Wedding Photographers – Getting the Most for Your Money

Hello, my name is Aaron Hogan of Eye Wander Photo, Inc.  I’m today’s guest blogger here to share some tips on how to choose a wedding photographer, while getting the best quality photos and being kind to your budget.

Photographers have plenty of knowledge about weddings, providing you as the bride much more than just photography on your wedding day.  While wedding coordinators are often most sought after, for providing you with feedback on how best to plan your wedding, one of your most valuable wedding planning resources is your photographer.  In this blog, I’ll explain how this proves to be an economical solution for the budget-conscious bride.

Despite what some wedding planning guides indicate, booking a photographer 12-16 months before the wedding ensures you’ll have not only the best photographer but also his or her input into how to organize the day such that great photographic opportunities naturally occur.  By booking a photographer soon after the wedding date is set, you set yourself up to have the best photographs possible.

One benefit of booking your photographer early is the opportunity to build trust and develop a friendship with him or her.  Through a trusting relationship with your photographer, you will be ensured that he or she will capture exactly what you expect and you’ll have complete peace of mind on your wedding day.

In my own photography business, Eye Wander Photo, I ensure this relationship is formed by giving my wedding clients a free engagement session.  I urge them to do the session at least six months in advance of the wedding date so that we have time to let the relationship grow.  During that time I am able to help the bride deal with any unexpected issues that come up during her planning process.

As a wedding photographer of eight years, I commonly encounter brides who don’t think of selecting a photographer until just a few months before the wedding.  This quickly results in the bride making poor choices in regards to the ceremony location, time and lighting, which in turn have everything to do with how well the photos turn out.  The photographer is the one person who will document every aspect of your wedding from pre-bridals and the dress, to flowers at the venue, to the programs and the cake.  Often they can provide valuable insight into what works and what doesn’t.  It’s important to heed to a photographer’s suggestions because long after the wedding is over, all that remains are the pictures.

Importance of Location

A true photographer can use any location to get great photos, but one thing a photographer is not is a magician.  If the couple has not booked their venue yet, they should consult a photographer for options.  While some may be out of the budget, all will be at the very least highly photogenic.  A photogenic location has more to do with the type of lighting and type of small structures on site than it does the overall “feel” and opulence of the venue.

Heavy wall texture and bold contrasting colors play a huge role in a venue’s photogenic nature. Contrasting colors would include a mixture of warm colors (reds, oranges and yellows) with cool colors (purples, blues and greens).  Ponds, bridges, small doorways, steps, alcoves and arches provide better photo opportunities in most cases than majestic buildings with elaborate gardens. The best wedding photos are the unscripted moments between people, and simple, non-distracting backgrounds and the presence of natural lighting only enhance that.

Of all the elements that make a venue truly photogenic, lighting plays the most important role. More specifically, the presence of late afternoon sunlight in the photogenic areas described earlier helps the photographer create the most breathtaking photographs filled with depth and dimension.  While most modern professional cameras can shoot in low light, it’s still important to have a decent light level to ensure clarity in the photographs.

Importance of Ceremony Time

Sunset and early evening weddings are the two most popular times for ceremonies.  From a photographer’s point of view, photos come out the best during either overcast days or late afternoon.  If you want a sunset wedding, consider having the ceremony begin 45 minutes to 1 hour prior to sunset, which allows for optimal lighting during the formal portraits of the newlyweds to be taken immediately after the ceremony.

If the ceremony is in the evening, especially one that is outdoors as is common in cooler months, make sure the photographer has an opportunity to see the ceremony site lit up at this time of day prior to your wedding day.  It will give him/her an idea of what type of external lighting he/she may need to make clear photographs.

Non-traditional Wedding Date

To save money the bride may consider having her wedding on a weekday or Sunday.  Choosing a Saturday is most common, but this highly sought after date comes with premium wedding photography pricing.  Some photographers and event venues offer discounts for non-Saturday weddings.

Bridal Registry

Ask your photographer if he or she can provide a gift registry to you so your guests and family can, if they choose, donate money as a gift towards your wedding photography package.  This has helped plenty of my own past and present bridal clients get the photography package they really desire, while avoiding some unnecessary items they traditionally receive as wedding gifts.

Choosing a knowledgeable and experienced photographer can eliminate the need for a wedding coordinator altogether, which is a great way to save money.  While a coordinator can help make this daunting process of planning a wedding easier, the photographer also has valuable information that can make the wedding not only more beautiful on the wedding day, but for generations to come through the stories the photographs tell.

For information about Eye Wander Photo visit them online at New Orleans Wedding Photographer and Facebook at www.facebook.com/eyewanderphoto.