In the case of engagement and wedding photography, “best” is most definitely a subjective term. What is best for you is not best for everyone else. This post will explain some things to consider in your search for the best engagement and best wedding photographer in the GTA and it will also give you some search tips.
The GTA is one of the biggest markets so you’ve got a huge amount of photographers to select from. Unfortunately, that also makes it difficult to pinpoint the one you’ll eventually choose!
Style
Photographic style is likely to be the first or second main criteria in your quest. If you’re asking, “What do you mean quest?”, then you’re likely just starting out. Just ask any recently married couples about their lengthy experiences!
Style is one of the most important considerations. You’ll find some photographers that do very little editing. Unless they’re using light masterfully, the images will look close to something anyone can take with a good camera. You’ll also find photographers that do a lot of editing (or use light masterfully). They range from super soft and romantic to dark and editorial looking. Some will even add a great deal of artistry to make your photos stand out. They can also range from posed to candid.
It’s likely that one of you is in charge of finding the best photographer. If I had to guess it’s probably you…since you’re reading this. It’s a good idea to look at a few examples of styles so that you agree on the style or styles before continuing your search for photographers. You can use a search engine, Pinterest, or go through some wedding magazines to figure out the style you both want.
Cost
Cost is the other main criteria in your quest. If that weren’t true, you wouldn’t be reading this.
Hopefully you’ve created a budget together. If you haven’t then you should discuss how much you are able or willing to spend. The cost of an engagement and wedding photographer can range from free (e.g. your uncle and his camera) to thousands and thousands (and more thousands) of dollars. Check out Why Does an Engagement and Wedding Photographer Cost so Much in the GTA i(coming soon) f you want to learn more.
If you have a tight budget, it’s best to search within it. Warning: there’s not only a huge range in prices, but also in the presentation of prices. On photographers’ websites you’ll find anything from starting prices, to average prices paid, to “call us for a consultation”, to actual set packages with prices (thank goodness for these ones!). If a photographer is well out of your range then move on! You don’t want to regret going over your budget later!
If prices seem way too good to be true, then either the photographer has no sense of the market in the GTA, or you should just stay away. That said, there may be a reason for the lower than expected price. One such reason may be that the photographer is new to wedding photography and needs to be given a chance to build their reputation and portfolio. That’s something you’ll need to discern for yourself.
Okay, well I know I’m biased, but hiring a great photographer and/or videographer will be some of the most well spent dollars for your whole wedding. It’s one of the few things you can look back on everyday afterwards. You could also frame and hang your wedding dress and suit up in your hallway, but that’s a little weird…anyway, let’s continue our search for the best engagement and best wedding photographer in the GTA!
Packages
Differences in packages can make comparing photographers very difficult. I highly recommend hashing out your minimum requirements. Some of the important considerations are: hours of shooting time, number of photographers, quantity of edited photos, and turnover time for proofs and final edits.
Timing
Timing is crucial when finding the right photographer. Summer has typically been the major season for weddings. This demand means the most sought after photographers in the GTA are likely booked over a year in advance. Locking in your preferred engagement and wedding photographer as soon as possible is key. As a bonus, you’ll typically be locking in a better price as most vendors (not just photographers) raise their prices annually.
Location
The location of your photographer is important. Most photographers that work within the GTA will have already included the cost of travel in their prices. However, if you decide to find a photographer from outside of the GTA you may have to consider their travel costs. This might also make an engagement photoshoot with them more costly as well. In the same way, you may incur travel costs if you hire a GTA photographer and have your reception outside of the GTA. The best wedding photographer in the GTA you were looking for may not actually be in the GTA…hmm.
Experience
Experience is something that may not be discernible without asking the photographer directly. One reason is that some couples prefer not to have their photos on the internet and therefore it may look like the photographer has performed fewer weddings.
One thing to note is that years of experience of quantity of experience isn’t an indicator of quality of photos. It can be directly related to quality of service, but a greater indicator of that is past client testimonials. Some photographers may give you the option of talking to a past couple. That then leads us to something very important – reliability.
Reliability and Professionalism
Reliability and professionalism should be a huge concern for any couple who wants less stress on and after their wedding day. Does the photographer reliably produce proofs and final edits within the time period advertised? Do they know how to deal with stressed out couples and their family and friends? Is the photographer on time? Do they treat the couples with respect at all times? Good photos don’t necessarily mean a good person is behind them and a good person doesn’t necessarily mean good photos are made.
As mentioned before, being able to look at testimonials or talking directly with past clients is the best indicator of what a photographer is and isn’t!
Super Tip: If the photographer doesn’t accept a part of the payment upon final delivery then you may want to pass! Regardless or reputation, if you’ve made your payment in full before you get your final photos there is very little stopping them from either taking their time with your edits or not giving them to you at all.
Searching for Engagement and Wedding Photographers
You may want to use the following (in no particular order – I told you it was a quest!):
- Word of mouth: ask friends and family who’ve been recently married (sidenote: careful; they might not want you to use the same photographer)
- Google/search engine: search “Engagement and Wedding Photographer in ____ (e.g. the GTA)”
- Wedding websites: there are a few caveats to this that I’ll mention in another post (e.g. WeddingWire, The Knot)
- Wedding shows: this is a great place to find inspiration and other vendors you’ll likely need so it doesn’t hurt to go; there are similar caveats to finding photographers on wedding websites.
Hopefully this information was useful to you. I married my girlfriend of 7 years and fiancee of 3 years just last June. I (obviously) was in charge of finding the perfect photographer; which I did to the best of my ability! As a perfectionist (photography and other areas) I found it hard to find the photographer that ticked all our boxes. I found one that was pretty damn close anyway.
As a photographer I’m able to provide the style, photographic quality, service quality, packages, and pricing that I would loved to have found. In that way I can be proud of what I offer and hopefully have the opportunity to capture the beautiful moments of like-minded couples!
If you think we are the best wedding photographer in the GTA for you or if you don’t think we are, but would like our help in finding one, please give send us a message! We’ll be super happy to help you either way!
LEARN ABOUT OUR ENGAGEMENT AND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES
All images except for the first one are taken by Made by Ten and courtesy of Sixpence Bridal Studio in Guelph, Ontario.