The people over at RucheBlog (the blog for the online vintage boutique Ruche) is running a fun series lately about hiring and working with your photographer for your wedding. I ran across the feature and thought it would be a great thing to share here since the information is really great and I agree with so much of it.
They started the series with How to Choose a Photographer.
I agree with so much of what the writer, photographer Jessica Claire, says, particularly on some particular points that I’ve paraphrased and added my own spin to below:
1. Research photographers to find those who present a style of photography you like. Check out their online portfolios and make sure that most, if not all, of their work appeals to you. Each photographer is different (we are all artists afterall) and the work of one is often very different from the work of another. Find a photographer who consistently offers the style of photography that speaks to you and remember that these photos are photos you’ll have forever.
2. Budget, of course, is important when deciding on a photographer. The key thing to remember when you’re deciding on a budget for photography is that you’re not only paying for the work of a photographer, you’re also paying for the experience of a photographer to be sure that he or she can handle any situation on a wedding day. Though we all plan for a perfect wedding day, things can happen that throw off plans a bit and you want to be sure that your photographer has the experience and skill to still create beautiful images reminiscent of their portfolio despite any hiccups in the day. For example, lighting issues, rain and running behind schedule (things that are common on wedding days!) can all throw off a newer, less-experienced wedding photographer while he or she with more experience will be able to create beautiful images regardless.
3. Hire a photographer whose personality appeals to you. Some people don’t realize that you will spend more time with your photographer on your wedding day than anyone else, so you definitely want to make sure that the photographer is enjoyable to be around for both you and your fiance.
There is more detailed information in the article that addresses a few more aspects of choosing a photographer, so check it out if you’re currently on the hunt for your own photographer. 🙂
The next article was written by photographer Stephanie Williams and is all about how to prepare for your photographer, which is an article I love as it’s mostly things I tell my clients as we prepare the final details of the wedding day. The tips here in this article are mainly about having these ready for when your photographer arrives to start the Getting Ready photos. It also mentions how to arrange for when your photographer will eat dinner during the reception (something for which your photographer will be very thankful).
However, I would add that leading up to the wedding, it’s important to make sure your photographer is filled in on the day’s details (either by you or by your coordinator). I typically like to touch base with my clients 3-4 weeks before the wedding to ask about final day-of details and timeline information. This gives time to make some changes to the schedule if I feel we need more time for photos at certain parts of the day. The information I always like to ask clients at this stage of the planning is below so that we can be sure the day goes as smoothly as possible- making sure your photographer has this information ahead of time is really helpful.
Questions to consider when planning your wedding day photography timeline:
1. Where will you be getting ready? Some brides and grooms get ready at the venue, but some get ready at homes are hotels nearby. In those cases, we just want to make sure we schedule enough time to get great Getting Ready photos and then travel to the venue.
2. How many bridesmaids and groomsmen are in your wedding party? Larger wedding parties typically require more time for photos and also require more time for transport if you have multiple locations for your wedding day.
3. How many family group photos do you anticipate? I always make sure I have a list of family group photos before the wedding so that I can bring that list with me on the wedding day and be sure we don’t miss any important groups and/or family members on that day. The wedding day is not the best time to figure out which family members you’d like included in formal group photos- it’s much better to figure that out before the wedding day so that you can tell family members where to be and when for the photos. It makes things go much more quickly so that everyone can have more time to party! 🙂 Sometimes, it fits the timeline best to do the family photos immediately following the ceremony, but sometimes it’s best to do them before, depending on the light, time of day, venue, etc.
4. Do you want to do a First Look, or would you rather first see each other at the aisle? I totally understand and respect the tradition of the groom wanting to wait to see his bride for the first time when she walks down the aisle. However, sometimes clients see a benefit to seeing each other before the ceremony- whether it be a timing benefit, or just the benefit of being able to spend more time together on the wedding day. Knowing whether you are willing to do a First Look is helpful to determining the timeline for the day. Make sure you talk to your photographer about these options and consider logistics, timing, lighting/time of day to help you decide. 🙂
I know that choosing a photographer for your wedding is such a big, important decision. Hope my thoughts and the two linked articles are helpful to you if you’re searching for your own photographer!
