Getting engaged can be one of the most exciting & blissful moments you’ll ever experience. You’ll be riding that high for a bit until it suddenly hits you…you have to plan a wedding!
It’s a task you’ve likely never been faced with before, so where do you begin? What happens first? You know you need a photographer, but how does this all work?
Don’t worry, I got you ;) Keep reading so you can avoid these 5 mistakes when booking your wedding photographer!
Mistake #1: Waiting too long to book a photographer
Typically, before reaching out to potential wedding photographers, you’ll want to:
1. Officially be engaged
2. Have your wedding date set
3. Have your wedding venue(s) booked
Once you know when and where your wedding is taking place, the photographers you reach out to will be able to tell you if they’re available. You’ll also be better able to decide if their photography style meshes with the type of wedding you’re having.
So, as soon as you have your date & venues set, it’s time to start photog-shopping. Photographers are usually one of the first vendors couples will book after securing their venue, so you don’t want to procrastinate on starting your search. Many photographers book wedding dates an average of 12-18 months in advance, and in some cases, up to 2 years in advance.
That being said, it’s certainly not unheard of to book a photographer within a year of your wedding, especially since engagements are trending shorter and shorter these days. Just keep in mind that the closer you get to your wedding date, the more likely it is that many of your favorite professional wedding photographers will already be booked. The sooner you can reach out to them once your date is set, the better.
Mistake #2: Not researching the different styles of wedding photography
It’s important to think about what you’re looking for in your photographer. Do you like a fine art, hands-on approach from your photographer, with lots of styled photos, precise posing, and intricate details? Or are you looking for more of a hands-off, photojournalistic approach, with images that capture the day as-is, portraying moments unfolding naturally, with light direction given when needed?
In addition to photography styles, there are also many different editing styles these days, so it can be confusing to know which one you like best. A photographer’s editing style is simply the way they choose to process the light & color of the final images. Similar to the way an Instagram filter changes the way the original photo looks, each photographer has their own artistic way of enhancing their original photos to create a unique editing style for their final images.
As you’re browsing different photographers, you’ll see photos that range from “dark & moody” to “light & airy,” with colors that may be desaturated & washed out, or bold & colorful. Often these choices are trends that rise & fall in popularity over the years, so you’ll want to poke around and figure out what you’re attracted to. What catches your eye?
As for me, I approach a wedding day with the intention of capturing not only the two of you, but also all of the reactions, emotions, & moments unfolding all around you. Aside from the parts of the day that call for structured photo time (family photos, bridal party photos, portraits of you & your fiance), I try to be a fly on the wall and let things unfold as naturally as possible (but don’t worry, I’ll still keep my eye out to make sure you look your best!). When you look back at your wedding photos, I want you to see and remember true, genuine moments that help you relive your day.
As for the post-processing, I keep my edits clean, colorful, & classic. My editing style gravitates toward true-to-life skin tones, enhanced colors, & is generally bright in nature. You can see examples of this throughout this blog post!
Mistake #3: Not considering the importance of a personal connection
A photographer’s personality might be one of the most important factors you’ll have to consider above all else. They’re the one vendor you’ll spend way more time interacting with before, during, & after your wedding day than any of the others. No matter how much you love their style, if you don’t mesh on a personal level, you likely won’t enjoy yourself too much throughout the whole process.
Emails are certainly crucial in the beginning, because it helps get the conversation started and allows you to have those initial important bits of info in writing to refer back to later. But if you’ve gotten to a point where you’re seriously considering a photographer for your wedding day, take the time to talk face-to-face, or at the very least via video chat so you can interact on a more personal level. This is why I LOVE scheduling some face time with all of my inquiries. When we can all put faces to names and get a glimpse at each other’s personalities, it makes everyone feel so much more comfortable!
Believe it or not, you’ll likely spend more time with your photographer on your wedding day than you will with your fiance…you need to make sure you mesh with this person. If you’re not someone who needs to be BFFs with your vendors, that’s totally fine! You don’t need to take it to a level you’re uncomfortable with…just be sure you get enough face time to know you’ll feel comfortable with this person spending 8+ hours with you, your wedding party, & your families.
Mistake #4: Not asking about their process
Every photographer’s process and interactions with you before, during, and after the wedding will be different. So what’s the best thing you can do for peace of mind and for planning purposes? Ask!
Before you book with your photographer, if they haven’t already outlined what you can expect when working with them, ask them what their process is before, during, and after your wedding.
Is there anything that needs to be discussed before the wedding? If so, when? Are they someone who will help you with planning if you have questions? Will they help with timeline prep and family photos lists? If they will, great! If not, you’ll know these are things you need to be prepared to tackle yourself.
Do you know how many hours they’ll be there on your wedding day? Some photographers have unlimited hours, some don’t. Some photographers work alone, while some bring along a second photographer.
How about after the wedding? Do you know how long it takes to receive your final images? Will it be a couple weeks or a few MONTHS? Do you know what it is you’re actually receiving? And how you’ll receive it?
So where do I stand with all of this? Upon booking, each of my couples receives a “What Happens Next?” email outlining the rest of our interactions before & after their wedding day. I also create a wedding day timeline & provide assistance building the group photos lists for each of my couples, which I’ve been told has been so helpful! Let’s face it, I’ve been to a LOT of weddings, and this is likely your first time dealing with any of this…so I’m more than happy to help!
Before you book, we’ll have a chance to dive into the details of your day that you know so far so that I can help to determine the number of coverage hours that will be the best fit for your wedding. And my photography coverage always includes 2 photographers – me, and a second professional photographer of comparable quality & style.
I also guarantee you’ll receive your final edited photos no later than 6 weeks after your wedding date. And before that, you’ll have already seen a few sneak previews shortly after your wedding, as well as a blog post I’ll put together during my editing process featuring the highlights of your entire day. All before your full gallery is delivered. So you’re getting little tastes along the way ;)
And finally, the 5th mistake to avoid…
Mistake #5: Assuming certain things are included in your photography package
In addition to asking your photographer about their process while working together, you’ll also want to be clear on what’s included in the price of your photography package. While it’s common these days for digital files to be included with wedding photography packages, what that actually means is going to vary from photographer to photographer. So here are some things you’ll want to clarify:
- Are digital files included?
- Are they full-resolution?
- Are they watermarked?
- Are they edited?
- Will you have a print release?
- Are you able to share them on social media?
- If files are included, how are they delivered?
- Will you receive them on a USB?
- Are they in an online gallery that you can download from?
- If so, how long will the gallery be accessible?
- Does this package include 1 photographer or 2?
- Is the photographer you’re speaking with the one who actually photographs your wedding?
- Is an engagement session included?
- If not, is it available as an add-on?
- Are digital files included with the engagement session?
- Is an album included?
- If not, are albums available as an add-on?
- Do they have a sample album you can see?
- Do they offer different types of albums?
- What sizes are available?
I know it might seem like there are a ton of questions you’ll need to ask, but honestly, a professional photographer will likely be informing you about most, if not all, of these topics throughout your inquiry process.
For me personally, between our initial email interactions and the opportunity to dive deeper into the details once we’re chatting face-to-face, you’ll have all of this information and then some!
So What’s the Underlying Theme?
When booking your wedding photographer, it all boils down to this: be as informed as possible throughout your search. Consider what your goals are for your own wedding photos and the style of photos you’re attracted to. Between Instagram, Pinterest, and Google, it’s really easy to flip through a multitude of wedding images and see which ones stand out to you the most. Save your favorites, and start looking for photographers in your area who seem to have a similar style.
Once you have an idea of what you’re looking for and you start reaching out to photographers, find out as much as you can from each one about what you can expect if you hire them, what’s included in their packages, and most importantly, what they’re like as a person! You can usually find out most of these things by looking through a photographer’s website, social media posts, and in their correspondence with you once you inquire. Any of the remaining details will often be covered in a consultation outside of the email inbox. And at that point, if you have any outstanding questions, it’s the perfect opportunity to ask!
I hope this helps you avoid these potential mistakes as you’re looking for your wedding photographer!
Ready to book your dream photographer?
If you’ve made it this far, and you know you’d love a photographer who’s all about documenting your most cherished relationships & capturing genuine moments throughout your wedding day (& if you love the photos you’ve seen on this post!), I’d love to hear from you!
Fill out the form below for more detailed information about my current availability, wedding pricing, & coverage options.
