Words can be such meager things. There are no words to describe the importance of a wedding day and the value that brings to the new couple, their family, and friends. A monumental occasion where the stars align. There is no better occasion to capture than the powerful love of a newly married couple. Whether you’re planning the days leading up to the wedding or the wedding itself, these moments are precious and deserve to be preserved. The best way to accomplish this is to have a fully composed plan. This proper plan will enhance the experience and smooth out any anxieties you may have about it.
Finding the Perfect Wedding Photographer
The best place to begin is by compiling a short list of potential photographers who specialize in wedding photography. By coming up with a short list, you can cross-reference their portfolios, their style, and their prices, all of which are important to account for in your planning. Once you narrow down the photographers based on those criteria, setting up a meeting with them to see if they are a good fit for your style. It will help you set the proper expectations and determine whether they are compatible with your wedding’s style and vision.
Setting a Budget
When it comes to setting a budget for your wedding, there are numerous components to factor in. A wedding photographer is a relatively expensive component of the day. Obviously, there are other factors that will be important for the day, but the photographer’s work lasts far longer than the day itself. When allocating funds, consider what you expect from the photographer, including prints and copies of your photos and potentially a videographer. However, I would advise against the latter if your budget cannot accommodate for the service. In this form of expense, there needs to be a conversation that discusses the balance of quality and affordability. Sometimes, you have a photographer who is well within your budget but may not be the best suited for the job. Occasionally, you will have a photographer of a high caliber that may exceed your preliminary budget but fits the mold better than the rest. This ultimately comes down to your own discernment, what works best for you.
Establishing a Timeline
Once you have selected the proper fit for the job, the next step is to establish the timeline, which is accomplished only by clearly communicating between you, your spouse, and the photographer. This includes the conversation about pre-wedding photography sessions and even as far back as engagement sessions. Now, this will require forethought, which you will also need to include in your budget. Determining these will set a clear timeline as to what is expected of the photographer. With this communication in place, you can schedule the sessions and add them to your calendar. Not to mention, the session that will occur on the wedding day itself.
Choosing the Right Locations
When lining up pre-wedding shoots, it will be very important to consider the venues and locations that align with your desired aesthetic. Whether you’re surrounded by a lush forest, a majestic beachside, or ornate architecture, your options are limited only by your imagination. Well, technically, you’re limited by your budget, but that’s neither here nor there. When considering these venues, you may add some indoor and outdoor options will add some variety to your photos. Some locations will require you to seek permission and acquire permits for photo sessions in public spaces, so that is something to keep in mind.
Creating a Shot List
Now, this is a rather minor component to include, but depending on how detail oriented you are, this may be a fairly important one to include. In your photographs, you may want to line up special locations, poses, and even props depending on the session. In the sessions, keeping a balance between candid and posed portraits is important. Candid shots show the world who you are, the real you, in those precious moments, while posed portraits give a form of insight into your style. If you have any special requests, communicate with the photographer about what you are attempting to create.
Preparing for the Big Day
You will have a great deal of other things on your mind in preparation for your big day. Not many of those factors will come to influence your photographs, apart from things such as your hair, makeup, and wardrobe preparations, all of which align perfectly to capture the special moments in your wedding. Communication is the key to all these factors. When lining these schedules and appointments up, communicate with the photographer. By letting them know, they may be able to incorporate this information into something of substance for your photos. Beyond that, of course, you must consider all the factors – the venues’ accommodations, the vendors’ responsibilities, the arrival of your wedding party and guests, and the list goes on. With all these things to account for, it can be easy to become overwhelmed. However, I’d encourage you to remain relaxed and enjoy the process of all of these.
Maximizing the Day of the Shoot
During your special day, you have to leave a few things to chance. The photographer is one of those things. It is our job to preserve the beautiful and monumental story of your special day. There is a mutual understanding that on the day, you cannot direct the photographer during the ceremony. Which is where we go back to the shot list. In case I hadn’t made that clear, the shot list should line up with the special day, as well as, any pre-wedding sessions you may have before. Sometimes the artful eye of the photographer may play a part in the proceedings, leading to spontaneous and candid shots. It is also our responsibility to ensure that our time is managed well and that all of the planned visuals are captured. There will be some posed shots after the ceremony, which will allow for some more candid shots that reflect your new union.
Post-Production and Delivery
Once the wedding ends, everything is in the photographer’s hands. Their remainder of their job is to sort out the best photos and remove ones that have flaws – blurred images, overexposure, lack of depth, and on and on. The photographer will review their work, developing the best images, and curate them in a specific order. When the photographer has finally finished development and editing, they will give you access to the curated album, as well as potentially offer you special frames and portraits.
When it is all said and done, the photographer should be able to bring out the love of what the day represents. It is the photographer’s job to capture the essence of the day, and these are steps to make that happen. The memories that you made will be preserved for the rest of time and no one will be able to take that from you. I hope this comprehensive guide will help you through the obstacles of your special day and that I have added something to your day.
Warmest regards,
Logan Clark