You just got engaged. The ring has been shown off. You’re nailing down a date and venue. You’ve got a list of planners to contact. The big question up next is how to find a wedding photographer? Don’t worry, I’ve got your back! And I’ve got all the tips on where to look. Not to mention, I have a real-life couple to give an example of how they found me AND grew to love me (#noshame).
Natasha and Ricardo are from Florida, but planned their wedding in the PNW. They found a coordinator—shoutout to Carly of Emerald Engagements—to make the planning process completely seamless. What is cool about this example of how to find a wedding photographer is that Natasha could have found me through multiple avenues, and they are the tips I’m going to share with you!
#1 Social Media
We know it, we have a love/hate relationship with it. But the fact remains, that social media is handy. It connects us. Natasha said on her wedding day that she felt like she was surrounded by a bunch of celebrities because she’d been following us on social media for so long. I love this sort of compliment because it means that my couple knows who I am coming into the day. I make sure to share my personality, my hobbies, my life on social media so that you can get to know me.
Use hashtag searches like #pnwelopement or #seattleweddingphotographer to find options for photographers in your area. You can do a quick scroll and click on posts of photographers whose editing speaks to you. It’s a quick way to evaluate style, and then you can do a deeper search into their pricing options, galleries, and personality.
#2 Vendor Recommendations
Both Carly and I worked several weddings at Emerald Forest, while also working together a bunch of times. We recommend each other, and the venue also talked us up! The other benefit, we got to recommend other vendors to Natasha and Ricardo as well! The makeup artist, Michelle Wight, came highly recommended by the both of us. And even though I hadn’t worked with the videographer before, Karli Anne Films, it was fun to add a new videographer to the people I’ve worked with.
The greatest part of getting vendor recommendations for other vendors, but especially wedding photographers, is that you know these people have worked together before. That means, the photographer you’re looking into was easy enough to communicate with, and most likely created great work that showcased all your amazing vendor’s expertise.
#3 Web Search
Woof. This one can be a slog for you! But, sometimes it yields great results. It’s one of the reasons I try to showcase where I’ve worked and like to create! I want you to know I’ve got your back at whatever venue you choose; I love working at new venues, but I also love to return to my favorites. Like Emerald Forest, which is such a unique wedding venue in the Pacific Northwest that offers a cool setting and beautiful portrait locations. Even when I have couples getting married nearby, we’ll come to this forest to take some cool couple’s photos.
It can be worth checking out several pages of results, because you’ll find more options the deeper you look.
However you look, finding a wedding photographer doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, it should be fun! Finding that person and their work that connects with you and your wedding day, is like a treasure hunt.
Natasha and Ricardo did their day right by finding all the vendors to make their micro wedding smooth, fun, and magical! They wanted it to be such a celebration for themselves, but also for their guests. And while they didn’t have a formal bridal party, somehow the whole guest list coordinated in navy!
After their ceremony at Emerald Forests, they had a reception at Fogo De Chao in Bellevue. I didn’t get to attend, but sounded like a blast!
One of my favorite moments from their day was the first look between Natasha and her dad. They had such a tender first look. Then, we got the big reveal of Ricardo not seeing Natasha until she walked down the aisle.
If you need help finding a photographer for your wedding, I’d love to talk! Reach out to me here to start the conversation.