When you’re planning your wedding, you’ll spend hours searching for your vendors… weighing your options, running the numbers to see how everything fits in your budget, Googling reviews, and more. We get it! That’s totally how it was for us, too, when we were choosing vendors for our wedding back in June!
If you’ve already picked all your vendors, one thing you may NOT have considered is how to work with the vendors you’ve chosen! Your relationship with your vendors is only beginning when you pick them… you want to make sure you get the most out of your experience with the amazing people you’ve chosen! Today, we want to chat with you about how you can get the best experience in working with your wedding photographer! Here are our best tips!!
1. BE UP FRONT
One of the best tips we can give you about working with the wedding photographer you’ve chosen is to be up front with them! For example, if you have your heart set on an engagement shoot in the middle of a field, and you want your flower-crown-wearing dog to come too, awesome! Just let your photographer know about your vision! If you are open with your photographer about what you want, they will better be able to serve you as a vendor, and you will be more satisfied with your photos and your experience!
2. USE THEM AS A RESOURCE
Your photographer has likely shot dozens and dozens of weddings over the years… which means that they have seen it all! Your photographer will know vendors they’ve loved working with and can save you time researching dj’s, videographers, wedding planners, and more. They may also have tips on the best time to have an outdoor ceremony based on light, how many family photos to limit yourself to, and much more! Don’t be afraid to ask them questions or request recommendations!
3. LISTEN
That being said, if your photographer advises you in a certain direction, regardless of whether you asked for their advice, listen… they probably know what they’re talking about! ???? This is especially the case when it comes to timelines. Photographers are super familiar with how long certain events on wedding days can take, and they only have your best interests in mind when making timing recommendations!
4. TRUST THEM
Lastly, trust your photographer to capture your wedding beautifully! We would definitely suggest NOT sending them twelve page long shot lists over email… ha! Chances are, your photographer would already be planning on capturing the photos you’re wanting, anyways! (Of course, be sure to let them know if there is an unusual or especially meaningful detail you want captured, though.)
5. FILL THEM IN!
We actually have a super detailed questionnaire that we email our brides 3 weeks before their wedding day, which gathers all sorts of details, from the addresses we need, to special surprises and planned moments happening on a the wedding day! (Photographers… we use and LOVE Honeybook for this!) Be sure to fill your photographer in on all the fun details you have planned. That way, they won’t unknowingly miss special decor details, heirloom jewelry pieces you’re wearing, or other meaningful aspects of your day!
We hope this helps you guys make the MOST of your experience working with your wedding photographer! Xoxo!
