5 Tips to Help You Choose the Right Nashville Wedding Photographer

Nashville is home to so many talented wedding photographers, which can make choosing the right one feel a bit overwhelming.

Your wedding photographer will be by your side through one of the most meaningful days of your life. They'll see the happy tears from your parents, the nervous excitement, the laughter with your bridesmaids, the way your partner looks at you as you walk down the aisle, and all of the little moments in between that you may not even realize are happening.

Years from now, your photographs will bring you right back to how you felt on your wedding day.

If you find yourself scrolling through beautiful galleries, saving Instagram posts, and wondering how you're supposed to tell which photographer is actually the perfect fit for you, I have some tips to help you make the right choice.

So, how do you choose the right Nashville wedding photographer?

Here are five things I always recommend considering before making your decision.

1.   Choose a Photography Style You Can See Yourself Loving for Years to Come

I always tell my couples to start by thinking about the style of photography they're naturally drawn to.

As you look through different photographers' work, notice what you naturally gravitate toward. Maybe you love bright, airy photographs. Perhaps you prefer something more editorial or dramatic. Or maybe you have an emotional reaction to images that feel classic, romantic, and timeless.

There really isn't a right or wrong answer here. Your wedding photographs should truly feel like you and your partner.

I encourage my couples to think beyond what's currently trending. Wedding photography trends can be fun, but your photographs are something you'll cherish for decades. I want you to look at your album 10, 20, or even 50 years from now and still feel transported back to the way you felt the moment you said “I do.”

For me, timeless photography doesn't mean that every photograph has to look perfectly posed or traditional. Some of the most meaningful snapshots are the ones that capture something unplanned, yet still undeniably special.

2.   Look at Full Wedding Galleries, Not Just Instagram Highlights

Once you've found a few photographers whose style you love, ask them to share a full wedding gallery.

This is one of the best ways to understand what your experience will actually look like.

Instagram is great for discovering photographers, but a curated feed acts as a highlight reel. Your wedding day, of course, is much bigger than a handful of beautifully posed portraits.

Look at the entire gallery. Pay attention to the getting-ready photographs, family portraits, ceremony, reception, details, and candid moments. Look at how the photographer handles different lighting and different parts of the day.

Most importantly, look for consistency.

I want my couples to feel confident that every part of their wedding day will be documented thoroughly and thoughtfully, not just the moments when the light is perfect.

Some of my favorite photographs are the ones that weren't planned at all: a mother straightening her daughter's veil, a groom laughing with his friends, or the quiet breath a couple shares when they finally have a few seconds alone.

Those are the photographs that make for the best memories.

 3.   Find a Photographer Who Makes You Feel Comfortable

Don’t worry, you don't have to be a natural in front of a camera to have beautiful wedding photographs.

In fact, many of my couples tell me before their engagement session or wedding day that they aren't sure what to do when the camera is focused on them. And that's completely normal!

A good photographer should know how to guide you without making you feel like you're performing.

My “secret” to helping you feel like a natural in front of the camera is all about communication. Our relationship starts with the initial phone call and continues throughout the entire process, so by the time your wedding day arrives, we already know exactly how to work together.

I recently worked with a couple who told me ahead of their engagement session that they both feel awkward in front of the camera. Instead of diving right into formal poses, we walked and talked, and within minutes they were laughing and dancing together like nobody was watching. Those natural, candid photographs captured so much of the love and warmth between them.

We’ll talk through everything from hand placement to body movements, adjusting as we go. A few minutes into the session, I’ll have a good feel for what you're comfortable with and how to photograph you in a way that feels natural and flattering.

I like to give my couples enough direction that they feel confident, but I also want to leave room for the moments that happen naturally. My goal is never for you to spend your wedding day wondering whether you're posing correctly.

Instead, I want you to be able to relax and enjoy every minute.

 The connection you have with your photographer matters. You'll spend a lot of time together on your wedding day, including some of your most emotional and intimate moments. You should feel comfortable asking questions and expressing what matters most to you.

4.   Look at the Entire Experience, Not Just the Photography Package

 When you're comparing Nashville wedding photographers, it's natural to focus on the numbers.

 How many hours are included? Is there a second photographer? Are engagement sessions included? What happens after the wedding? When will you receive your gallery?

Those are all valid questions, and you should absolutely ask them.

But I also encourage you to consider what happens between booking and receiving your photographs.

Will your photographer help you think through your day-of timeline? Are they available when you have questions? Do they help you feel prepared for the wedding day? What happens if the timeline changes or something unexpected happens?

 Of course, the photographs matter. But so does everything that happens around them. You want someone who knows how to guide you, communicate clearly, answer your questions, and keep you calm when something doesn't go exactly according to plan.

I want to make the photography portion of your wedding day feel effortless. You should be able to enjoy spending time with your family and friends, eat the delicious food you spent hours choosing, soak in the little moments, and trust that someone experienced is capturing everything happening around you.

And don't forget to read reviews from past couples, too. Their experiences can tell you things that a portfolio can't.

Want to hear from some of my past couples? Read their love letters below.

5.   Choose Someone You Trust With Your Wedding Day

After you've looked through galleries, talked to photographers, compared packages, and read reviews, there's one question I always recommend asking yourself: Do I trust this person with my wedding day?

Your wedding photographer will be there for one of the most important days of your life. They'll be there when you're excited, emotional, nervous, and celebrating. They'll be responsible for preserving moments you'll want to remember long after your wedding day has passed.

That requires trust—not only in their artistic eye, but also in their experience.

To me, that's what wedding photography is ultimately about.

Yes, I want to take beautiful, timeless photographs for my couples. But I also want them to feel completely taken care of throughout the process. To know that when their wedding day arrives, they can be fully present with the people they love and leave the photography in my hands.

Because years from now, I hope you don't just see a beautiful photograph when you look through your wedding gallery.

I hope you remember exactly how you felt that day.

Finding the Right Nashville Wedding Photographer for You

There isn't one perfect wedding photographer for every couple. What matters is finding someone whose work you genuinely love, whose personality feels like a good fit, and who makes you feel confident that your wedding day is in good hands.

Take your time. Look at full galleries. Ask questions. Pay attention to how you feel when you talk with each photographer.

And when you find the person who feels like the right fit, you'll know.

If you're planning a wedding in Nashville, throughout Tennessee, or a destination event, and are looking for timeless, fine-art wedding photography paired with a warm, thoughtful experience, I'd love to hear more about your plans.

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Maria Gloer Photography offers a full service experience providing classic and timeless storytelling wedding photography in the Nashville area + destinations. | "I am passionate about documenting real and raw moments for couples looking for timeless and heartfelt images."