Wedding photography is full of labels: documentary, editorial, fine art, candid, traditional, cinematic. They can be useful, but the quickest way to understand a photographer is to look at complete weddings rather than a handful of favourite Instagram images.
Look for consistency
Ask to see full galleries from weddings with a similar season, venue or lighting to yours. Pay attention to the quiet parts as well as the portraits: getting ready, family groups, speeches, dark dance floors and the moments between the obvious moments.
Decide how much direction you want
Some couples want almost no posing. Others love fashion-led portraits and are happy to set aside time for them. Neither approach is better. What matters is choosing someone whose way of working matches how you want to experience the day.
Meet the person, not just the portfolio
Your photographer will be close to you for a large part of the wedding. A relaxed conversation before booking can tell you whether their personality and communication style feel right.
Ask about the whole service
Clarify coverage hours, second photographers, travel, turnaround times, albums, image delivery and what happens if the photographer is unexpectedly unable to attend. Good suppliers will be comfortable explaining how they work.
Choose the photographs you want to live with
Trends change. Your photographs stay. Look for work that makes you feel something now and that you can imagine enjoying years from now. The strongest choice is usually not the photographer with the most fashionable feed, but the one whose view of weddings feels closest to yours.