A wedding photographer is usually one of the first decisions after the engagement. And one of the most important – because this is the person who will be by your side throughout the day, capturing moments that will last for decades, and shaping the atmosphere of the day simply by being there.

Over more than a decade of photographing weddings, I’ve watched how couples choose. I’ve spoken with many about what mattered to them, what they paid attention to, what they missed, and what they discovered. In this piece – the things truly worth considering when choosing a photographer. Not a universal checklist, but thoughts and observations drawn from real experience.

The photographer needs to feel right for both of you

The first thing often overlooked – the photographer needs to feel right not just for one of you, but for both. Different people choose differently, and that’s natural, but the decision is one.

A concrete example from my experience. I recently asked a couple, who chose my services, why they chose me. Their answer was interesting: the groom didn’t want only a reportage style, which many photographers offer. In his words – “there isn’t a single photograph you could properly frame on a wall.” He didn’t want only candid moments, he wanted a few strong portraits. The bride was happy with both reportage and cinematic.

We talked further, and it became clear that he was also open to a guided reportage – where I suggest where to stand for better light, what to do so it looks natural, but in an ideal place and ideal light. In other words – if the moment doesn’t happen on its own, we create it, and that’s how a photograph worth framing appears.

This is something worth working out between yourselves before you start the search. What does each of you want? Just reportage, just portraits, or a mix of both? If your opinions differ – can you find a photographer who works on both sides?

Quality is not only in the photographs

Many couples think that quality, when choosing a photographer, only refers to the quality of the photographs. That matters, but it’s only part of the picture.

Real quality is felt from the first “hello.” How the photographer communicates. How quickly they reply. Whether their answers are clear, direct, thorough. Whether they ask questions about you, or only speak about themselves. Whether the contract is clear, or whether there are places that leave room for misunderstandings.

These things often predict how everything will unfold on the wedding day. A photographer who takes a week to reply to messages can be disorganised on the day. One who avoids answering specific questions before the contract can bring surprises later.

The advice is simple – observe not just what the photographer shows, but how they communicate before booking. It’s your best window into how everything will unfold afterwards.

The website – a photographer’s passport

I believe a photographer’s website is their passport. If there’s no website, they don’t quite have a home. This doesn’t mean a photographer without a website is bad – but it means they’ve invested less in what they can show the world.

When looking at a website, pay attention to a few things. Is it clear, intuitive? Is there information that genuinely helps – about style, approach, pricing, process? Or, on the contrary, is the information presented in a way that raises more questions than it answers, forcing you to get in touch just to learn the basics?

I believe information should be presented so that a client wants to get in touch because their main questions have been answered and trust has been built – not because nothing is clear and the only way to find out is to ask directly.

Of course, there will still be questions. Throughout the wedding planning, after booking the photographer, you’ll talk with them often. But the first contact should feel like a confirmation of what you already understood from the website, not the first information-gathering.

Where else to look, beyond the website and Instagram

Most couples find their photographer through websites, Instagram, or wedding directories. That’s natural, but it’s only one angle.

The website – as I mentioned, it’s the main source. There you see the full portfolio, not only what was selected for Instagram.

Facebook – still relevant in some markets. There you can often see older work, client comments, reviews.

Pinterest – less popular in Lithuania, but if a photographer is there, it signals they also work in the international market. A good sign at the higher end.

Reviews – Google, wedding directories, sometimes on the personal site. Not just how many reviews, but what people write. Do they speak about the process, communication, feeling – or only about the photographs being “beautiful”?

The pressure test

One thing worth noticing immediately after getting in touch – whether the photographer is pressuring you to decide.

Pressure can be subtle. “You know, the date is still free, but I’m popular, tomorrow it might be taken.” “Prices are going up next week.” “I already have a few enquiries for that date.” If you feel even minimal pressure through their questions or statements – it’s a signal.

A confident photographer usually doesn’t pressure. They give space to think. If tomorrow the date isn’t free – it’ll be real news, not a sales tactic. The difference is felt in the tone.

In my experience, when pressure is felt, it usually means the photographer cares more about the booking than about whether they’re the right fit. This rarely leads to a good result on the wedding day.

The human side

All the practical advice – portfolio, website, reviews, contract – matters. But there’s one more thing no criteria will fully describe.

There has to be a “click.” Between you and the photographer there has to be an energy in which you feel comfortable, natural, like with someone you respect. If in the first meeting or conversation there’s an uneasy energy, tension, or some kind of unclear discomfort – that’s not good.

The reason is simple. A photographer’s work on the wedding day isn’t pressing a button. They observe, sense, anticipate, work close to you for long hours. If there’s tension between you, they feel it, you feel it, and it shows in the photographs. Creating alive, true, natural images in such an atmosphere is very difficult.

That human click is often a more important criterion than the portfolio. A good photographer with uncomfortable energy will deliver average results. An average photographer with whom you feel wonderful will often deliver better than expected.

On money

The budget is a reality, not a question to avoid. First of all, I’d invite you to look at the price as a necessary investment. The value of these photographs will only grow with time. Investing minimally, and not reaching a satisfying result, makes it hard to expect much emotional return – either right after the wedding or in years to come.

This doesn’t mean price isn’t important. It means price is a result, not a starting point. A couple understands what they want, finds photographers who deliver it, and then chooses among them based on price, availability, or human fit.

A couple who starts the search with the question “who’s the cheapest?” usually finds exactly what they were looking for. And that’s fine – every couple has their own priorities. A couple who starts with “whose work touches my heart most?” usually finds a photographer with whom working is not only comfortable, but also interesting.

On the responsibility that’s rarely seen

There’s something neither photographers nor wedding directories often say. A photographer’s work at a wedding is larger than it appears at first glance.

It’s all in one – art, truthfulness, emotion, elegance. It’s memories, facts, the story you tell now and the one that will remain for future generations. It’s one of the few things from your wedding that will still exist ten, twenty, fifty years from now.

I feel this at every wedding. Not as a burden, but as a responsibility. When I photograph, I know I’m not only creating photographs for today – I’m creating what your children and grandchildren will one day look at and try to understand who their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents were.

This is why I believe the value of this work should be understood more deeply – on the photographer’s side and on the couple’s side. If everyone, to the depth of their heart, understood the weight of this work, there would be fewer photographers in the market, but each of them would be found not by accident.

When choosing a photographer, it’s worth asking yourselves – does this person feel that weight? Do they speak about the work as a service, or as a responsibility?

In closing

There isn’t one right answer when choosing a wedding photographer. The criteria matter, but every couple is different, and every couple finds the person who’s right for them. That’s good – it’s how it should be.

I believe one thing – a couple who chooses thoughtfully usually finds a photographer with whom working is not only comfortable, but also interesting. And that relationship, which begins before the wedding, usually shows in the photographs that remain.

If you’re considering whether we might be right for each other – I’d be glad to talk. A short conversation is enough to begin.

Frequent questions

How early should we book a wedding photographer?

Good photographers usually fill up 8–12 months before the wedding; popular dates – even earlier. If you already have a date and venue, the photographer search is one of the first steps.

Should we look at a photographer’s full portfolio, or at the selected work?

It’s worth looking at full weddings – or at least 30–40 photographs from a single wedding – not only “best of” frames. This shows how the photographer works through the entire day, not only during the ideal moments. It’s the best indicator of what to expect.

How do we know if the photographer’s style suits us?

There are technical and broader answers. But most importantly, look for whether the photographs move you. Whether, looking at them, you’d want yours to look the same way. If so, it’s likely worth looking more closely at this photographer’s work.

Should we meet the photographer before signing a contract?

I strongly recommend it. A meeting (in person or over Zoom) gives you information no portfolio can. You’ll feel whether there’s that human chemistry between you, which often determines how everything will unfold on the wedding day.

How do we avoid getting it wrong with price?

At the higher end, price often reflects value – experience, quality, approach, equipment, post-production. But not always. The best way not to get it wrong is not to compare prices alone, but full packages: how many hours, how many photographs you’ll receive, when you’ll receive them, what the copyright terms are.

What to do if we can’t choose between two photographers?

Listen to which of them inspires more trust, not which has a better Instagram. Trust is the main thing in the photographer–client relationship at a wedding. If one of them feels “safer” – that’s a signal.

More on how I see wedding photography and why I stepped away from classic reportage – in my manifesto →

If you’re considering a wedding abroad, I’ve written separately about destination weddings →