Sifting through wedding vendors for your big day can feel like a full-time job, draining every excitement by looking at the sheer volume of offers. In Calgary, we have lots of flavours of photographers available to choose from. This guide will help you select the best Calgary wedding photographer and a legitimate wedding vendor for your big day! The priority is not just to book with me but to find the best fit for YOU, no matter who the vendor may be.

Do you love their work, but your budget doesn't?

Reality check: we all have different budgets for our wedding and other priorities regarding spending on vendors. No shame here; I had a modest budget for my wedding many moons ago. Many couples value photos from their special day, so it is an unavoidable bill. You can always ask the photographer if you can work something out and if they can still have you on as a client. Either have a shorter package of the most critical moments of your wedding or subtract some add-ons (like an album or engagement session) to reduce part of the cost. If the photographer is firm on their pricing, you can always inquire if they offer payment plans to assist with the price. Often, that is a helpful tactic to make wedding payments more manageable and less overwhelming as your wedding approaches.

2. Do they have a social media presence and reviews from clients?

This showcases whether your photographer is established, legitimate, and engaged with their clients. Having that relationship with my clients is what makes my work so enjoyable. I love engaging with couples, sharing wedding tips, or opening up about my day-to-day operations.

3. Do they have a diverse portfolio or sample gallery for you?

Everyone has a different threshold for defining what an experienced photographer means. The photographer could have shot 100 weddings, and they all seem bland, or they could have shot one wedding, and you can vicariously live through the wedding day just by looking at the images. It all comes down to storytelling, diverse photos (lighting, composition, wedding moments, colours, etc) and client experience. To fully grasp what your photographer can offer, you should request to see what a full wedding gallery looks like through their lens. My wedding portfolio only showcases 15%-20% of what I give out to my clients. There are many moments I aim to capture, so make sure to ask to see the entire ensemble of photos and to evaluate if their storytelling is compelling to you.

4. What does their package include, and does their work align with your vision for your wedding?

Knowing what is offered and if that can accommodate your wedding plans is essential. Do they provide shorter or longer packages? Can they be flexible on the day of your wedding? This goes hand in hand with what your wedding planning looks like. Write a rough draft of your wedding timeline, then determine the must-have photos you would like captured and how long it would take to photograph. Voila! Now you know how many hours of wedding photography you will need for your big day! Never hesitate to chat with your photographer on timelines and what package they think would best capture your day.

5. Are they licensed and insured to work in the city or park you have selected for your wedding?

A significant component of legitimacy is if the photographer holds all valid permits for where you are getting married! For example, I have a valid business licence with the City of Calgary and standard two mil insurance coverage to operate within the city limits. If my services require photography in a different location, that would be my responsibility to acquire in case I get stopped and asked for proof of licence to operate or if any physical or property damage occurs. Also, as a business that files annual taxes, I charge a GST fee for every session and provide invoices to my clients.

6. Are they flexible with your requests, and do they engage with suggestions?

You ensure your photographer can adhere to and respect your request to capture your wedding day best. Once you communicate your recommendations to your photographer, are they forthcoming and excited to chat about ideas and brainstorm with you? That call for collaboration is a great test to see how the photographer work as a team with you and if they will honour and respect your wishes.

7. Do they follow up with you promptly and answer your questions in depth?

Wedding photographers are busy bees. We wear many hats and have our hands full with messages, editing, updates, planning, and tons more behind-the-scenes work to keep our business running. But it is also essential to upkeep with timely responses to questions and messages. Having a responsive and engaged photographer is very important to show that they care and are attentive to your concerns. That open communication builds trust and rapport to ensure a smooth experience for providing you with amazing photo service.

8. Do they have an agreement for the services that they will be providing?

Black-and-white rules are the absolute foundation for a photographer's business. With it, their legitimacy and accountability are proven. Review the agreements, ask questions to clarify and keep all documents until the service has been fulfilled. I hear many horror stories in Calgary Photographer groups from couples taken advantage of by scam vendors. The deposit or full payment is received by the scammer posing as an affordable service, and they are nowhere to be found. Or after the photo session, the person has disappeared without providing the photos. It's an absolute nightmare for newlyweds that I want everyone to avoid at all costs and never to experience while planning the most important day in their relationship.

But let's remember some housekeeping for the couples! Here are some tips for when you inquire with a potential vendor:

In your first message, outline your date (so we can ensure we are available), expectations for photography and what draws you to our work.
Ask questions either over email, a phone call or a face-to-face meeting
Feel free to negotiate with your vendor within reason; ultimately, we all have one goal: for you to have a fantastic wedding!
And don't ghost us! If you are no longer interested, just let us know! No hard feelings here; cheers that you have found the best vendor match for your wedding!

Happy vendor hunting!