9 Tips

Here’s the question: What does your wedding
look like? How would you describe it
to a friend? Paint the picture. How does it
make you feel? Make it so vivid that you
can almost hear and smell it. This is important
because if you don’t know what you’re
looking for, there’s no way to ask for it.
If you’re not sure what the day looks like,
think about the blogs and magazines
you’ve been looking at or the weddings
you’ve attended. Picture yourself in those
weddings and ask yourself if it feels right
to you. With so many options, it’s important
to make sure that your wedding feels like
your event and not something that came off
a production line. The last thing you want is
to feel like you’re living someone else’s day.
There is no “one size fits all” wedding.
Some have a wild party atmosphere.
Some are intimate and romantic. Some
are family-oriented, some deeply rooted
in religion and tradition. There are casual
weddings and there are “black tie” events.
Some even have off-the-wall themes. It’s
fine to want a little from column A and
a little from column B, but try to zero in
on what is at the heart of your big day.
As a photographer, I want you to ask
yourself about what gets you excited.
What part of the day is the most meaningful?
Some people want flawless, artistic
portraits more than anything. Other
people want the little moments that
most people won’t see. There are couples
who have one or two very important
shots in mind that outweigh the rest.
A website and portfolio alone won’t give
you all the answers. You have to talk with
photographers. Find out about their process.
Find out how they capture images
and what type of interactions they will have
with you and the guests. Does their personality
mesh with yours? Are they someone
you want to spend the day with? You
want to be excited about all the vendors
you hire for your wedding day, but nobody
will interact more with you and your guests
than the photographer. This means you
need to be compatible. Will they be able
to bring out the best in large groups? In
shy guests? Do you need them to bring a
lot of energy or be a calming presence?
Can they handle a rowdy bridal party?
Your wedding starts with the venue you
choose and the vendors who will make
it all happen. Finding compatible personalities,
who fit your vibe and understand
your vision makes all the difference.
It is an absolute must that you are able
to put your full trust into the professionals
that you hire. You should ultimately
feel like the most honored guest at your
wedding, not like you’re playing host
and micromanaging the party. Building
a great team of vendors is the path
to a smooth and successful celebration.
One thing you never want to compromise
is quality. As a photographer, it doesn’t
matter if you want a full day of coverage
with an album and all the extras or
just want to go home with the digital files.
What’s important is that all of your images
are consistent in style, well composed,
well-lit and meaningful. As in any profession,
more experience often comes at a
premium. A pro with ten years under their
belt will likely charge more than a new
photographer with only a few years in the
field. It might seem tempting to choose the
lower price tag or hire a friend looking for
an opportunity, but remember what you’re
getting with an experienced pro. It’s the
ability to shoot anywhere in any situation.
It’s the confidence and cool head to handle
any situation because they’ve been
through it before. Ask yourself how crucial
it is to have the peace of mind that
your photographer is going to document
your day in the most gorgeous and insipiring
way. It all depends on how comfortable
you are with their level of experience
and their process. So don’t feel shy
about reaching out with questions: How
many weddings have they shot? How do
they handle wedding day pressure? How
will they guide you through the process?
Choosing quality vendors up front will save you from headaches down the road. If you’ve put
together a capable team, trust them. You might have a lot of opinions about how you envision
your wedding, but remember that your vendors do this every weekend. Listen to their advice
and on the day of the wedding in particular, rest easy and let them do what they do best.
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