Your are in love and there is nothing more important to you then showing that love in a way that conveys all your true feelings that you want to show. These are the moments in life you have been dreaming of since you where a little girl. Having a big beautiful wedding where you look perfect and you and your best friend and love of your life have a day filled with memories of shared laughs, hugs, kisses, and tears of joy and happiness for the thoughts of great things to come in your new life's chapter. This all is exactly what you want and can picture in your head there is only one problem your not a photographer and the only way to have those memories be able to be shared forever is through a process that you really d not know much about the cost of, legality of rights, or even what goes into the timing and planning of this works. Well know reason to panic this is a common issue amoung couples planning there dream wedding and all though there is a lot of things that go into the over all process that may be a bit overwhelming, I have some helpful tips to ensure your photographer is the right person to make your dream wedding come true for your wants and needs!!

10

tips

I am here to make you feel comfartable, and ensure you get exactly what you Allways wanted 

tip 1- understand your style

There are so many photographers with so many options and styles and packages that I can understand how deciding who is right for you or what style you like when your not a photographer can seem impossible. But the best way to understand the type of photos you like and want from your photographer is to do your homework research photographers look at photos and get the best understanding of the different styles of photos that you like. No need to complicate this the connection to photos you like should be simply what you see and like thats it. So get on your computer get to the good old internet and start looking through different wedding photos in different seasons at different venues with different colors. The options of what you can find are endless when it comes to google we all know that. So take advantage of that information and know that it will be put to good use when it comes time to make some of those difficult decisions on how to find a photographer that can give you the style of photos you want and also be able to communicate those photo visions to that photographer. 

tip 2 -lets be friends

tip 3 - Understand your budget

tip 4 - Meet in person

tip 5 -
Ask to see a full wedding album

tip 6 -
fully understand packages 

tip 7 - what is licensing 

tip 8 -
ask to see client reviews

tip 9 -
check if they are insured

tip 10 -
Be up front with your wants and needs

CHRIS WAS FANTASTIC! HE MADE THE PROCESS so EASY FOR US. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING AND OUR PHOTOS ARE BEAUTIFUL!

Suzanne & Mike

For me this is the most important tip of all and is something I tell anyone looking for a wedding photographer. Imagine this you planned everything for your wedding to the last detail and your super confident that all your work is going to ensure your day is perfect. Then the day comes and your photographer is there all day and he is the most annoying person you can't seem to communicate well with him your personalities seem to clash and he is there all day taking photos. That scenario is why it is so critically important to meet your wedding photographer and make sure your personalities fit and that this is someone you would be friends with. For a typical wedding I am with a bride and groom for most of the day right there with them that is why I understand the importance of not only being a great wedding photographer but knowing that being friendly with people and having a personality that people can feel comfortable around will only bring out better results when it comes to your photos and you having a fun relaxing day. Don't allow yourself to get sold on a great photo you may have seen. YOU still need to ensure that you like them. Some weddings I shoot are over 10 hours of coverage. That is a lot of time spent with your couple being personable is a must and something you should be sure to think of when deciding who should be handling your wedding photography. Simply put if you get along with your photographer your day will go smoother, you will be more relaxed, and it will show in your photos.  So LETS BE FRIENDS! 

I know it is your wedding day and you want nothing but the best but this tip can help save time and effort that can be put in to ways you can relax. You already got enough on your plate and there is a way this can really help. It is very easy to get caught up in all the things we want when it pertains to your wedding and rightfully so this is your day and you deserve to have the best day ever. But rearing in the background is always the all mighty dollar. We all have bills to pay and that does not go away. That is why having a budget and staying realistic with that budget when it comes to your wedding photography is a huge helpful tip that will save you time when finding your photographer. No need to contact the $15k wedding photographer if $3k is your budget. It is more important to have your budget ready be realistic in what you want and then go out and see if it possible with in your price point. This will save you time, keep more money in your pocket where it belongs. It will also help in prioritizing what is most important for you. Making a budget is a great tool and I hope you utilize to ensure you prioritize what you want and get the most out of what you pay!

This is a tip for some people that they wish they could avoid. I totally understand that it is difficult to take time out of the day to meet with someone you really dont know. But trust me when I say your wedding photography is worth it. A phone call is just not enough to truly understand if your personalities click. Remember this is the person who you are hoping is going to  make your dreams come true and be mingling with your friends and family all day. So it is worth 30 mins out of your day to meet and make sure they are the right fit for you. Most wedding photographers understand this and are more then happy to take a bit of time out of their day to meet you. Be sure to narrow down your selections to a few before you meet to save time. But this is a great way to ensure you have the photographer that is right for you and will fit in will with your friends and family. 

Lets be real, camera technology now a days has come a long way and it is not as hard as the film days to get a great photo. That is why tip number five is so important. Your wedding day is the most important day of your life and you need to ensure that your photos are handled by someone who understands how to truly handle what is needed. Wedding photos put photographers in all sorts of challenging photographic situations. From dark rooms to harsh sunlight it is hard to exactly predict what you will run into that day. This is why as a client looking for someone to handle these tough situations you need to see that they can through that full day. Just because someone has one good photo in there portfolio does not mean they know how to deal with all that can come at them when handling the challenges of wedding photography and there are no second chances when you are walking done the isle. So take the time to ask your potential photographer to see a full wedding album they have shot and make sure they are able to handle a full wedding day. 

Pricing and packaging for wedding photography come in a variety of pricing and options. Options are good but only if you fully understand what comes along with  everything you are signing up for. Each photographer is going to be different in how they structure everything from their time to the images you get, and the pricing for what is included. There is no worse feeling then thinking you are going to get all your photos to find out later that only a portion of the photos are included in the initial package pricing and the rest of the photos have to be purchases separately. These sort of frustrating situations can arise if you don't fully understand the package you are getting. Don't hesitate to contact your photographer and fully go over what is or is not in the contract. As a professional I pride my self on ensuring my clients know exactly what they are getting and never hesitate to help answer any questions they might have to fully understand the packages and what is included.

What is licensing exactly and how does it work according to the law? That can be a tricky question even for seasoned professionals let alone anyone who has not dealt with this before. The laws for copyright will be different from state to state and there is a bunch of grey area. But understand that just because you paid your photographer for your full package price does not necessarily mean that you own or will receive all of your photographs they shot,WHAT!! That is correct many times you are paying for the photographers time and equipment and photos can be at an additional cost to you after the wedding. Understanding this and speaking with your photographer before had to understand if the full licensing for all photos is included in your package is some thing that can save you time and money in the long run. 

In the day and age we live in today with social media and internet there is so much useful information we can gain to understand people and what they potentially bring to the table. Reviews are one of the best ways to get a real inside look from a client that was in your shoes. Getting a real world perspective from other brides is a great way to truly understand your photographer and what you can expect day of. That is why I post reviews on my website I want my clients to hear not from me but from other brides who have been my clients so you can understand what they think of my service. 

This is one of those tips that are important to check off the list of things to ensure but you hope you will never have to utilize and most likely wont have. But making sure your photographer is insured is an important step in protecting you and your guest and ensuring everyone is save. As  wedding photographer we have lots of equipment, stands, cameras, lens, and modifiers we use through out. We do our best to ensure we set up are equipment so that it is safe and wont fall. But sometimes when there are so many people accidents can happen. Whether its a dancing uncle who trips, a child that runs into a stand, a grandma or aunt who falls when walking to their table. I could imagine nothing worse then someone getting injured from your photographers equipment and then he doesn't have insurance and you have to deal with what comes with all of that. A simple question when your going through potential photographers can be a life saver if God forbid an accident does happen. Not to mention many venues will ask for a COI (certificate of insurance) from the photographer to even be able to photograph at that particular venue. So it is something you definitely want to check with any locations you will be at and with your photographer to make sure you and your guest are safe and can enjoy the night with no worries!

No one wants to be over bearing or be the person who comes off needy, but this is your day and you deserve to get exactly what you want and to ensure that the lines of communication have to be open with your photographer. I think many people think that because we are creatives and do this for a living we will just come with are cameras do what we do take some pictures and botta boom botta bang here are your photos. But the process to getting personal pictures that mean something to you versus just cookie cutter run of the mill photos for wedding all comes down to the details of what you want and whats important to you. The  wedding day should tell your story that is why I spend time trying to get to know my brides and whats important to them in their daily and personal lives that way I can use those creative juices to utilize that info to bring those things into the photos and make it more personable to each couple. But I cant do that unless you talk with me and are upfront with what you want. Also this is a great way to get clear answers and expectations on what can be done that day.