5 Tips to get the most from your wedding photography

So you’re engaged! YAY! You’ve set a date, painstakingly selected the perfect venue, started on your guest list, maybe you’ve even found the dress of your dreams. But now comes the daunting task of selecting a photographer. There are a lot of us. There really are. I get it. I do! And we come in all sorts of styles, price ranges, skill and experience levels. But if you’re anyone like me, then photography is THE most important thing to you.

Your photographs are the ONE thing you will have (besides each other) after the vows have been spoken, the cake has been cut, and the bouquet has been tossed. The flowers will dry up, the cake will be eaten, the bubbly will be popped, and the dress will go in the closest.

Your day will go by in a blur. It will. Trust me. BUT your photographs…those you will have forever. You will have the moments you may have missed right in your hands. Your photographer will have perfectly captured how gorgeous your bouquet is, how stunning you look in your dress, the smiles and tears you both shared during your vows, the cake you smashed in each other’s faces, the wild party and endless celebrating of your love together!

So how can you make sure you’re left with amazing photos (read: memories) after the big day is over?

1.) Research. Find a style of photography you connect with. Dark and moody, light and airy, fresh and bright, traditional and classic, rich and vibrant, heavily posed, casually candid, photojournalistic, etc. What style can you envision seeing yourself in? How does your own personal style and energy mesh with this style of photography? If you love bright colors, crisp whites, and preppy casual vibes, then chances are a photographer with a dark, moody and an avant-garde posing style isn’t going to be the best fit.  

2.) Connect.  It is equally important that you like and connect with your photographer as much as loving their work!  Aside from your main squeeze, your wedding photographer will most likely be the person you spend the most time with on your big day. We are there for everything. That’s our job! We pride ourselves on being a perfect blend of stealth-ninja meets supportive friend because we want you to feel relaxed and just be yourself. It’s important that you be comfortable with your photographer because, simply put, if you feel tense, it shows in your photos.

3.) Invest. Invest. Invest. Yes, I’m getting right to the meaty part. I absolutely know how important budgets can be. However, this is one area where I would encourage you to change how you see your budget and think of your wedding photography as an investment. Keep in mind, your investment goes hand in hand with quality. We all have heard to think of quality over quantity. That is true for photography as well.  As I mentioned earlier, your photos are the ONE thing you will have after the day is over.  Do you really want to compromise on quality?  Five AMAZING images that you LOVE to look at everyday and WANT to frame in your home will always win out over fifty so-so photos that you keep hidden on a usb. If the difference between having your dream photographer and not having them isn’t a huge leap in price, look at balancing your budget in other areas of less importance.

4.) Let go of Pinterest. Yes, I said it. Blasphemy, I know! While pinterest is an excellent resource for inspiration, it is just that. Inspiration. It is a great way to explore ideas you may want to incorporate into your day, find a color scheme that you love, or even (ahem) find your vows. However, Pinterest may actually be your undoing when it comes to your photography. You didn’t hire the photographer that captured those Pinterest worthy poses, you hired your own amazing photographer because you loved their work.

With that being said...

5.) Trust.  Above all else, trust your photographer!  You’ve done your research, you love their work, and you love them! You’ve invested in an excellent wedding photographer, who absolutely loves what they do. Which is to serve you! So LET them. They know how to find the best lighting, the best locations, and the best poses to flatter you and your love. Trust that you couldn’t have chosen a better photographer for your big day, and let them WOW you! So when your photographer says to you, “Pssst….Hey, let’s sneak out of the reception to catch some sunset photos!”  Trust that they know you’re about to get some KILLER shots.