Top Wedding Photographers Share Their #1 Tip For Brides And Grooms

At the end of January I was contacted by MLK Books, who specialize in Handcrafted Photo Books and Albums.  MLK was putting together a list of weddings tips from 20 top photographers from around the world, and wanted to know if I would like to participate.  Since I’m always more than happy to talk about wedding photography I gladly accepted. 🙂

The idea was to have each photographer give their #1 tip for couples who were planning to get married, and could be anything from posing tips to expectations, to even tips on finding a photographer that’s perfect for them.  I put together my favorite tip and sent it off to MLK.  But then the Coronavirus problem started to become a greater part of our lives I pretty much forgot about the whole thing.

About a week ago I got another email from MLK.  The article had finally been completed and had just been released on the MLK blog.  But it had grown a bit from the original plan!  There were now contributions from 81 top photographers from around the world.  I clicked to the blog and started reading.

I have to say that I thought every tip was good, and there were a few that I intend to “steal” and use for my own couples.  What I found most interesting was that including my own tip, that 15 of the 81 photographers basically had the same advice – that first and foremost this is YOUR wedding day, and you should do things the way you want regardless of what friends or relatives might recommend.  This was far and away the most frequent tip; I guess great minds DO think alike! 😀

Here are a few of my favorite tips.  If you’d like to see the entire article please visit Wedding planning tips from wedding photographers around the world

1. Tom Ellis Photography – Remember – this is YOUR wedding!

If you have some unique ideas that you want to incorporate into your wedding ceremony and/or reception, then you should try to do so. Well-wishing relatives and friends are going to give you all kinds of recommendations, but they may not fit with how you visualize your wedding day. You can listen to their ideas, but if you decide that you would rather do things YOUR way, then that’s what you should do. Some of the best weddings I have photographed were those where the bride and groom had some really unique, creative and fun ideas that allowed them to express their personalities in their ceremony and reception. So don’t be afraid to do something different just because a friend or relative doesn’t like your idea. It’s YOUR day!

2. My Wedding Songs – Have a detailed timeline for pictures and stick to it.

One of the biggest issues with taking pictures after the ceremony is that the guests are waiting for an excessive amount of time for the wedding couple to arrive and start the meal. Guests are left hungry for hours at times. So be considerate of your guests. If you do have a long-planned photoshoot, be sure to offer plenty of hors d’oeuvres and entertainment in the meantime.

3. Mango Studios – Go for photography that is more than weddings.

Personality Chemistry is key! – Look for a wedding photographer who has a positive, can-do attitude, someone who listens to you and understands your vision. This is also a reason why you should have an engagement session. You will be able to spend some time with your photographer and get to know their working style. The more at ease you feel during your wedding photoshoot, the better chance you have at creating beautiful wedding images together.

Consistent body of work – Even if they come highly recommended, you should look for consistency in their aesthetics and overall quality of their coverage. An experienced photographer should be able to send you real wedding galleries to show that they can consistently deliver quality wedding photos.

Connection with their work – Make sure your wedding photographer’s work is aligned with your style and taste. Every photographer has their unique vision and style, which includes their shooting and editing techniques. Don’t hire a wedding photographer and expect them to shoot like someone else’s work that you like.

Get referrals – Word-of-mouth is a strong indicator of a photographer’s reputation. If possible, find several trusted sources of referrals for a photographer you’re considering hiring. You can also look online to see how often the photographer’s work is being published and printed. It’s a good sign that a photographer is producing great, quality work, consistently.

4. SW Jones Photography – Give yourself more time than you think on your wedding day.

Weddings are very complex, full days. With a generous timeline, you will be able to enjoy your day without as much chaos and stress. Double your preparation time and pamper yourself a little bit. How does that sound?

5. H Wedding Photography – You can never go wrong with an experienced photographer.

A photographer with experience can handle most of the expectations. They know exactly when to photograph the groom as he first sees the bride walking down the aisle. They know how to achieve the perfect sparklers shot, and what to do in the event of rain or snow. If you do have a specific budget and the photographer you like offers a more expensive collection, I advise to share it with the photographer. He or she might be able to offer a deal, especially if you like their work and their personality. You can still get a good deal with a photographer that is new in the industry. Just ensure that he or she is someone you can trust.

6. Allison Yin Photography – Don’t over-schedule your wedding day.

Pad your timeline so that you don’t feel like you’re rushing from one thing to the next. Your wedding will already go by super fast, so having a little downtime will help you feel more relaxed and let you savor what’s happening. The downtime is also the perfect chance for spontaneous moments (that make for great photos!) to happen.

7. Vinson Images – Maximize your budget according to priorities.

When it comes to planning a wedding, there are a lot of factors that come into play. But one of the biggest constraints that you will need to deal with is your budget. Make sure you are spending your money on the things most important to you. Ask yourself,  what do you value? Maybe you and your significant other fell in love by going to dinner every Friday night at a certain restaurant and you want them as the caterer. Or maybe you are addicted to music and want to hire your favorite local band to play at your reception. Only you and your partner know what is truly important to you as a couple. Once you know, you can then begin to prioritize your budget around those things. If your number one goal is to get married at your favorite wedding venue, then maybe you can scrape some money off the open bar and only serve beer and wine to save some money. The trick here is to spend more on what’s important and less on the things that don’t hold as much value to you.

Consider what will last – After the cake has been eaten and the dress is hung in a closet, the only thing you will have to remember this special day are the photos from your photographer. This is why your wedding photographer is so important. Prioritize what you value while also thinking about what will truly last. We have heard from so many people that they wish they spent more on their photographer for their wedding (and we are one of those people).

Think about value more than price – Comparing two vendors based completely on price is kind of like comparing a pair of Nike shoes to cheap Target flip flops. Just because one vendor is cheaper doesn’t mean you are getting a better deal. Six hours of wedding coverage from a fantastic photographer will get you more amazing images than having 12 hours with an OK photographer. When comparing vendors, yes the price is a factor, but also think about the value they are providing. A small delicious cupcake makes a better dessert than a giant poorly made cake.

How you feel matters – The way you feel about your photographer and the other nitty-gritty of your special day are the only things that matter (unless your mom loves flowers and she is paying for the wedding… but that’s an entirely different topic). Keep in mind that on your wedding day, you will spend more time with your photographer than your spouse! If you spend more money on things just to make someone else happy, you are taking money away from what makes you and your spouse happy.

 

OK, that’s enough for now, but be sure to visit the original blog to see the tips from all 81 photographers.