10 Mar How to Choose the Right Wedding Photographer in Malaysia? (Without Losing Your Mind)
Hi brides and grooms to be!
Let’s cut to the chase: choosing your wedding photographer is like swiping right on a dating app—except this match has to nail your big day.No pressure, right? But don’t panic! Here’s your step-by-step guide to finding “the one” without spiraling into a Pinterest-induced meltdown.
We try our best to not run away from tough questions, and may the best suited photographer be at your wedding day shooting the wedding.
1. Stalk Their Portfolio Like a Pro
Don’t just glance—analyze. Look for:
- Lighting: Do indoor/outdoor shots look natural, or is everyone glowing like a radioactive potato?
- Emotions: Are the couples laughing, crying, or staring blankly into the void? You want photos that feel alive.
- Consistency: Do all their weddings look the same, or do we adapt to different vibes?
- Your Traditions: If you’re planning a Chinese-Malaysian wedding, hunt for tea ceremonies, bridal games, or yum seng shots in their portfolio. No luck? Ask if they’ve shot similar rituals!
Pro Move: Request a full wedding gallery (not just highlights). This shows how they handle entire days—not just the Insta-perfect moments. Also, half portfolio is not shown in photographs. It’s our ability and experience to read the room, problem solving and getting the day along that aren’t shown in photos. How pleasant are we during the wedding day?
2. Vet Their Experience with Your Wedding Style
Ask these questions:
- “How do you handle fast-paced traditions, like gatecrashing games or tea ceremonies?”
- “Can you share a timeline from a past wedding similar to ours?”
3. Chemistry Check: Book a online Call
Treat this like a first date. Do they:
- Make you laugh or put you at ease? We try! Jon is a afterall, an introvert in an extrovert environment when he shoots.
- Ask questions about your own plans, and how would we be executing them
- Our style of photography is a good mixture of candid and staged ones, and when put together, it features an amazing wedding story
- Similar to point 2, this is the best time to ask us to show you the entire portfolio, because we are not selling you instagram highlights and bangers only. The ones you don’t feature on instagrams are your aunt’s and close friends favourite
Script This: “We’re shy in front of the camera—how do you help couples relax?” If they say, “I’ll make you do TikTok dances!” and you’re into that? Perfect match. – ps. Don’t do tiktok dances 😉
4. Budget Like a Boss
Before falling in love with their work, ask:
- “What’s included in your packages?” (two photographers? Editing?)
“Do you charge extra for overtime or travel?”
Our packages are catered and fit most to wedding timelines that are hosted in Malaysia. There are a few general rules that Jon doesn’t break.
- All our wedding ends at 11pm, any additional coverage time is overtime charges. It’s simply trying to make sure that we as working crew have a balance day. A day running around proof to be even more challenging for our dear old Jon these days.
Pro Move: Allocate 10-15% of your total wedding budget to photography. Yes, it’s a splurge—but you’re paying for memories, not just pixels.
5. Assign a “Photo Wingman”
Delegate a detail-oriented friend or planner to:
- Round up family members for group photos (no one can hide from Auntie Lisa).
- Handle timeline hiccups so you can focus on not spilling wine on your dress.
Your Checklist for Choosing The Photographer
✅ Portfolio matches your vision + traditions
✅ Clear answers about experience and backups
✅ You vibed during the online call
✅ Contract details are fair and transparent
✅ They’re within budget (no kidney-selling required)
Final Thought: Your photographer isn’t just a vendor—they’re your memory-making sidekick. Trust your gut. If their work gives you goosebumps and they laugh at your terrible jokes? That’s your person.
Got questions? Drop them below! And if you’re planning a wedding, check out our post on Pre-Visualization with our photos to plan your wedding.
Now go forth and find Jon, your photo soulmate! 📸✨