How should I decide on a photographer for my wedding?

This is a great question!

Deciding who you want to photograph one of the most important days of your life can feel a bit overwhelming. I thought it might be helpful to share a few thoughts I had about this very subject. I will break it down into 5 points to consider when selecting a wedding photographer. Also note that a lot of these tips can be applied to family photographers, senior photographers, etc.

1. Start doing some research on photographers. Reputable photographers will have a website and most likely a presence on social media (i.e. Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok). Review their website and look for consistency, updates (i.e. blog posts), reviews, etc. Try to narrow your list down to 2 or 3 individuals, any more than that may feel like a lot to manage and could possibly take up a lot of time. Make sure those you are considering are within your price range and they offer what you are looking for. Make sure you have very clear information about pricing and any extra charges for downloads, prints, etc. Some photographers are more transparent than others when it comes to pricing.
2. Do a consultation call, meeting, FaceTime, etc. with prospective photographers. Make sure you get all of your questions answered and that you have enough time to get a sense of what your rapport with this person looks like. Does this person feel like someone you would want to spend all day with? Does this person feel like someone that will get along with your friends and family? Does their presence make you feel stressed? Relaxed? Natural? Indifferent? Having your wedding day photographed is probably one of the most intimate genres of photography and is a several hour event so make sure you feel comfortable with this person because you will see them a lot of course and you will be communicating with them alot, too. I made a video introducing myself to prospective clients, you can view that here. If you have any hesitations, consider meeting in person.
3. Does this photographer's style of editing, posing, etc. match what you are looking for? There really is a photographer out there for everyone, but I would encourage you to do your research like we talked about in point #1. Are you looking to have your photos edited in a style that is sort of trendy (i.e. dark and moody/light and airy which are current trends) or are you looking for something more timeless? See which images and style really speak to you. Remember, these photos will likely be hanging throughout your home, in albums, and will be passed along to future generations. See photo examples below of photography editing trends that have come and gone. Also think about if you want your photos to be candid, posed, or a combination of both.
4. A great introduction to a photographer is through an engagement session. If you are having difficulty with either decided on a photographer, or feeling 100% confident with your final choice, strongly consider doing an engagement shoot if you haven't arranged that already with your photographer. Many photographers include this with their packages. By doing this, you can get a feel for what it's like to spend time with this person and you can also get a first-hand look at their final, edited images. If there are any kinks to work out, the engagement session is a good way to do just that.
5. Finally, trust your gut! It really comes down to two important things - do you want to spend 8-10 hours alongside this person and will they produce the images you are hoping for and are consistent with their portfolio? If the answer is yes, you can cross photographer off of your wedding to-do list!