Communicating with potential wedding photographers ahead of time is crucial for booking the right photographer for your wedding. You’ll put a lot of time and consideration into all the details of your wedding and you want to choose the right photographer. One who will capture everything the way you envision it. You and your photographer will spend a lot of time together on your big day. You want to make sure that they not only have the style you are looking for but also the personality that will mesh with yours. Here are some tips to help you prepare for your photography consultation.
How to Prepare For Your Wedding Photography Consultation?
Take notes.
Have a pen and paper handy so you can look back over all the information you discuss. If you are meeting with more than one photographer this is incredibly important to be able to compare your likes and dislikes. It may be tempting to compare photographers on price alone but that is a huge mistake. Experience, artistry, posing & even equipment are just a few things that can set one apart from another. There are so many more factors to compare and consider than just price. Each photographer is unique and brings their own special perspective to the table. One thing I personally do after a wedding photography consultation is to send an email with a custom proposal that recaps what we talked about along with a copy of the
Expect to make a retainer.
If you absolutely love the photographer you need to be ready to make a payment/retainer to reserve them. Some photographers will even offer an incentive for booking with them at your consultation so keep this in mind when going into your meeting. Generally, all bookings are first-come-first-serve so if you walk away without securing the date there is a chance you may lose it.
Get to know the photographer.
Every photographer should have an “about” section on their website and this is a great place to start! It isn’t necessary to meet your wedding photographer in person, many times I book my couples through email by answering questions before they’re even asked. If you prefer to have more one-on-one time before making your decision, consider a phone/video call or meeting in person. I would recommend letting your photographer suggest a location since most often it will be a quieter place where you can actually talk and have fewer distractions. When meeting with my couples in person I always suggest the same place, a wine bar central in my city because it’s a super cool spot that’s quiet and really easy to carry on conversations without being distracted.
Bring photos.
Your wedding dress, your vision, and your style preferences; if you have pictures bring them. This not only helps you decide if they are the right fit but will give the photographer a look at your personality and personal style.
Know what style you are drawn to and love.
There are countless amazing photographers out there – there is no doubt about that. But, not all of them will have the style you personally envision your day being captured like. Look at several of your local photographer’s websites to start to decide what you like and don’t like. Once you have the style you want to be honed in, it will be so much easier to choose a photographer. The worst thing you can do for yourself and your photographer is to make your decision solely on the personality of a photographer and not consider what their style and approach are.
One final bonus tip!
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You want to make sure you are choosing the best photographer for your wedding day and asking questions about how they work, solve problems, or handle cancellations, will give you better peace of mind that you are booking the right one for you.
Want more tips? Here are some tips to consider when choosing a Rochester, NY wedding venue.
