Hiring a photographer that fits you can be tricky business. Luckily, We scored gold with the first photographer, Chris Gharst, we met when we were looking for our wedding, but I know that is rare. Sometimes you don't get a good vibe or are on a super tight budget. Here are a few tips about making sure you don't hire someone you aren't meant to.

They don't make you comfortable.

Your photographer should be someone who you could easily laugh with and feel vulnerable with, especially if they will be capturing some of the most important moments of your life. You should be able to trust them. They should be someone who clicks with you, and you could see yourself starting a friendship with them.

Most photographers are very personable and are very good at making clients feel that way, so if you meet with a photographer who leaves you feeling uneasy, it's probably a red flag that it won't be a good fit.
 

You have never seen their work.

If a photographer doesn't have examples of their work that are easily accessible to you, especially online, ask to see some of their work. Photographers have different styles, and you want to ensure that you are going to get the style that you envision.
 

They are the cheapest in town.

Some great photographers under price themselves because they haven't built the confidence to ask what they're worth. Maybe they don't know that their work is worth much more. Others just don't have the experience. Others don't have the technical knowledge. There could be a multitude of things that play into it, but consider all these things when hiring someone. Again, look at their work. Shop around. Look at other photographers and compare prices. Don't just hire someone because they offer the lowest price. Always remember you get what you pay for.
 

You don't know their policies.

Photographers have expectations, just like clients do. They expect you to be on time. They expect you to respect their rules about editing and cropping after they have delivered your photos. If they don't have anything that they can tell you about what their policies, it might be that they don't have any. So ask the questions you need to be clear about what you expect and what they expect. It's a necessary conversation.