How to Choose a Wedding Photographer: A Stress-Free Guide to Photos
When you first start planning your wedding, figuring out how to choose a wedding photographer can feel overwhelming. There are hundreds of portfolios that all start to blend together, but you are not just hiring someone with a camera — you are looking for a guide who knows how to make you feel comfortable, present, and genuinely yourselves in front of the lens. This guide will walk you through wedding photography styles, pricing, and the right questions to ask so you can find a photographer who captures real moments, not stiff poses, and helps you look natural even if you usually feel awkward on camera.
Credit: Ether Photography
Ether Photography is an award-winning luxury wedding studio based in Toronto. Gain insider tips from our experience photographing hundreds of weddings across the GTA.
About Us
Wedding Photography Styles
Finding the right photographer involves more than just a simple Google search. Before deciding, you need to understand the various photography styles and how they align with your vision.
Traditional Photography
Traditional wedding photography focuses on formal, posed shots. This style includes bridal party photos, family portraits, and couple portraits. Traditional photographers excel in directing and posing, ensuring everyone looks their best. They are experts at managing large groups and capturing elegant, timeless photos.
Editorial Photography
Editorial photographers create dramatic, artistic shots similar to those seen in magazines. If your wedding is avant-garde or has unique elements, this style will capture the creativity perfectly. Editorial photography emphasizes storytelling through dynamic compositions and beautifully styled detail shots.
Photojournalistic Photography
Photojournalistic photographers specialize in candid shots that tell a story. They focus on capturing genuine moments and emotions without too much direction or posing. This style is perfect for couples who want their wedding photos to reflect the natural, spontaneous moments of their day.
Emotion-Driven Photography
Emotion-driven photographers excel at capturing intimate, special moments like first looks and vows. They focus on making couples feel comfortable and confident, resulting in authentic and heartfelt photos. These photographers often engage with couples to bring out their genuine emotions and personalities.
The best photographers offer a combination of all four styles. For example, our studio, Ether Photography, primarily shoots in the Editorial and Photo-Journalistic styles. However, we are also masters at the Traditional Style when it comes to the formal photos and are always there to capture the heartfelt moments when it comes to the Emotions of the day.
Pro Tip: When choosing a photographer, make sure you look at the expressions on the couples and guests faces as well as how natural their posing is. This is an easy way to tell whether the photographer you are choosing is a beginner or a professional.
Finding the right photographer involves more than just a simple Google search. Before deciding, you need to understand the various photography styles and how they align with your vision.
Traditional Photography
Traditional wedding photography focuses on formal, posed shots. This style includes bridal party photos, family portraits, and couple portraits. Traditional photographers excel in directing and posing, ensuring everyone looks their best. They are experts at managing large groups and capturing elegant, timeless photos.
Editorial Photography
Editorial photographers create dramatic, artistic shots similar to those seen in magazines. If your wedding is avant-garde or has unique elements, this style will capture the creativity perfectly. Editorial photography emphasizes storytelling through dynamic compositions and beautifully styled detail shots.
Photojournalistic Photography
Photojournalistic photographers specialize in candid shots that tell a story. They focus on capturing genuine moments and emotions without too much direction or posing. This style is perfect for couples who want their wedding photos to reflect the natural, spontaneous moments of their day.
Emotion-Driven Photography
Emotion-driven photographers excel at capturing intimate, special moments like first looks and vows. They focus on making couples feel comfortable and confident, resulting in authentic and heartfelt photos. These photographers often engage with couples to bring out their genuine emotions and personalities.
The best photographers offer a combination of all four styles. For example, our studio, Ether Photography, primarily shoots in the Editorial and Photo-Journalistic styles. However, we are also masters at the Traditional Style when it comes to the formal photos and are always there to capture the heartfelt moments when it comes to the Emotions of the day.
Pro Tip: When choosing a photographer, make sure you look at the expressions on the couples and guests faces as well as how natural their posing is. This is an easy way to tell whether the photographer you are choosing is a beginner or a professional.
Credit: Ether Photography
Editing Styles and Post-Production
Photographers express their style not only through their approach but also through their editing techniques. Here are two popular editing styles:
Light & Airy
This style uses natural light to create soft, romantic images with a classic touch. Light and airy photos are nostalgic and full of emotion, often featuring bright, clean colors and a timeless feel. This style is best suited for luxury weddings and grand celebrations.
Ether Photography is primarily a Light & Airy style studio. You can view our portfolio here.
Dark & Moody
Dark and moody editing creates dramatic, intimate images with a warm hue. This style is perfect for rustic or adventurous outdoor weddings, using light and shadow to capture grand moments and stunning landscapes. This style is also popular with inner city weddings as the dark edit suits the dark indoors and city life. Although this is not our primary style, we offer this as a custom option during editing. Please contact us to learn more.
Photographers express their style not only through their approach but also through their editing techniques. Here are two popular editing styles:
Light & Airy
This style uses natural light to create soft, romantic images with a classic touch. Light and airy photos are nostalgic and full of emotion, often featuring bright, clean colors and a timeless feel. This style is best suited for luxury weddings and grand celebrations.
Ether Photography is primarily a Light & Airy style studio. You can view our portfolio here.
Dark & Moody
Dark and moody editing creates dramatic, intimate images with a warm hue. This style is perfect for rustic or adventurous outdoor weddings, using light and shadow to capture grand moments and stunning landscapes. This style is also popular with inner city weddings as the dark edit suits the dark indoors and city life. Although this is not our primary style, we offer this as a custom option during editing. Please contact us to learn more.
Credit: Ether Photography
The Value of Seasoned, Luxury Photographers
Luxury photographers are worth the investment because of the experience and quality they bring. They provide not just beautiful photos but also a smooth, enjoyable experience. Seasoned photographers know how to make couples feel comfortable and can capture spontaneous, special moments effortlessly. Experienced photographers also ensure reliability and timely delivery of photos. They often go above and beyond, offering sneak peeks shortly after the wedding to help with post-wedding blues. Their ability to create a sense of security and confidence is invaluable.
Wedding Photographer Red Flags
Don't leave your wedding photographs to an amateur! Just because someone has a nice website, Instagram and great social skills, this does not mean they are a professional photographer. Here’s a few tips on how to identify beginners:
*Pro Tip: Download a list of the best interview questions for your wedding photographer below!
Luxury photographers are worth the investment because of the experience and quality they bring. They provide not just beautiful photos but also a smooth, enjoyable experience. Seasoned photographers know how to make couples feel comfortable and can capture spontaneous, special moments effortlessly. Experienced photographers also ensure reliability and timely delivery of photos. They often go above and beyond, offering sneak peeks shortly after the wedding to help with post-wedding blues. Their ability to create a sense of security and confidence is invaluable.
Wedding Photographer Red Flags
Don't leave your wedding photographs to an amateur! Just because someone has a nice website, Instagram and great social skills, this does not mean they are a professional photographer. Here’s a few tips on how to identify beginners:
- Limited Variety in Photos: If their portfolio mostly features just the bride and groom, with few or no shots of the ceremony or reception, be cautious. They could be hiring professional models to showcase what their couples *could* look like. A real wedding photographer will always show moments from the entire wedding day.
- Side Angle Shots: Inexperienced photographers often shoot from side angles. These are typically trainees who haven't yet mastered managing a wedding or directing the couple effectively. An easy way to tell is a portfolio that is almost solely shot from a side angle - this is because straight-on images are usually taken by the main photographer.
- Low Prices: Amateur photographers will typically undercut the professional market by a significant amount. If a price seems too good to be true – it is. In the professional wedding photography market, prices start at ~$3,000 for 8 hours of coverage for a single photographer with no other add-ons.
- Posing: Amateur photographers will typically not know how to pose couples. They will say “Just act natural!” or only have a limited number of poses that they memorized for all couples. They also won’t notice small details such as if a finger is placed incorrectly or if someone’s hair is blocking your face. Small details can make or break a photo!
- Client Experience: Did you have a bad experience during the engagement shoot? Did the photographer not seem to have a smooth flow to the shoot? This is a red flag. Do the quality of the photos from your engagement shoot not reflect the photos you see on their Instagram? They could be using someone else’s portfolio on their website - another red flag. Did they take forever to edit and deliver your photos and were they not responsive in their communication? Last red flag. Cut your losses, ask for your deposit back (if possible) and hire a professional for your wedding – you don’t want to leave your once in a lifetime memories to chance.
*Pro Tip: Download a list of the best interview questions for your wedding photographer below!
DOWNLOAD THE RESOURCE
Interview Questions
Why Are Luxury Wedding Photographers Expensive?
If you’ve taken the time to look at potential photographers and their pricing, you may have noticed that it can be quite expensive... but there’s a good reason for this! Wedding photography involves a unique skill set and a significant amount of work. Photographers deal with unexpected situations, anxious brides and ensuring their clients look amazing in every image. Their expertise comes from years of practice, training, and development.
Photographers quote their prices based on materials and time, but remember, their work extends beyond the wedding day. They invest time in pre-wedding preparations, such as visiting venues and understanding the layout and lighting. Post-wedding, they spend hours editing photos to create a beautiful gallery.
Every photographer is priced differently and offers a different experience to their couples. We are not all the same! Photographers differ by personality, editing style, the medium they use, the deliverables they offer, the number of shooters they provide, and their experience level. Most importantly, the overall experience differs between photographers—from the initial consultation to posing guidance on the wedding day to after-sales service. Each step is vital not only for the couple’s comfort and ease but also for the quality and appearance of the wedding photos.
Interested in learning more about pricing? Click to read our full article on How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost in Toronto.
If you’ve taken the time to look at potential photographers and their pricing, you may have noticed that it can be quite expensive... but there’s a good reason for this! Wedding photography involves a unique skill set and a significant amount of work. Photographers deal with unexpected situations, anxious brides and ensuring their clients look amazing in every image. Their expertise comes from years of practice, training, and development.
Photographers quote their prices based on materials and time, but remember, their work extends beyond the wedding day. They invest time in pre-wedding preparations, such as visiting venues and understanding the layout and lighting. Post-wedding, they spend hours editing photos to create a beautiful gallery.
Every photographer is priced differently and offers a different experience to their couples. We are not all the same! Photographers differ by personality, editing style, the medium they use, the deliverables they offer, the number of shooters they provide, and their experience level. Most importantly, the overall experience differs between photographers—from the initial consultation to posing guidance on the wedding day to after-sales service. Each step is vital not only for the couple’s comfort and ease but also for the quality and appearance of the wedding photos.
Interested in learning more about pricing? Click to read our full article on How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost in Toronto.
Credit: Ether Photography
Meeting with Potential Photographers
Once you’ve shortlisted a few photographers, it’s time to prepare for your initial meeting. Here are some basic key details and questions they may ask you:
Questions to Ask
Here’s a list of great questions to ask the photographer (as well as some bad ones!) To get our full list scroll down to the end of this article!
Great Question: How many weddings have you personally shot?
This question helps gauge the photographer's overall experience. When you are dealing with more corporate studios, each photographer has a different amount of experience and they may send a more amateur photographer to your wedding to save on costs despite what they might tell you during the sales meeting.
Bad Question: How long have you been shooting weddings?
To elaborate on the above, it’s better to have a photographer who has shot more weddings in less time, than a photographer with many years of experience but only a few weddings under their belt. For example, Ether Photography's photographers have all personally shot over 100 weddings in addition to an average industry time of 6 years.
Great Question: Have you shot a wedding similar in size and scale to mine before?
Understanding whether the photographer has experience with either large luxury weddings or intimate events is crucial. These weddings are significantly different and you want someone who is experienced in photographing a celebration that is similar in style and scope.
Bad Question: Have you shot a wedding at my venue before?
Top wedding photographers often work at new venues all the time. There are so many gorgeous wedding venues around the world and we can’t visit them all! Rest assured, a true luxury photographer will conduct a visit to new venues to scout the best locations for your wedding photos.
Great Question: What do your photography packages include?
Each photographer includes different elements in their packages, which can account for pricing differences. Ensure you are comparing apples to apples by understanding what is included in each package.
Once you’ve shortlisted a few photographers, it’s time to prepare for your initial meeting. Here are some basic key details and questions they may ask you:
- General Details: Wedding date and venue(s)
- Guest Count: Approximate number of attendees
- Planner: Do you have a planner?
- Design Elements: Style and feel of your wedding
- Timeline: Estimated schedule for the day
- Engagement Session: Highly recommended as a practice run for the wedding.
- Package Add-Ons: Second photographer, photo album, prints etc.
Questions to Ask
Here’s a list of great questions to ask the photographer (as well as some bad ones!) To get our full list scroll down to the end of this article!
Great Question: How many weddings have you personally shot?
This question helps gauge the photographer's overall experience. When you are dealing with more corporate studios, each photographer has a different amount of experience and they may send a more amateur photographer to your wedding to save on costs despite what they might tell you during the sales meeting.
Bad Question: How long have you been shooting weddings?
To elaborate on the above, it’s better to have a photographer who has shot more weddings in less time, than a photographer with many years of experience but only a few weddings under their belt. For example, Ether Photography's photographers have all personally shot over 100 weddings in addition to an average industry time of 6 years.
Great Question: Have you shot a wedding similar in size and scale to mine before?
Understanding whether the photographer has experience with either large luxury weddings or intimate events is crucial. These weddings are significantly different and you want someone who is experienced in photographing a celebration that is similar in style and scope.
Bad Question: Have you shot a wedding at my venue before?
Top wedding photographers often work at new venues all the time. There are so many gorgeous wedding venues around the world and we can’t visit them all! Rest assured, a true luxury photographer will conduct a visit to new venues to scout the best locations for your wedding photos.
Great Question: What do your photography packages include?
Each photographer includes different elements in their packages, which can account for pricing differences. Ensure you are comparing apples to apples by understanding what is included in each package.
Credit: Ether Photography
Conclusion
Choosing a wedding photographer is ultimately about finding someone whose style you love and whose presence and ability can help you relax enough to be yourselves, because that is what creates images you will still adore 20 years from now. Beyond portfolios and pricing, ensure that the photographer you choose can document your day in a way that feels honest, emotional, and beautifully intentional.
For couples planning a luxury celebration in Toronto, Ether Photography specializes in intimate weddings where every guest matters and every image is crafted with meaning. If this sounds like what you're looking for, book a complimentary 15 minute wedding photography consultation – we’ll be happy to review your vision and see if we'd be a good fit!
Choosing a wedding photographer is ultimately about finding someone whose style you love and whose presence and ability can help you relax enough to be yourselves, because that is what creates images you will still adore 20 years from now. Beyond portfolios and pricing, ensure that the photographer you choose can document your day in a way that feels honest, emotional, and beautifully intentional.
For couples planning a luxury celebration in Toronto, Ether Photography specializes in intimate weddings where every guest matters and every image is crafted with meaning. If this sounds like what you're looking for, book a complimentary 15 minute wedding photography consultation – we’ll be happy to review your vision and see if we'd be a good fit!
About Us
Based in Toronto, our studio has had the privilege of serving over 150+ happy clients throughout Ontario
Hi I'm John! I am the founder and creative director of Ether Photography. My team and I are considered one of the best wedding photography studios in Toronto and we are dedicated to capturing the authentic story of your wedding day. Learn more about us here.
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