Nikon Learn & Explore
Intermediate

What Do You Look for in a Wedding Photographer?

Joe McNally photo of a bride and groom embracing, shot at the Nikon Wedding Truck event, for article on choosing a wedding photographer

© Joe McNally

D750, AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR, 1/250 second, f/8, ISO 400, manual exposure, Matrix metering.

Style and substance, to be short and sweet about it. It’s your wedding day, so not the time to go bargain basement hunting. Someone charging next to nothing for his or her services will give you next to nothing in terms of picture coverage. They are more likely to show up without the proper tools, or enough media cards, or spare batteries. Go for a true pro.

Aesthetically, there are huge numbers of photographers out there, representing different styles, from snappy, storytelling journalistic image makers to the dream weavers who will transport the bride and groom into Photoshop heaven. All styles and approaches are valid, just research lots of websites and sort out what you like. Then, meet the photographer! You want to be comfortable with the person who might be in the room while you're getting ready!