He asked! You said YES! Now what?!
It's time to get to planning. Date, venue & photographer are the three most urgent decisions to make!
While I am happy to give suggestions on any aspect of the wedding day, I of course am more knowledgable about the photography portion of your big day!
So here they are...... When choosing a wedding photographer.....
1) Set a reasonable budget and stay within it. This is one of the areas of a wedding where there is a HUGE range of pricing. I've heard of wedding photography for as little as $300 and as much as $20,000. WOW! Thus, my suggestion is to decide what budget to allow for photography. Remember, this is truly one of those areas where you 'get what you pay for'. Most of the time, if you pay $20,000 for a wedding photographer, you will have absolutely spot on perfect, amazing and awesome photographs. If you pay $300, you will have snapshots of your wedding day, instead of portraits. Once you have set a budget allowance, shop for photographers that are within your range.
2) Meet your photographer before you sign! You have a unique personality, individual desires, and have varied needs. Find a photographer that works well with your personality. Find one that wants to fulfill your desires for your wedding photography. Find one that offers the services, products and style that you want! Not all photographers will be the perfect fit for your day. Find one that is!
3) Ensure the style of their work is what you are looking for in your portraits! I, just as all photographers, have a distinctive style in my work. My work is traditional, colorful, vivid, with a twist of modern fun. Occassionally I will meet with a potential client who is seeking a style that is just not me. I always thank them for the opportunity, but decline to accept the contract. Why?! Because I want to ensure I can provide each bride's desired photographs. If they desire a style opposite of mine, I will not be able to fulfill their needs. So when choosing a photographer, look at their portfolio. Does their work appeal to you? Do you see photographs that you immediately say "I want that portrait for my wedding day!"? If so, then you have a fit! If not, I highly recommend continuing on with your quest until you do.
4) Are they insured?! Literally, and figuratively:) First, are they a professional photographer with liability insurance? These are the most important photographs you will ever take, you need to make sure that the person to whom you entrust this vital component to is well equiped to take on the task! I also mean insurance in a less literal sense. Does your photographer bring along a second shooter/assistant? Wedding photography is a ton of work, and it is a risk to entrust one person to be there every vital second at just the right moment. Double your chances of capturing every single moment! In this case, two is truly better than one photographer. In addition, the second shooter generally assists the lead photographer in the formal wedding photographs, with lighting, posing and rounding up everyone that is to be photographed. Again, this increases the likelihood that your photographs will be framable portraits, rather than just snapshots.
5) Lastly, are they available to you. Of course, you are counting on them to be there on your wedding day. However, are they available to you during your planning stages? Are they available to meet you at your venue to review your plans prior to your wedding? Are they available to show you your photographs in a timely manner at a convenient location? Are they available to get your order fulfilled within a reasonable amount of time after your wedding? While a part time photographer may work, often times their primary occupation takes precident over your wedding. Again, it's the adage of 'you get what you pay for'. If you hire a part-time photographer, you get a part-time photographer. This may work well for engagement session, but will it work for THE BIG DAY?!
6) Have fun! Whether it is choosing your date, your venue, your photographer, your caterer, etc.... HAVE FUN! Remember, this is YOUR DAY! You will have lots of input and advice, but utlimately, you need to decide what you want for your wedding day. Relax. Enjoy the process. And make sure you HAVE FUN!
**If you are considering Nancy Jo Photography as the creator of your portrait memories for your wedding day, let me thank you! It is indeed an honor! In order to approach each wedding with enthusiasm, fresh eyes, and excitement, we limit our studio to one wedding per month. That said, we tend to book up fairly quickly, especially at prime wedding season. We would love to discuss your day with you, and offer complimentary consultations. There is no obligation to hire us. This simply allows us an opportunity to hear about your plans, show you our portfolio and to ensure we are a good fit for your wedding day. Please feel free to call us to schedule your complimentary consultation today!
Nancy Jo Photography
107 S White Street
Wake Forest, NC 27587
919-570-1009
2014 Wake Weekly's Best of the Best Winner
Featuring the work of award winning photographer Nancy Jo Lee
Proud member of Professional Photographers of America, Professional Photographers of NC and Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce