How to Choose a Wedding Photographer: What to Look for Beyond the Portfolio
- gatherwellplanning
- Aug 10
- 8 min read
Updated: Aug 20
As a virtual wedding planner, I get a lot of questions from couples about how to choose their wedding vendors. Photography is a big one. There are thousands of photographers, different styles, different packages and price points, and an endless number of beautiful Instagram feeds to scroll through. So how do you actually choose?
For this article, I wanted the perspective of someone who has been behind the camera for a lot of weddings. I spoke with award-winning New York City photographer Jamie Levine, a former photojournalist whose career has included working with legendary photographers Richard Avedon and Ken Regan. Jamie has photographed weddings, portraits and events around the world and brings a documentary approach to weddings, focused on capturing real moments and the personalities of the people in front of his camera.
I asked Jamie what couples should really be looking for, what they often get wrong, and what he wishes more people knew before hiring their wedding photographer. Here’s what I learned.
Don’t Choose a Wedding Photographer Based on Instagram Alone
A photographer’s Instagram feed or website is a good place to start. You need to like their work. But Jamie’s first piece of advice was to go further. “Anyone can pull together a small percentage of their work and have it look really good.”
Ask to see an entire wedding gallery. You aren’t hiring someone to produce twenty beautiful photographs. You’re hiring them to document an entire day and deliver hundreds of images taken across different locations, lighting and circumstances. Jamie recommends asking to see a full wedding similar to the one you’re planning. Outdoor wedding? Ask to see one. City wedding? Ask for that too. You want to see what an actual client received, not just the images chosen for a portfolio.
Make Sure You’re Hiring a Wedding Photographer
Being a talented photographer doesn’t necessarily make someone a talented wedding photographer. You may have a friend who takes incredible portraits, or love a photographer’s fashion or lifestyle work. That doesn’t mean they’re prepared to shoot a wedding.
“You have to be extremely aware of everything going on around you,” Jamie told me. “It’s knowing where to stand. It’s knowing where not to stand.” A wedding photographer anticipates moments, works around guests and vendors, adapts when the schedule shifts, and makes decisions fast. As Jamie put it, “Nothing ever goes to plan.” Weddings are live events. Experience is what lets a photographer adjust when something changes without missing the moments you hired them to capture.
Think About How You Feel in Front of a Camera
This was one of my favorite pieces of advice from our conversation because I don’t think most couples consider it. Don’t just think about the photography style you like, think about you. Do you love having your picture taken and want direction? Or do you feel awkward the second a camera comes out and prefer someone who works candidly?
“You’re on stage for the day whether you like it or not,” Jamie said. When you’re interviewing photographers, tell them how you feel about being photographed and ask how they work with couples like you. That answer may tell you more about fit than another hour spent scrolling portfolios.
Don’t Underestimate the Engagement Session
If you’re tempted to skip engagement photos because of budget or don’t think you need more pictures, it’s worth understanding what else you may be getting from that session. For Jamie, who includes engagement sessions in his packages, the photographs are almost secondary. An engagement session lets your photographer see how you interact, how comfortable you are in front of the camera, and what kind of direction works for you. It also gives you a chance to get comfortable with the person who’ll be following you around for much of your wedding day.
Which leads to his next point: it’s important to like your photographer. You’re going to spend a significant part of your wedding day with this person. Pay attention to how you feel talking to them, not just how you feel about their photographs.
Your Photographer Should Be Part of Your Wedding Timeline
Your photographer doesn’t need to dictate your schedule, but they should be part of the conversation. Light matters, a lot. Jamie prefers not to photograph outdoors in the middle of the day when he can avoid it, and he generally prefers a first look because it opens up more time for portraits and family photos before the ceremony, leaving more of the cocktail hour free for the couple to enjoy.
That doesn’t mean you should build your day around your photographer’s preferences. It means understanding how one decision affects the next. Your ceremony time affects when photos can happen. Your photography schedule affects when hair and makeup need to wrap. The time of year affects when you’ll have the best natural light. Bring your photographer into that conversation early, before you begin troubleshooting the timeline.
A Family Photo List Needs More Thought Than You Think
Most couples know to give their photographer a family photo list. The order of that list matters too. Are there divorced parents who shouldn’t be positioned next to each other? Grandparents who shouldn’t have to move around repeatedly? And think beyond the obvious combinations. They need to know where to be and what to watch for, from key moments and cultural traditions to the people who matter to you, whether that’s an elderly aunt, a college roommate, or someone they’d have no way of knowing is important.
Jamie and his team work through these details with couples ahead of time and sequence the shots to minimize unnecessary movement. It’s a small piece of planning that makes a real difference on the day.
What Should You Ask a Wedding Photographer Before Booking?
By the time you’ve narrowed down photographers whose work you like, there are some less exciting but equally important questions to ask. Based on my conversation with Jamie, here’s what to ask before booking:
Can you provide references from past wedding clients?
Will you receive high-resolution images, and what usage rights come with them?
Can you see a complete wedding gallery?
Does the photographer carry liability insurance?
What happens if the photographer can’t attend?
Is the person you’re speaking with actually the one photographing your wedding?
What backup equipment is available?
How and when are your photographs backed up?
When will you receive your final images?
What exactly is included in the quoted price, and what could cost extra?
That backup question is something very few couples think to ask. What happens if a camera fails? Are your photos being backed up immediately? You may never need the backup plan, but you absolutely want your photographer to have one. These details should also be reflected in your photography agreement. I have a free Wedding Vendor Contract Guide if you want to know what else to look for before signing.
Your Photographer Doesn’t Have to Know Your Venue
Should you only hire someone who’s already photographed a wedding at your venue? Jamie doesn’t think so. “I don’t think that’s critical,” he told me. An experienced photographer can walk the venue beforehand, assess the light, and build a rain contingency without ever having shot there before.
In fact, if there’s a photographer you really want, you should not wait until your venue is booked to reach out. Jamie typically books weddings about a year and a half out. If photography is one of your top priorities, let that shape your booking order.
How Much Should a Wedding Photographer Cost?
It’s difficult to give couples one useful number because wedding photography pricing varies significantly depending on where you’re getting married, the photographer’s experience, and what’s actually included. A photographer working in New York City may charge considerably more than an equally experienced photographer working in a smaller city or rural market.
If you’ve never hired a wedding photographer before, the bigger question is what you should actually be getting for the price. At a minimum, understand how many hours of coverage you’re getting, who will photograph your wedding, whether you’ll receive high-resolution images and how they’ll be delivered, what editing and post-production are included, and when you can expect your final gallery. You should also understand their backup plan for equipment, files and what happens if they can’t photograph your wedding.
Ask about the work that happens before the wedding too. Will your photographer help with the photography timeline, family photo list, locations and lighting?
Then look at the extras. A second photographer, engagement session, albums and prints, additional hours, travel and coverage of a rehearsal dinner or welcome party can all affect the price. Some may be included in your package and others may cost extra.
You may find photographers charging a few thousand dollars and others charging well into five figures. That doesn’t automatically mean one is overpriced or the other is a bargain. I recommend talking to at least three photographers whose work you genuinely like, not simply to find the lowest price, but to understand what your budget buys in your market and what you’re actually getting for it.
Where Can You Save Money on Wedding Photography?
Photography can take up a meaningful share of a wedding budget, so I asked Jamie where couples can cut back without compromising the work itself. His first suggestion was albums and prints. If your photographer delivers all your high-resolution digital images, you can put those together yourself later for less.
His second was coverage time. You may not need your photographer until the very end of the reception. Once you’ve captured the major moments and plenty of the dance floor, another hour may not add much. If trimming hours brings a photographer you really want within reach, that’s a conversation worth having. I’d rather see a couple make that intentional trade-off than hire someone they’re less confident about.
So, How Do You Choose the Right Wedding Photographer?
Start with the photographs. Of course you should love their work. But don’t stop there.
Jamie’s photojournalism background has taught him to “tell a story and not create the story.” Every photographer approaches that differently. Your job isn’t to find the photographer everyone else calls the best. It’s to understand how they work well enough to know if they’re right for you.
When you’re planning your own wedding, you’re hiring professionals in industries you’ve probably never hired in before. Knowing what to look for, and the right questions to ask, makes those decisions a lot easier.
About the Photographer
Thanks to Jamie Levine for sharing his perspective and years of experience behind the camera. If you are looking for a wedding photographer, you can see more of Jamie’s work at Jamie Levine Photography.
Need a Second Opinion
If you’re comparing photographers, trying to make sense of different packages, or simply want a second opinion before you book, that’s exactly the kind of decision we can work through together in an hourly virtual wedding planning session.
I'm Joanne, the founder of Gatherwell Planning. Long before this was my work, friends and family nicknamed me “the planner.” I was the one organizing trips, hosting dinners, and thinking a few steps ahead so everyone else could enjoy the moment. I still do!
Early in my career, I wanted to be a wedding planner, but instead I built a career in New York City in marketing, communications, and events (feel free to check out some of my work over here). Over the years, as friends and family planned their own weddings, I kept seeing the same thing: couples were expected to make big, meaningful decisions largely on their own, unless they hired full-service planning. There was very little support in between. And I was the one who often swooped in to help.
That gap is why I created Gatherwell Planning. Today, I’m a virtual wedding planner based in New York City, offering thoughtful, strategic planning support for couples who want to plan their own weddings, but deserve access to affordable experienced guidance along the way. If you are planning your own wedding and want a sounding board along the way, I'd love to meet for a complimentary introduction call so we can chat.
