processing, picture only (or include video), as well as how many final pictures they will provide (+ how they will provide them). If you are looking to cut costs, a good option is to take key photos with the professional in a basic package, and ask your guests to photograph the rest of the event and share with a service like ImageShout

Some factors that may be included in different wedding photographer packages:

• Number of hours of coverage: Some packages may include a certain number of hours of coverage on the wedding day, while others may offer unlimited coverage.
• Number of photographers: Some packages may include a single photographer, while others may include a team of photographers.
• Number of edited photos: Some packages may include a certain number of edited photos, while others may offer unlimited edited photos.
• Albums and prints: Some packages may include an album or prints of the photos, while others may offer these items as optional add-ons.
• Engagement session: Some packages may include an engagement session, which is a photo shoot that takes place before the wedding day.
• Additional events: Some packages may include coverage of additional events such as the rehearsal dinner or the bridal shower.

Get references

Ask the photographer for references from past clients to get an idea of their level of service and the quality of their work.

Key Piece of Advice: References are only as good as the followup to check them

When you speak with a photographer's references, ask about the overall experience and whether they would hire them again. The useful details are punctuality, communication, and how they handled anything that went wrong on the day.

Sign the contract

Get a contract signed by both parties clearly outlining what is being provided by each party, dates, times, locations, rates, etc. This is a must to avoid confusion or disappointment later - it protects you as well as sets clear expectations

Key Piece of Advice: read the contract, do not expect deviations, and ask questions if something is unclear.

The contract should clearly outline the specific services that the photographer will provide, such as the number of hours of coverage, the number of photographers, and the number of edited photos. It should specify the total cost of the photographer's services and any additional fees, such as travel expenses or overtime charges. It should also specify when and how payment is due. It should also specify when you will receive the photos, in conjunction with the payment schedules.

Make sure you also clearly state who owns the copyright to the photos and how the photos can be used - sometimes photographers retain control!

Finally, contracts are good ways to spell out what happens if issues arise. A decent wedding photography contract will also cover terms for canceling or rescheduling the photographer's services, including any fees that may be incurred. It should also should outline the photographer's liability in the event that something goes wrong on the wedding day, such as equipment failure or injury.

If a term is unclear, ask before you sign. If the contract is long, an attorney review is money well spent. Treat it seriously: once it's signed, the contract is what you get.