As an Ontario and destination wedding photographer, I’m going to help you break down 5 things to look for when hiring a wedding photographer so you can feel confident in your decision and provide real examples from my own work to help show you! Planning your wedding is one of the most exciting (stressful?) chapters of your life! Choosing the right wedding photographer is a big part of this journey! If you’re getting married somewhere in Ontario, you’re in luck! There’s no shortage of talented photographers, but with so many options how do you know which one is going to be right for you? Check out my 5 tips below:
WHAT’S YOUR VISION FOR THE DAY? THEIR PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE SHOULD MATCH THAT
Start by perusing Instagram or hopping on Pinterest and figuring out which photography style really resonates with you (keep in mind, this is just a starting point!) Are you drawn to those lighter, brighter, airy images? Do you like a moody, more editorial, Vogue magazine vibe? Maybe you just really want someone to follow you around for the day without overly posing you for portraits? This is an important step because it’s going to help you eliminate photographers by style first. Therefore those whose art and approach won’t match your vision for the day are taken away.
Golden Hour Photo Co. example:
My photography style is a timeless, true tone, storytelling style which offers a mix of documentary for the day but also those key posed moments like family group photos, wedding party and bridal portraits. I edit with a true to color, yet bright, style that enhances the natural colours of the day. This editing remains timeless and classic no matter how many years pass.
EXPERIENCE WITH ONTARIO WEDDING VENUES
If you’ve lived in Ontario, you know that each season comes with its own unique features to combat. Like seasons, so do wedding venues. Outdoor venues, historic buildings, indoor venues…they all have their own unique features to navigate. Having a vendor who is local means they’ll most likely know the ins and outs of shooting in different season at Ontario venues.
BONUS: if you’re still undecided on a wedding venue, ask their advice on what would fit your wedding vibe!
Pro Tip: ask your photographer if they photographed at that venue before. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, familiarity with staff, the lighting, layout, and any restrictions can be a huge plus!
Golden Hour Photo Co. example:
I’ve photographed over 150 weddings in the past 5 years (7 internationally). I know the ins and outs of several of the most popular wedding venues around the GTA. For example, I know the Doctor’s House hosts multiple weddings on the same day. I know exactly where the sunsets for golden hour portraits on the property at Waterstone. If you’re interested in seeing more advice on venues, check out my IG series by clicking here.
A STRONG PORTFOLIO AND CONSISTENT EDITING
Photographers Instagrams might to showcase their best work, but being able to see a full wedding album(s) that they’ve done will show you how they handled different lighting conditions, candid moments and pre-ceremony chaos.
Pro Tip: You’ll want to look for consistency in the types of shots they’re able to deliver, the colours and the lighting throughout the entire wedding gallery.
Golden Hour Photo Co. example:
Instead of making a potential client ask for a gallery from me, I have several galleries for different occasions already visible on my website and sent to you once you inquire. That way, you can see the full scope of a real wedding day. Curious to see something specific? Just ask!
CLEAR COMMUNICATION AND GOOD VIBES
Your wedding photographer is one of the vendors who will spend the most amount of time with on your big day, and plays a HUGE role in the schedule running smoothly, so chemistry matters! Do they make you feel at ease? Are they organized and prompt in replying to your needs? Are they transparent about their prices in packaging? Do they have a back-up plans?
A photographer who is organized, knows how to communicate clearly and calmly, and can explain how they would handle a worst-case-scenario will help you feel more relaxed during the planning process and the wedding day itself.
Golden Hour Photo Co. example:
Prompt replies are my specialty and one of the most common pieces of feedback I received is that I am organized and made everyone feel at ease on their day! I recognize that not all of my couples have wedding planners helping them, and so I also offer timeline building assistance to make sure your day runs smoothly and we have ample space to capture all the moments that matter most to you without feeling rushed.
REVIEWS AND TESTIMONIALS
Looking for reviews on Google and creeping their social media testimonial highlights (or checking out the comments on their posts) can help you get a sense of past couples experiences with them. Are couples raving about their experience with them? Are they happy with their gallery that was delivered? Pay attention to comments about responsiveness, professionalism, and how they handled unexpected situations.
Golden Hour Photo Co. example:
Some of my favourite testimonials have been:
“Clarissa is truly the best! My husband and I hired her to shoot our wedding, and can’t stop gushing about her to everyone who will listen. From our initial call right through to our wedding day, she was proactive in her communication, thorough in her details and planning, and made sure our entire wedding party (of 18) + family all stayed on track without ever causing anyone stress. Her photos are absolutely stunning, but beyond that she is such a calming and professional presence to have on such a busy, momentous day. Thank you for helping make our day so special!”
“Clarissa is just amazing and I cannot recommend her enough! Not only are we so freaking happy with our photos, but she is legitimately such a gem of a person. Her and her associate Sam not only agreed to fly to Italy and photograph our Tuscan wedding, but we’re also down to do a photo shoot in Florence the morning before! Clarissa is amazing at capturing the little moments and a true documentary style photographer – our guests often remarked that they were amazed with the things she captured during the day because they didn’t even know she was there, yet she managed to get it all!
She’s also incredibly punctual and got us our sneak peek within 24 hours and are full edited wedding gallery exactly one month from our wedding date which was just amazing because we were so excited to share. Honestly, do yourself a favour and stop the photographer search now because I would never recommend anyone else!”
“From the moment we met Clarissa, we knew she was the one to capture our wedding day. She was professional, kind, and incredibly friendly—an absolute joy to work with! Clarissa made the entire experience stress free and so much fun. She knew exactly what she needed from us, so we never felt lost or awkward about posing. This was a huge relief, especially since a lot of us aren’t the most photogenic and tend to feel a bit stiff in front of the camera.
Clarissa’s easygoing nature and clear direction made us feel at ease, and the results were stunning. We wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for a talented photographer who truly understands how to make your special day unforgettable.”
If you’re looking for a wedding photographer in Ontario or abroad and want to see more about :
Click the links above and I can’t wait to chat!
