Social Media may get a bad rep, but for me, Instagram sure has proven to be an incredible tool to find new businesses! I’ve “met” so many amazing creators on there that otherwise I never would have, both local and globally. From product shops to toy companies to hand-letterers and other photographers too, Instagram has been a great resource to widening my circle of influence.

And of course, it’s also worked the other way as well: so many of my brides find me through those little square boxes!! After all, it makes sense. Instagram is a GREAT way to get a quick survey of photographers in your area of all different experience levels and styles.

And honestly, it’s even a good tool to refine down what exactly you’re looking for. There really truly are SO many different styles of photography, so it’s important to know what kind of vibe you want. Off the top of my head, these are some adjectives that come to my mind when I think of the variety of photographers I’m friends with and look up to:

• classic & timeless
• edgy & adventurous
• bright & bold
• light & airy
• romantic
• playful
• elegant & refined
• documentary
• authentic
• super artistic in their composition (think really unique and cool framing and landscapes)
• simple & natural
• and more!

That list may seem overwhelming, I know. However, after scrolling for some time, you’ll *know* which feeds you’re drawn to and get a feel for the type of images you really want on your day! Instagram truly is such a great tool for brides!! Which brings us to the main point of this post…HOW do you even begin to search for your wedding photographer on Instagram?? Here are three tips to help you out along the way!

3 Tips for Using Instagram to Find your Dream Wedding Photographer

1. Use Hashtags
   • This is probably my favorite feature of Instagram. I love how easy it is to search for specific categories! You’ll be able to see a wide variety of styles and photographers in a matter of seconds. A few hashtag suggestions to start you out on your hunt:
     • #indianapolisweddingphotographer
     • #indianaweddingphotographer
     • #VENUENAMEwedding (#ritzcharleswedding, #mustardseedgardenswedding, #unionstationwedding)
     • #CITYwedding (#carmelwedding, #fisherswedding, #noblesvillewedding)
       (Pro-tip: Don’t forget to try each one in its plural form, too!)
   • Once you’ve found a photographer you think you may be interested in working with, make sure to ARCHIVE a post by them — that’s the easiest way to keep anyone you’re interested in one place! Think of it like a visual list!
2. Search Venue Images
   • After hashtags, this would be my next step! Check out your venue on Instagram (or a few dream venues!) and see what photographers have been credited in images on their feed. Do any stand out? If so, archive those posts and add them to your list!
   • Did you know that you can also choose to see images a specific page is tagged in, rather than the images they themselves post? This is another way to find work you love. Instead of viewing “posts”, make sure to click on the “tagged” option all the way to the right above their feed.
3. Most importantly: don’t leave it there!
   • ANYONE can put together a good feed. Seriously! It’s super easy to take a highlight image or two from a wedding and call it a day. After all, that’s why Instagram is often referred to as a “highlight reel”. To avoid booking a photographer who lacks depth and consistency, you’ll want to make sure to visit that link in their profile, browse their website (if they’re a professional — they should DEFINITELY have a stunning website in addition to great images), see FULL weddings (or at least long blog posts of weddings!) and contact them via EMAIL to get the ball rolling! That last one’s important, too — don’t just message them within Instagram. Show them you’re seriously interested by filling out their contact form and providing more information about your day!

And that’s a wrap! Those are three of my top tips for using Instagram to help find your wedding photographer. Of course, it may seem ironic to include that last step — as I’m actually encouraging you to get OFF Instagram and do more work. But, that’s why it’s called a tool. Instagram isn’t meant to be the end-all-be-all — it’s just a starting place. Read online reviews, ask for recommendations from friends, and communicate via email or the phone to get a feel for their personality, too.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure to check out more from the Bridal Basics category! I’ve created loads of educational content for brides-to-be over the years here and am so happy to share with you!!