The Journal · Planning guides
5 min read
April 2026
Forget star ratings. Here are the four signals I'd look for if I were picking the person to document the most expensive 14 hours of my life.
Most advice online about picking a wedding photographer is bad. Not wrong — just unhelpful. "Look for a portfolio you like" doesn't account for the fact that every wedding photographer's portfolio is their best work, not their average work. "Read reviews" doesn't account for the fact that nobody writes a Google review three months after their wedding while they're still buzzing on serotonin.
Here's what I actually look for when I help friends hire photographers: First, look for consistency across at least three full weddings, not just feed crops. Anyone can get one great frame. Few can get a hundred great frames in a row. Second, look at how they shoot dinner — that's the hardest light of the day and the hardest to fake. Third, check what their B&W frames look like — colour can be saved in post but black-and-white reveals composition.
Fourth, and this is the one most people skip: talk to them on a video call before booking. You're inviting this person into the most intimate hours of your year. Their personality matters more than their gear. If you don't enjoy the call, you won't enjoy the wedding day with them in the room.
