So you just got engaged, and are ready to start the process of planning your wedding. There is SO much to be excited for, and the adventure will be memorable. If you are going through the process or have gone through the process, you know that there are a million decisions in wedding planning. Something so fun can turn into very stressful, but thats why I have started this portion of the blog- to help all the brides looking for a little guidance from someone in the industry.
Choosing your wedding photographer can be an easy process if you know what your style is! And if you don’t, social media makes it so easy to scan through their work to see what you magnetize to most. My first piece of advice is to start with your venue’s instagram (if you have chosen a venue) and check out who has tagged that location for photos as well as their own posts. This is a great way to see how photographers take photos at the location of your wedding. Let’s say you haven’t chosen a venue, instagram is still a great help. Using hashtags or keywords based off your location will be your best friend. And if nothing else, word of mouth! See what your friends and family say about photographers they have used.
Once you have found a few photographers you find yourself liking, head to their website to see the best way to get in contact with them. I know that we are so used to sliding into a DM to ask a basic question, but the best way to get in contact with any vendor is through their contact form on their website! If you’ve seen my contact form, you’ll see I ask a bunch of questions that are important for me to know to get to know you a bit better, and this can be the case for many other vendors! Take your time writing out their contact form. Trust me, you want to be as honest as possible with your vision and who you are as people. That way, your photographer can honestly connect with you or not, and save you both a ton of time in not liking each other.
If you hear back from them and they are available, always schedule a call to meet! It is so important to get to know each other before signing contracts. This is one of the biggest days of your life, take time in surrounding yourself with people who will be in your corner all day. Photographers are the one person who spend the intimate moments of your day with you and your partner. So pick someone you can relate to, and you feel comfortable with!
Most photographers offer a complimentary engagement session with their packages, and I want everyone in the back to hear this -DO IT! This is the perfect test run to get to know how you feel in front of the camera and with their direction. Not that it has happened to me, but I have had photographer friends say that clients will be honest with how they did not vibe during their session and wished to go a different direction. It was a hard truth, but it is a brave one to decide if you are not in love with your photographer or photos.
I hope this has been helpful. Stay tuned on more tips for your wedding day.
