Once you’ve gotten engaged, you might wonder how to choose a wedding photographer in Duluth with so many options available. Seriously there are hundreds of us running around so where do you even start? My advice would be to start with the style of photography you even want. Followed by, and this is super important, the personality of the photographer and then obviously price/whats offered.

What style of wedding photography is right for me?

You can break down photography in many sub groups but lets stick to three main categories:

1. Traditional (Classic)

• Posed, structured, timeless.
• Includes family portraits, bridal party photos, ceremony highlights.
• Photographer gives clear direction.

2. Photojournalistic (Documentary)

• Candid, storytelling, unposed.
• Captures real moments as they happen.
• Focuses on emotion, reactions, and natural interactions.

3. Fine Art

• Stylized, creative, often dreamy.
• Emphasis on composition, lighting, and artistic expression.
• Often uses unique angles, soft light, and editorial touches.

I would argue that many photographers have a little bit of all styles at some point in a wedding day but they usually focus on one type over all else.

For example, PennyPhotographics’s main focus is candid and real moments over staged and perfection. And while I always have a section dedicated to family formal photos, the majority of my time is spent wandering around the cocktail hour and reception floor trying to capture real moments. And, while my bread and butter is documentary real moments, I offer creative portraits during couple portrait time.

Your wedding photographers personality is ultra important!

Being able to be yourself around a photographer is really important. No matter who you hire, they will be a guests in your wedding, interacting, helping, etc.
Their energy and communication style directly impact both your experience and your photos.

1. Comfort = Better Photos

You’ll look more natural when you feel relaxed around your photographer.
A photographer with a personality you connect with helps you feel at ease, which leads to authentic expressions and candid moments.

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2. They Shape the Mood of Your Day

Your photographer often sets the tone during intimate, emotional, or chaotic parts of the wedding.

• A calming photographer helps reduce stress.
• A fun, upbeat photographer keeps energy high.
• A quiet, unobtrusive photographer blends into the background—great for documentary styles.

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3. Communication Is Key

Good photographers must:

• Give clear posing guidance
• Manage group shots
• Coordinate with your planner, videographer, and family
• Keep things on schedule
  A personality that meshes well with your communication style makes everything run smoothly.

And finally price/whats offered is important. I know price is a dirty word to many people, after all, we are artist and we are totally worth it and that is 100% true. However, as a human living in the world, I respect people having a price range in their head.

So what factors into price?

1. Experience & Skill Level

• More experienced photographers charge more because they deliver consistent results in all lighting and timeline situations.

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2. Hours of Coverage

• More hours = more shooting, more editing, and more labor.
• Full-day coverage (8–12 hours) costs significantly more than partial coverage (4–6 hours)
  *Check out my timeline guide to help decide how much coverage you might need!*

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3. Editing Time & Image Quality

• Editing can take 3–5× as long as shooting.
• Higher-end photographers spend more time color grading, retouching, and perfecting images.

In summary on how to choose a wedding photographer in Duluth:

• pick a style
• pick a person
• pick a range for your budget

If you like the person and you like their work and they are in your budget range, you’re good to go!

As far as PennyPhotographics goes, my style is creatively candid. That means, I major in photojournalism and minor in creative fine art portraits.

My Philosophy
I believe people love candid photos because they get to relive the unexpected moments and connections they were having with those around them.

My method
includes learning about my clients to establish trust, while adding an abundance of energy and ideas to showcase epic portraits and real moments throughout the day.

My Style
I use my skills of lighting and creative vantage points to emphasize real moments.
I then edit and deliver these images with bold and vibrant colors that are true to how the wedding-day looked.

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Want more info? Check out the Knot and their advice on how to find a wedding photographer.