10 Things to Ask a Potential Wedding Photographer
Finding the right vendor for you can be tough, especially the right photographer. After all, they’re capturing the most important day of your life! It’s crucial to ask the right questions so you have all the information you need before making a decision. Here’s a few things I think you should ask before making things official.
10 Things to Ask a Potential Wedding Photographer
Finding the right vendor for you can be tough, especially the right photographer. After all, they’re capturing the most important day of your life! It’s crucial to ask the right questions so you have all the information you need before making a decision. Here’s a few things I think you should ask before making things official.
1. What’s your photography style?
There are various kinds of wedding photography out there. Styles such as photojournalism/documentary, traditional, and fine art are all common among wedding photographers (or some combination, like me). It’s OK if you don’t know the difference, just ask your potential photographer to describe their work to get an idea of their photography style. It helps to see if you are a good fit!
2. Do you have a team?
Depending on the size of the company, a photographer may have a few other employees that shoot weddings, therefore the person you’re speaking with may not be your day-of photographer. If the person works solo, like me, then they’ll be the one capturing your big day, potentially with the help of a second shooter to make sure every moment is documented.
3. How long have you been photographing weddings?
You’ll want to get a sense of how long your wedding photographer has been in the business and what their workload is like. Understanding their experience can help you make an informed decision.
4. Can I see examples of your work?
This is an important one! Be sure to ask for recent examples so you can get a sense of their photography style. This will be very helpful for deciding if they are the right photographer for you. You’ll want to see more than their best work, so make sure to check out a full wedding album.
5. What is your favorite part of photographing weddings?
This question gives you an idea of what your photographer is drawn to, and what their favorite part of the day is. Their answer will give you a little insight into who they are as an artist, and what aspects of the day they focus on.
6. Have you worked with my planner before?
If they say yes, your wedding planner is a good person to ask for a third party review of the photographer. You can get outside input of the photographer’s style and work ethic. Your planner and photographer will work like a team, making sure you stick to your wedding day timeline.
7. What does your package include?
You’ll want to find out what exactly is included in a wedding day package. You’ll want to ask if it includes an engagement session, photographer for pre- and post-wedding events, and editing and retouching your images in post-production. You should also take this opportunity to figure out if the package is at all customizable, so you can add or subtract things based on your needs.
8. What is the backup plan if you are unable to shoot my wedding?
If your photographer is unable to shoot your wedding last minute due to an illness or emergency, you should know what the plan will be. Understanding this well in advance will prevent any future stress if something does happen. Always good to have a plan in place!
9. How do you manage the timeline?
You want your photographer to have good time management skills so you don’t miss any part of the wedding and stick to your wedding day timeline. For photography, good light is key, so asking about sneaking out for sunset. Your photographer will love you for it, and you’ll get amazing images! Ask if they’d like to be included when developing the timeline so that everyone is on the same page.
10. Can I see a contract?
Before putting pen to paper, ask to see their contact. Read it over carefully and come back with any last minute questions. After those are answered you can make it official!
If you’re curious, you are always welcome to give me a call and ask questions!
What to Wear For Your Senior Portrait Session
The question I get asked the most by my seniors is, "what should I wear?" Senior portraits are supposed to celebrate your personality, so that is a difficult question to answer. However, there are a few tips & tricks that make it easier to be photo-ready!
What to wear for your senior portrait session | 5 Tips to Make You Look Your Best
When I sit down for a senior portrait consultation, the number one question I get is, "what should I wear?" This is actually a difficult question, because the answer is different for everyone. My next question for you is, "what do you usually wear?"
Senior portraits are all about YOU. They are supposed to highlight your personality, interests, and style at this point in your life. That being said, there are some tips and tricks that can help you look your best.
1. Neutrals are classic (Accessories are fun!)
You are going to be looking at these photos for years to come. Incorporating your own sense of fashion is important, but having something that you aren't going to regret is important as well. Neutral colors always photograph well. Beige, ivory, grey, rose, brown, black, blue, burgundy & olive allow the attention to go back to where it is supposed to be - on you.
To add in color and coordinate with the background, bring lots of colorful and fun accessories that we can play with! Things like your favorite hat, a bright scarf, a bold necklace or earrings, and more can be mixed and matched to get a variety, without having to change constantly.
2. Avoid busy patterns & stripes
A very busy or colorful pattern can draw the eye in a photo. Patterns are fine, but try to stick to something that is neutral in color, or a subtle pattern that won't draw attention. To get the look of a pattern, you can always mix and match textures and layers to create interest in your outfit (think chunky knits, lace, crochet, scarves, vests, etc).
3. Dress to impress
These are once in a lifetime images. You're not going to have another senior portrait session. In all my senior sessions, you can have unlimited outfit changes. My suggestion is that one outfit is more formal. Go big! A formal gown, or a suit, can definitely make an impression (at least for one or two shots). Many of my seniors choose to do night shots. A formal outfit is perfect for those - it adds a little extra glam.
4. Don't forget about your shoes
Many people spend so much time thinking about their outfit, they forget about the shoes! Your shoes will be in some of the images, so make sure you have clean shoes that are camera ready. If you do choose to have outfit changes, make sure the shoes you bring match all the outfits, or that you bring more than one pair.
Girls - heels photograph very well, but we do a lot of walking during your shoot. If you're planning on wearing heels, bring a pair of comfy walking shoes that are easy to slip on and off so that you're comfortable while walking between locations.
5. Be Comfortable
This is probably the most important one. DON'T go shopping and pick something you're not sure about. If you look in the mirror, and you don't think it works for you, don't bring it. These photos are about capturing you. You should feel relaxed and comfortable in what you chose to wear (especially since you'll be sitting on the ground, climbing on things, jumping, and more during your shoot!).
bonus tips
Pinterest is a great tool to get ideas and inspiration. You can even add me on a board and we can collaborate together.
We'll sit down at the studio for a consultation before your shoot to plan everything out - so don't stress. Together, we'll go over style ideas (boho, grunge, glam, classic, etc), and plan outfits and locations around that concept (or two, or three!). The options are limitless.
Make sure you check out my info on senior portrait sessions here!
Three Steps to Avoid Wedding Day Amnesia
Three Steps to Avoid Wedding Day Amnesia
How to Remember the Most Important Day
Wedding day amnesia can happen to anyone (grooms and brides!). I definitely have a fuzzy memory of parts of my wedding, especially the busy, crazy, running around and having fun parts. After planning your wedding for a year or more, the day itself seems to fly by. You'll be surround by friends and family, and having an absolute blast. I think it is the overwhelming amount of emotions, events, and partying that can cause you to forget parts of your wedding day, or (like me) only remember a blurry, fuzzy version. Planning time for yourself, and time for just you and your partner, will help to center you, and allow your mind to remember everything.
Step 1:
During the getting ready, step into the bathroom (or bedroom, or hallway, or anywhere you can get a moment of peace!), shut the door, look into the mirror, and take a deep breath. You're really about to do this. You're getting married! Think about all the reasons you love your partner, and why you want to be with them forever. Think about the proposal, and your first date. Think about how excited you are to see them at the first look (or walking down the aisle). Remember how you feel in the moment (also don't forget to eat - you don't want to pass out during the ceremony!).
Step 2:
After the ceremony, when you walk down the aisle, don't stop and talk to everyone. There will be plenty of time to stop by everyone's table during the reception. Take a short walk, just the two of you (your photographer will follow behind you getting awesome candid shots - but you can ignore them). Talk about how crazy it is that you're married now. Talk about your excitement for the reception. Just be present and with each other. When you've had a few minutes together, then go back into the craziness of family photos!
step 3:
During the reception, you can coordinate with your photographer to sneak away for a minute. It is a little easier to leave the party for a few moments if someone else (the photographer) is asking for you. Take a few sunset/night-time shots, and then your photographer can go back inside and continue capturing the party, leaving the two of you to have another private moment to talk, or just be with each other. Go back in and keep partying when you're ready!
Throughout the day, just take a moment. Take a deep breath, and look around. If you do these three things, it will help you remember the best parts of your day, and allow you to be fully present. As an extra bonus, having those candid moments built into your timeline will make for awesome pictures!
Thanks for reading. If you have questions, or just want to chat, contact me!
