What to Actually Look for When Booking a Wedding Photographer (and How to Avoid Regret Later)

What to Actually Look for When Booking a Wedding Photographer

Let’s be honest - booking your wedding photographer can feel like trying to choose a mate off the internet who’ll follow you around all day, capture the best bits, and make you look like your best self while you’re sweating through nerves, champagne, and questionable dance moves.

No pressure, right? 😅

Everyone knows photos are one of the only things that last after the day. So picking the right person matters way more than people realise. And trust me — you don’t want to learn that the hard way when your photos come back and you look like two wax figures in a wind tunnel.

So, let’s skip the fluff and talk about what actually matters when choosing a wedding photographer.

Check the vibe, not just the visuals

You can scroll through a thousand websites, but here’s the deal - photography is personal. You’re not just hiring a service; you’re picking a personality.

If you look at a gallery and think, “yeah, that’s nice,” then keep scrolling. You want “holy sh*t, that’s us.”

Every photographer has their own tone: dreamy and romantic, editorial and polished, documentary and raw, or just full on party chaos. Find the one that feels like your crowd.

If my photos make you think, “that looks like our lot after four tequilas and a confetti cannon,” we might just be a match.

Ask to see a full wedding - not just the Insta highlights

Social media is everyone’s “best bits” reel. It’s easy to make twenty bangers look good. The real test? Can they deliver a full day that flows.

Ask to see a full gallery. Prep, ceremony, group chaos, portraits, speeches, and dancefloor carnage. You’ll quickly spot whether their consistency holds up once the golden light disappears and Auntie Sharon’s hijacking the mic.

And pay attention to the storytelling. A good wedding gallery isn’t just a pile of pictures - it’s a whole narrative of your day. If it makes you feel something, that’s the sign of a proper storyteller, not just a button presser.

Here's a Story of Just That

Personality check - can you actually stand them all day?

Your photographer is basically your shadow. From your morning prep coffee to your 11pm sambuca shots, they’re there. So, if you don’t click with them, it’s going to be awkward fast.

You want someone who blends in, keeps things relaxed, and can jump in to steer the chaos when it’s needed - without killing the fun.

If you’re not laughing within five minutes of chatting, move on. You deserve someone who can read the room, not just light it.

My couples often say it felt like having another mate there who just happened to be smashing the photos - and honestly, that’s exactly the energy I bring. Chill, fun, and ready to roll with whatever the day throws my way.

Cheap doesn’t mean cheerful (or reliable)

Let’s talk money, because it’s awkward but it matters. There’s always someone cheaper. Always. But this isn’t Amazon Prime - you can’t return bad photos.

You’re paying for more than one day of work. There’s gear, editing, insurance, backup systems, and years of experience that go into making sure your day’s captured safely and beautifully.

A pro won’t flinch if it rains, a flash breaks, or your timeline goes sideways. They’ll just roll with it - because they’ve done it all before. That calm confidence? Worth every penny.

Here's my Info & Pricing

Experience over ego

Yeah, awards are cool (I won East of England Wedding Photographer of the Year 2025, so I’ll take the flex 😎). But what matters more is how someone handles a wedding.

Weddings are unpredictable - dogs, toddlers, bad weather, that one drunk groomsman who thinks he’s hilarious. You need someone who can roll with all that and still produce gold.

Experience shows in the calm moments - knowing when to step back, when to take charge, and when to let the chaos unfold naturally. That’s where the real magic lives.

Reviews don’t lie

Google them. Facebook them. Stalk them (professionally, of course).

Reviews tell you way more than a polished website ever will. Are couples raving about how fun they were? How relaxed they felt? How the photos genuinely feel like them? That’s the stuff you want to see.

If you’re reading reviews for Craig Greenwood Photography (👋 hi), you’ll notice a theme - people say it’s chill, fun, and never awkward. That’s my whole mission. I want you to forget there’s even a camera there.

Look for real emotion, not over-editing

Editing trends come and go.

One year it’s moody and cinematic, the next it’s bright and airy - but real emotion never dates.

A great photographer knows how to capture moments you didn’t even see happening: your dad’s face when he sees you in your dress, your mate ugly crying during speeches, that unplanned kiss during the party.

Those are the shots that make you feel something years later - not just the ones that match your Pinterest board.

Ask about their process

How do they plan a day? How do they handle group photos, light, backup, or the dreaded timeline chaos?

A good photographer won’t just wing it - they’ll have systems, backup gear, multiple memory cards, and a plan for whatever hits the fan.

If they look blank when you ask about backups… run.

Trust your gut (seriously)

After all the research, mood boards, and spreadsheets - your gut will know. You’ll just click with the right person.

Your photographer should feel like a safe pair of hands, someone you actually want around, who gets the vibe of your day and rolls with it.

If you get that feeling that says, “this person just gets us” - don’t overthink it. That’s your sign.

Bonus tip: meet them before you book

Whether it’s a coffee, Zoom, or quick chat - actually talk to them. It’s the easiest way to know if the chemistry’s right.

If you leave the chat smiling and excited, you’ve probably found your person.

Final thought

Photos aren’t just proof that your wedding happened - they’re how you’ll remember it. Long after the cake’s gone and your flowers have wilted, your photos are what’ll bring it all flooding back.

So pick someone who gets you. Someone who’ll make you laugh, keep it real, and capture your day exactly as it felt.

If that sounds like what you’re after - chaos, confetti and it's answered What to Actually Look for When Booking a Wedding Photographer along with the kind of memories that make you grin every time you look at them - you know where to find me.

Get in touch here and let’s make it fun, real, and a little bit wild. Just how it should be.

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