Wedding photographers Kitchener Waterloo

Looking for a photographer in Kitchener Waterloo? I’m Jeremy, a wedding photographer & videographer in Waterloo Region. I want to make a guide on how to find a wedding photographer in Waterloo Region, from what to ask photographers, where to find them, and everything in between.

How to find your dream wedding photographer for Kitchener Waterloo Couples

If you are on the hunt for your dream wedding photographer, you will know the hurdles that can accumulate while trying to finding someone that is the best fit for your KW wedding day.

To help you with this difficult task I have created a complete guide just for you, which contains all the elements you need when it comes to choosing a wedding photographer.

So let’s get started! #Wegotthis

How to find wedding photographers in Kitchener Waterloo

Finding the perfect wedding photographer is a hard task. You want to find someone who fits your personality, will be able to make the experience fun, all while capture photos that you absolutely love, that fits your wedding photography budget. I’m here to help, let’s make this wedding planning thing a little easier #wegotthis

Quick starting your journey to finding your dream photographer in Kitchener Waterloo

Finding your dream photographer in Waterloo Region can be hard, so here is a quick few steps to finding the right match

The first step in finding a wedding photographer is by searching them online. The easiest way to do so is using search terms such as: “(Your City) wedding photographers” “(Style you want) wedding photographers in (your city)”.

Here are a few google search examples:

 

• ”Kitchener waterloo wedding photographer”

• ”Kitchener waterloo wedding photography”

• ”Wedding photography kitchener waterloo”

• ”Wedding photographers kitchener waterloo”

• ”Kitchener Waterloo Portrait Wedding Photographer”

• ”Best wedding photographers in Kitchener Waterloo”

 

Secondly, ask around and utilize your personal network of friends / vendors you are meeting with to see if they know any reputable wedding photographers in Waterloo Region.

Utilize wedding websites in your area that showcase vendors, that have reviews. When looking through photographers sites be sure to learn more about them, their portfolio, and any content that showcases the experience. Here are two great websites to help find your KW wedding photographer: Wedding Wire, The Wedding Ring

At the end of the day you want some you can trust, rely on, and feel relaxed with during the wedding experience. Doing the research and spending the money on what you value is very important. I hope you find your dream photographer & that your day is just as beautiful as you!

Kitchener Waterloo Wedding Photography Styles

The very first thing you want to be looking for when choosing a wedding photographer is the style portrayed through their images. Ask yourself this; when I look back at my wedding photos years from now, what emotion will I want to feel.

Different kind of kitchener waterloo wedding photographers styles:

 

• Documentary wedding photographers in Kitchener Waterloo

This approach means the KW wedding photographer captures what is happening in front of them without taking direction to influence the moments. It’s shot simply on the moments of how your wedding day naturally unfolds. This style aims to make you really indulge into your wedding day without feeling like paparazzi is around. Most of the time these type of photographers are natural light wedding photographers.

 

• Vintage with “the film look” wedding photographers in Kitchener Waterloo

This style aims to evoke feelings with their photographs by utilizing grain, crafting a certain colour scheme for your images, which give the effect of the photographs being shot on a film camera. Kitchener waterloo film photographers love bringing a real film camera alongside of digital camera to use on your day, to give the full affect.

 

• Edgy Bold wedding photographers in Kitchener Waterloo

Kitchener Waterloo edgy bold wedding photographers love using this style to produce  dramatic, popping, & landscape images. These photographers love using a mix of landscape imagery, backlighting, dramatic contrast, and unique composition to create a very original look to your photographs.

 

• Fine Art wedding photographers in Kitchener Waterloo

If you dream of having wedding photographs look like they came out of a magazine, this style is for your! Fine art wedding photographers in Kitchener Waterloo add in direction to the sessions to utilize light, posing, and composition. Every detail will make you look your best for a dreamy modern look. You will feel like a model from every stage from the fine art posing, attention to detail in editing, to the overall scheme of your photos.

 

• Commercial wedding photographers in Kitchener Waterloo

Commercial wedding photographers will put all their efforts into making your images clean, modern, and professional. By utilizing higher end techniques such as, reflectors, and multiple flashes with modifiers, you’ll get the perfectly lit photograph. They usually take more time to get to the finished look of the image, so you know you are getting remarkable work at the end of the day because they pay attention to every detail.

Although all these styles have different aspects and approaches to how they are shot, many photographers will mix a few (or all) of these elements into their photography. They may have an overall style that is very candid yet will utilize a commercial / edgy bold style during your one on one session.

At the end of the day, you want to be in love with the overall feel, look, and experience you attain by looking at your photographer’s images. If the photographer’s images are consistent to matching your style of photography you are one step closer to finding your dream Kitchener Waterloo photographer.

 

Personality!

This section is very important and a key component when it comes to your search of a wedding photographer in Kitchener Waterloo. When proceeding with a photographer, you have to take into consideration that they will be apart of your wedding journey.

Between getting ready, traveling to your ceremony, directing family for portraits, creative session, and the entire reception experience, your photographer will be spending more time with you than your guests on your big day.

“How do I  know if this KW photographer has the right personality for me?”

Firstly, read up on them via their about page, what they choose to share about themselves & their photography approach is the easiest step to finding out more about them. Some photographers even add a  promotional video to their site, which allows you to get an even more personal feel as to who they are.

Social media outlets like instagram, twitter, and/or facebook page are another great source to learn about KW wedding photographers. You can learn more about their professional photography & their side hobbies / lifestyle.

“They seem cool on the internet, but how do I really know they will be a good fit?”

The next step is to schedule a meeting with your potential wedding photographer(s) to truly get to know them, their process, and if they are the right fit.There is no better way to get to know someone than meeting them in the flesh.

The Overall Photography Experience

When looking for a wedding photographer in waterloo region, you want to ensure the overall experience that they will offer is something that will add to your big day, not take away from it. From the first meeting, to how they direct & make you feeling during the engagement session, to how they will interact with you & your guests on the wedding day, to their communication throughout the entire wedding process.

Aspects to consider about the experience include:

 

• Packages & products

 

• • • Every Kitchener Waterloo wedding photographer is different and will offer different pricing, costs, packages, & value. Write down what you are looking for on your wedding day to many hours, how many photographers, if you wish for a wedding album, etc etc. Once you have your ideal criteria then you can begin asking to see collections and you may learn about other options and will continue to add into your criteria.

 

• The Photography Sessions

 

• • Every Kitchener Waterloo wedding photographer strives for producing certain results & the experience behind that can vary dramatically. Ask your photographer what you can expect during the photography session with them, and how they will make you feel during the process.

 

• Post production, editing, delivery of images

 

• • Remember to ask how long the editing process will take after your wedding day, and what your photographer executes in the editing phases. Will they add colour correction, black & white images? Asking to see a full wedding gallery during a meeting will give you insight to these questions. Alongside, be sure to ask how long delivery will take for all products promised in your desired package

Generally ask to hear about the entire experience with working with them. Everything from how you will communicate beforehand about scheduling the day, to backup locations, to the photography sessions itself. There are many elements to it, so don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you want!

What to ask Kitchener Waterloo Wedding Photographers

You have made it to the meeting! Here are a few general questions you can ask to learn more about your KW Wedding photographer.

 

• “What’s your story & how did you get into wedding photography?”

• “Why do you love wedding photography so much?”

• “What’s your goal when capturing a wedding, what are you looking to provide?”

• “What is your process of backing up my photo & ensuring they are not lost?”

• “What if it’s raining, or we have to quickly plan a different location for photographs, can you handle a change in plans & any lighting condition?”

• “Can you educate me on your entire workflow- how long it will take, what I can expect, where I can see the images?”

 

While you are in your meeting, here are a few things to keep in mind and discuss

Albums

• It’s great to ask Kitchener Waterloo region photographers if they offer wedding albums or not. Printing your wedding images into a beautiful crafted album can be one of the most meaningful things you can do after your wedding day to relive your memories for years to come. Alongside ask if you have permission to use the images to use a company on your own, or if they have the full rights and you can only go through your photographer for albums & prints.

Coverage

• Every Kitchener wedding photographer has a different selection of packages that includes coverage. Coverage can range from a few hours to “full day wedding coverage”. It’s important to clearly know the start and end time that your wedding photographer will start, and if he is okay if the timeline shifts by 30 minutes and the first dances might be a little late (and will the just pick up and leave, or stay, and what’s the cost?)

How will I receive my images ? Online? USB?

• It’s also important to learn how you will receive your wedding images from your wedding photographer. Some waterloo region wedding photographers offer online galleries, USB, albums, prints, & other creative products.

Who will be there on my wedding day?

• It’s also important to ask your wedding photographer who will be there on the wedding day, and who the second photographer will be (if included). Some awesome studios have a great team that will include different people on your day, some photographers are a stand alone team that have a select amount of second photographers that shoot for them.

See full day wedding galleries

• Alongside be sure to ask to see a full day wedding gallery. It’s important to see how the KW wedding photographer captures the entire day, how they edit their images, and how overall the scheme is. If you love what you see, this is good! Try to put yourself and picture your wedding day when you see these images “Would i want this type of editing, composition, and photography style capturing my wedding day?”

Artificial light vs natural light (or both?)

• Photography is amazing since there are so many different unique styles & techniques Kitchener Waterloo wedding photographers can use to capture wedding photos. Some KW photographers love only using natural light, while some love using as much artificial light as possible, while others have a balance of both.

How they approach their photography with the experience

• Ask your wedding photographer how they approach their sessions, if they like it to be fun, laid back, serious, a balance of in between, it’s important you two are on the same page.

Kitchener Waterloo Wedding Photography Costs, Packages, Deposit & Fees

• When you are meeting your photographer be sure to have a conversation about how much it costs to secure your wedding date with them, how much they will charge, if there are any travel expenses, etc.

Contract

• By the end of your meeting ask your Waterloo region wedding photographer if they have a contract and if you can go through it.

How far in advance to book

• Be sure to ask how long in advance they need to be booked! Some KW wedding photographers get booked 1-2 years in advanced.

Reviews & testimonials

• It’s also great to ask for reviews & testimonials from past wedding clients to hear about the photography experience was for them.

Part time vs full time

• Not that it matters but it may be a good idea to ask your Kitchener Waterloo wedding photographer if they do this full time vs part time. Not that it changes their quality of work, but if you want someone who focuses 100% of their time into wedding photography that may be important to you.

If you have now met with the photographer but they just are not the right fit there is nothing wrong with that. It is actually a good thing, this means you are able to tell that he/she isn’t the right fit and will help you with your process in finding someone that is the right fit.

Write them a little email saying you appreciate their time but are not able to proceed further with them. They will understand and appreciate your honesty and sincere email.

At the end of the day you want someone you can trust, rely on, and who will capture your day with a style you will be absolutely in love with. From their personality, to the entire wedding experience, your wedding photographer should be able to cater to your needs & personality.

All the best on the hunt!

About Kitchener Waterloo Wedding Photographer Jeremy Daly

I’m Jeremy! a wedding storyteller with a fresh contemporary approach while capturing memories for genuine, authentic, real couples. I grew up in the Waterloo Region and fell in love with our community we have here in #kwawesome

I value having a meaningful, outgoing, & fun time while we capture our memories together- Let’s be real, real laughter is better than fake moments.

While growing as a photographer, videographer, friend, & barista, I truly find purpose in living life to it’s fullest potential while enjoying it with amazing people.

 

Also be sure to check out:

• 5 things to ask wedding venues in Kitchener Waterloo
• Best Kitchener Waterloo Wedding Venue
• Kitchener Waterloo Wedding Photography
• Kitchener Waterloo Wedding Videography
• Cost of Kitchener Waterloo Wedding Photography