Things to Remember: Photo Edition
There are endless options in the tristate area for wedding photographers. How do you know that you are choosing the right photographer for you, your budget, and your style? Here are my top 5 tips to a successful match with your wedding photographer.
Decide on your favorite style.
What does this mean? Well, there are several photography “styles” that you may come across when looking for your photographer. A few common styles to google are traditional, light and airy, dark and moody, editorial, documentary or photo journalism, Some of these styles refer to the type of editing that is done on the photos, while other key terms like editorial or documentary refer to the way photos are taken. Figure out what styles you like most to narrow your search before you even begin reaching out to anyone.
Set a budget.
This is SO important. Photography is one of the most common areas that couples wind up spending much more than they planned. So be realistic and give yourself some wiggle room. The average couple spends about 10-15% of their entire wedding budget on photography. adjust this as needed based on how important this is to you.
Meet your photographer before booking.
This is SO important. You need to be sure that you are comfortable with your photographer, considering they’ll be attached to your hip the entire wedding day. This meeting can be a phone call, FaceTime, or in person, whatever you are most comfortable with. As needed, set up meetings with a few of your favorites, and see who you connect with the most.
Ask questions!
When you meet with wedding vendors, it’s about connection, but you can also interview them, to make sure they have the qualifications you’re looking for. Some common questions you can ask.
-Have you photographed our venue before?
-If not, will you scope out the venue before the wedding?
-Will we meet prior to the wedding?
-How long have you been in business?
-Do you give a lot of direction or are you more about candid shots?
Book an engagement shoot with your photographer.
This allows you to work with your photographer before the wedding, and get even more comfortable. If you are someone who hates having their picture taken, then it’s great practice to work through that with your photographer before the wedding, and get a sense of their style and how they work. Most photographers will have this included in their packages, or as something you can add on, and as a planner, I would highly recommend it!
