“I mean, I don’t know anything about photography, so I guess any of these photographers would work for us.” THIS IS A BIG NO, and here is why.

I'll cover the 5 most important tips for finding the perfect wedding photographer for you. Let’s go!

Photos and post by Chicago Wedding Photographer | The Gernands Photography

1. STYLE

Be sure you LOVE their style! There are many wedding photography styles, some of which can be described as “bright and airy”, “moody”, “fine art”, “documentary”, ect. Spend time looking through their past work. Photography is an art, and every artist is different. Don't expect your photos to look much different than what they have shown in their portfolio. View my portfolio HERE!

2. DO YOUR PERSONALITIES MESH?

You want to be comfortable and relaxed while being photographed, especially on your wedding day. You will be spending a ton of time with your photographers on one of the biggest days of your life. Be sure that they are people you trust and will enjoy working with.

The easiest way to do this is look at their "About” page on their website and meet them before booking. Pick someone who vibes with your visual style and you as a human. When you have a genuine connection with your photographer, they’ll do a better job capturing your emotions—your love, your joy, YOU.

3. QUALITY OVER QUANTITY

It's better to spend a little more $$$ for someone who knows what they are doing (a true professional!) and will deliver your ideal final product. It’s even better to hire your ideal photographer for less coverage than a cheaper photographer for a larger amount of time. You cannot redo your wedding photos. This is a one-time thing, so let's do it right! Years from now, your photos will be all you have to relive and reflect back on this beautiful whirlwind, and you’ll thank yourself for investing in them.

4. RECEIVING YOUR PHOTOS

Once your wedding has happened, you’re going to want to get your hands on the photos, of course. Now is the time to figure out how that’s going to work and what’s going to work for you. Get a timeline for how long the photographer takes to edit and make your photos look perfect. Delivery of the full gallery can range from 2-4 months generally. (Note: Faster isn’t always better. A lot of really talented photographers who want to keep prices low shoot a lot of weddings during the high season. Taking more time to deliver images sometimes gives them the time they need to deliver flawless work.)

5. ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

Ultimately, you want to have photos of your wedding that you will love and cherish forever. So, ask questions to be sure that’s what you’ll get! It’s best for everyone. If they are professional, there are a lot of questions that you don’t need to waste time asking, such as, “What kind of camera do you use?” Most photographers have a “FAQ” page on their website to answer a lot of your questions.

Some great questions to ask are:

• How do you define your working style? Would you pose or prompt couples? Are you usually like a fly on the wall, doing your job without getting involved or do you usually mingle around and try to connect with the people around?

• How do you define your editing style?

• What’s your main focus when you photograph a wedding? "We personally call ourselves storytellers, so our focus is capturing emotion. Yes, of course, our main focus is the couple, but we are very intentional about capturing moments that the couple might miss on that day."

• What kind of weddings are your favorite?

• What inspired you to start photographing weddings?

There is no right or wrong answer to these questions, but they will definitely help you FIND THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER for you- someone who will be in sync with you and will capture what you need.

My approach to photographing couples and weddings is simple: create an experience where you and your partner can feel completely comfortable and actually enjoy yourselves! I focus on a candid style rather than a more posed or staged style. This means that I like to prompt you to interact with each other in different ways, allowing me to capture your genuine personalities and dynamic. It also takes the pressure off being in front of a camera!

Hi, I'm Samuel, a fine art wedding photographer based in Chicago, IL. The day you choose to say "I do" to your partner and start a new chapter of your lives together is one of the most special moments you'll have. This day deserves to be captured artfully and authentically so it can be remembered by yourselves and your loved ones for many years. Providing this for couples brings me so much joy!

If you're looking for a wedding photographer in Chicago, IL who will help you feel free to be yourselves, give you a laid-back experience, and treat you like lifelong friends, we might just be a perfect fit.

Learn more about Wedding Photographer in Chicago, IL | The Gernands Photography

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