What do I look for in a wedding photographer's full gallery?
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
So you've just received a full gallery (or two) from a wedding photographer. What are you supposed to do with it now? I see a lot of people online complaining about a small detail from a gallery they viewed, and the detail is irrelevant because it wouldn't even be a factor at their own wedding.
The biggest things to keep in mind when viewing sample wedding galleries from a photographer are:
Your venue, even if it's the same, will look completely different. The time of year, time of day, color story, theme, guests, decor, etc. will all be different.
Your personalities are different from the couple in the photos. Maybe they're more reserved, or maybe they're way more outgoing than you. Maybe they don't have a wedding party at all. These are all huge factors that will affect your gallery compared to the one you're looking at.
So, what DO you look for? Below, I'll make a few suggestions on what to look for when reviewing a full gallery.
Let's start with the most important one. Does the couple look happy and in love? Are they in intimate poses that speak affection (none of that uncanny valley where they're looking in opposite directions for their long lost lovers)? Are they posed so they don't have flat arms or double chins?
Does the photographer know how to use lighting to their advantage? This is slightly subjective - if you like how the lighting looks and the photographer is consistent across galleries, then that's all that matters. But look out for "more affordable" photographers who fix low-lit venues in post-production. These photos will look muddy - shadows under chins or eyes will be slightly brown and yellow with noise (tiny dots that look a little pixelated). If you know your venue is a dark venue, be sure to ask the photographer for a gallery with flash or a similar venue so you can see how they light it.
Are their photos composed well? Are they constantly cropping people at the knees, hips, hands, head, or at strange angles that make your brain itch in a weird way? Dutch angles (tilted photos) are popular right now, so there are lots of tilted horizons that you'll see. But if a photo is not purposefully tilted, the horizon should be level.
Are there photos in there of people making weird faces, awkward poses, or just don't feel like they should be in the final gallery? Higher end photographers will curate (select with great care) their galleries so there aren't duplicated photos or photos where people don't look their best. Typically, lower end photographers will over-deliver photos in order to seem like their galleries are bigger. Bigger does not always mean better!
Family photos should be well lit, everyone looking nicely at the camera, and in front of a nice backdrop. These are the most-printed photos, and have the highest amount of "posing" and light control throughout the day so the photographer should be able to get these right without any effort.
Does the couple look like they're having fun? Are emotions captured well? This is a vital skill and is important to look for in a gallery.
Ignore the couple's style for the most part. Having said that, if every single gallery you look through from a photographer has cheesy, cheap trinkets, styles that don't align with yours at all, or venues that aren't at the level your venue is at, then you may need to ask a few questions. Don't discredit the photographer just yet. What I'm getting at here is, if the photographer is typically shooting "lower dollar" weddings, then they might not know how to catpure "higher dollar" weddings. Does the photographer know how to capture elegant details like a bar vingette or a welcome party gift? Do they know they should be not only capturing, but also styling that Oscar de la Renta dress that's hanging in the corner?
Consistency. Do the galleries have consistent editing? Or is one very yellow and another very blue? Do they nail the details shots every time? Are they delivering high quality galleries every time?
To stress the point again: Your wedding gallery will never look the same as any other gallery. Just make sure that you like the gallery you're looking at and would be happy to receive something similar. Not every photo you receive in your full gallery will be a "framer." But it's important that they tell a story and complement the rest of the gallery.
If you're not sure what style you like or what each wedding photography tier looks like, take a peek over here where I talk about how much photographers cost and what their value is!
Are you looking for a wedding photographer who knows how to have fun and support each client individually? I'd love to chat with you! Inquire here.
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