Choosing your wedding photographer is about so much more than photos. You’re choosing the person who will walk beside you through one of the most meaningful days of your life, someone you can trust to see the heart behind your marriage, your relationships, and your intentions for the day. As a Wisconsin wedding photographer, I know how important this decision is, and that’s why I’m here to share my best tips for choosing a photographer whom you know you can trust, and who will be right there with you every step of the way. 

Choosing Your Wisconsin Wedding Photographer: The Steps to Finding Someone You Can Trust

Browse Galleries

First, you’ll want to search for photographers and check out their galleries to get a feel for their editing and photographing style. Do you want a Wisconsin wedding photographer that captures more posed, directional photos, or more candid photos? Are you looking for a warm editing style or someone who edits more true-to-color? Make sure you love the poses you see and the colors, as they’ll be equally important for the experience on your big day. 

Beyond style, pay attention to how their work feels. Do their images carry warmth, honesty, and real emotion? Do you feel a sense of calm or connection when you look through their galleries? Your wedding photographer will play a large part in how peaceful and present you feel on your day, so choose someone whose work brings you back to what matters most.

If you’re someone who wants a little bit more direction on the day of and edits photos in a way that feels timeless and true-to-life, showing how it really felt, we might just be a match. I love it when my clients trust me enough to let me pose them in a way that allows me to get some creativity and movement, and allows them to let their personalities shine. 

Read Reviews

This is truly the #1 thing that I can recommend. Once you find a few photographers who have photos in a style you love, looking into real-life experiences and accounts should be your next step. You’ll learn a lot more from people who have worked with a certain photographer than what a website will say. This is a great way to establish credibility and make sure this is someone you can trust! 

Here’s what Chris and Alana, the couple you’re seeing throughout this blog, have to say about their experience booking me as their Wisconsin wedding photographer:

“Shelby,

I am so thankful I had you capture our day! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the amount of love you poured into these! You captured EXACTLY what I had envisioned! We’ve loved on our sneak peaks so hard, and I cannot wait to share these and love on them till the end of time! You are such a treasure to work with, and I cannot wait to reconnect in the future!”

Hop on a Call

The best way to really see if you click with someone? Hop on a call! This is where you’ll establish that original connection and see if this is someone you would enjoy being around on one of the most special days of your entire life.

It’s so important to me to book consultation calls with my clients. It allows us time to go over your vision, your timeline, and any special events or requests. These calls are where I start to learn what matters most to you: the people you love, the emotional tone you want for the day, and any meaningful moments you want held with care.

5 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer

While you’re on a call, here are a few questions you can ask to get a feel for a photographer’s personality and the logistics of them capturing your day. 

1. What approach do you use to photograph a wedding day?
2. What’s your editing style?
3. How long will it take to receive our full gallery?
4. What all is included in your wedding photography package?
5. What do you value most when working with clients? 

Chris and Alana’s Modern Elegant Wedding 

Chris and Alana’s wedding was such a wonderful day, and I’m so thrilled that I was able to capture their wedding day as their Wisconsin wedding photographer! We were a great match, and getting to work with them was such a great experience. I had established such a strong connection with the couple prior to their wedding day that capturing their portraits was a piece of cake. They were already comfortable with me, and that’s something that really makes a difference in your wedding gallery.

Before the big day, the couple and I had three different consultation calls to make sure we were all clear on exactly what they wanted for their day. The morning of their wedding, there was construction happening on one side, a farmer’s market on another, PLUS a public beach area on the other. So, it goes without saying that it took a bit of expert coordination to get around these obstacles for photos that were still elegant. And that’s where I came in. We navigated it seamlessly, making the day feel nothing but calm and smooth for the couple.

One thing I loved about this day was that the timeline was spaced out and flexible enough for me to pull the couple away for sunset photos, because that’s where my style shines the most. They trusted me to let my creativity flow, and the result? Stunning photos. 

This day had a fantastic vendor team, who I’m shouting out here:

Decor: Adorn Event Company

Florist: Da Vinci Rose Flower Company 

Photo Booth and Dessert Cart: Pitch Perfect Events

Venue: Oconomowoc Community Center

Hair/Makeup: Hannah Leskie

Shelby D. Photography | Wisconsin Wedding Photographer

At the end of the day, all I want is for you to be confident in booking me as your wedding photographer. I want to be someone you can trust, and who you feel hears you and values your opinions and wishes throughout the whole process.

That’s the experience I’m passionate about giving all of my clients. My heart is to walk beside you, to bring peace into the moments that feel overwhelming, and to preserve the emotion and intention of your day in a way that will mean even more to you decades from now. If that level of connection, peace, and trust sounds like what you’re looking for, you can inquire about booking me here, and we’ll hop on a call!