When it comes to hiring your wedding photographer we want to know what's most important to you. What are the absolute must-have items that need to be included in your photography package? How big of a role does price, quality and customer service play in your hiring decision?

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A: If the couple decides to take pictures together before the ceremony, the photographer will usually set up a moment for the couple to have their “first glance” or the “first look”. This is the opportunity for the photographer to capture the expressions and emotions of the bride and the groom as they see each other for the first time on their wedding day. This is a fabulous example of the “first glance” moment, taken by Maureen Ford.
Click pictures to enlarge

Do you have a question? Email us and we will be happy to answer it.

 
Must Take Shots 11/29/2009
 
Every detail of your wedding is important. From the clothes, to the flowers, to the people. To ensure your photographer captures it all, set up a pre-wedding meeting to discuss the timeline and details of your wedding. Your photographer should provide you with a detailed schedule of which pictures will be taken when.  

At the meeting provide them with a list of must-take shots. The list should be short but inclusive of all the family and friends that you want pictures of, as well as any unique traditions or details the photographer may not be familiar with. Otherwise, give your photographer the freedom to be creative and trust they will capture all of the classic moments like the cake cutting and first dance.
 
 
In some cultures it is tradition that the bride and groom do not see each other before the ceremony.  However, some couples are opting to forgo tradition and take their formal pictures prior to the ceremony so that they can enjoy their cocktail hour. If you decide to see each other prior to your ceremony ask your photographer to set up a private moment to capture the “first glance”. The following are some quotes from real brides on their thoughts on seeing each other prior to the ceremony.

“We didn’t see each other before the ceremony. I wanted to look at our pictures and know they were taken after we said ‘I do’.” - Kim

“We did pictures together before the ceremony and for me I think it was a great decision. The first moment was very special and then walking down the aisle was another special moment. Plus I think seeing him and spending time with him really helped keep me calm. I probably would have been a nervous wreck otherwise. ” - Christina

“We kept with tradition and didn't want to see each other before the ceremony. It honestly, was such an incredible moment to see each other as I walked down the aisle for the first time that day. I wouldn't change it for the world!” - Vanessa

“My sister and brother-in-law saw each other before the ceremony and did the ‘first look’ photos and it was absolutely a magical moment for them! I’m glad I was there to witness it. It was beautiful, we all cried and the pictures were amazing!” – Cher
 
 
Click below to receive a list of questions to ask the photographer during your intial meeting.
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Depending on your budget and the size of your wedding you may want to consider hiring a second photographer or an assistant for your photographer. So, what’s the difference between the two? A photographer assistant is a person hired to support the photographer. The photographer assistant helps with the logistics and streamlines the process of taking formal pictures by getting everyone organized and picture ready. The assistant will also help with hauling the equipment and having it ready when the photographer needs it.  

A second photographer is a trained wedding photographer brought on to make sure each moment is completely documented. With a second photographer you get much more coverage. Nothing should be missed because the photographer never has to make the decision of what not to shoot in the event there are multiple “picture perfect” moments happening simultaneously. Also, having two photographers reduces the need for the photographer to move around as much, which can be distracting, especially during the ceremony.
 
 
Your photographer will be by your side all day and will be responsible for capturing the story of your wedding from start to finish. Your photographer should fit your style and be easy to work with.  

There are two primary approaches to wedding photography, traditional and photojournalistic. Traditional wedding photography consists of images that are more classically posed and require a great deal of photographer control and interaction on the day of the wedding. 

Photojournalistic photography focuses more on candid and natural images with little intervention from the photographer. Many photographers will use a combination of these two styles as well as some editorial, detail and glamour shots to tell the complete story of the wedding day. 

In addition to asking family and friends for recommendations ask your reception site manager if they have any recommendations. Photographers who are familiar with your location are a plus (but not necessary) because they will have first hand knowledge of the location and will come ready with ideas of what shots work best with the space and lighting available. 

Be wary of large studios that assign a random photographer to you on the day of your wedding. You should be able to meet and review the work of the photographer that will be shooting you on your wedding day. When reviewing the photographer’s portfolio ask them about their style, background and specialties (i.e. hand-coloring, black and white, or sepia-tone photographs). While a photographer can tailor certain aspects to suit your needs, a photographer’s style and technique will not change drastically from shoot to shoot.  If the pictures in their portfolio are not what you are looking for then this photographer is not for you.

If you like what you see in the photographer’s portfolio also ask to see a full set of proofs from a recent wedding they’ve shot. While their portfolio and website/blog are great for getting a sense of their overall style and aesthetic, they are a compellation of their “best” work and they only consist of a small percentage of the total number of pictures they actually take. Seeing a full set a pictures will give you a better sense of their consistency, quality and their keep rate (i.e pictures that are frame or album worthy). Keep in mind, on the day of your wedding your photographer is going to take hundreds possibly thousands of pictures, you need to make sure that out of all the pictures they take you end up with more than just the 5 great shots you would see in a blog.

Lastly, during your meeting ask the photographer if they travel with backup equipment to use in case of equipment failure. Also ask if there is a backup photographer they work with in the case of an emergency and they are not able to be there the day of your wedding.