Seven ingredients for worry-free photography on your wedding day
Planning a wedding is stressful enough without adding stress to the mix by worrying about things you cannot control. The best way to avoid having stress-inducing moments on your wedding day is to plan and prepare, which is why having a professional wedding photographer is essential to that plan. However, the presence of photographers can also be scary and intimidating for some couples. We have identified five common mistakes new brides should avoid concerning worry-free photography on their wedding day. These habits cause new brides planning their first wedding to overthink every detail and spend so much time worrying about what could go wrong that they end up not doing anything or doing it wrong. So if you are in the process of planning your wedding and want to avoid this as much as possible, here are our - Seven ingredients for worry-free photography on your wedding day:
Thou shalt not micromanage your photographer.
Photography is an art, and like any other artistic discipline, it requires skill and talent. When you hire a wedding photographer, you trust them with your most important photos and let them do their job. You do not have to be in their space or constantly supervise them. It is their job to take pictures consistent with what they've shown you in their portfolio; getting married and having fun is job number one on your wedding day. If that's what happens, the images will be great. If you are constantly checking the details, making demands, picking the shots, or otherwise micromanaging your photographer, you are setting yourself up for failure. Your photographer is there for you to take the photos you want, so the best way to help is to communicate before the wedding day what is your vision for photography coverage.
Every photographer has a list of ingredients that help them to create the end product that caused you to choose them, and they can reproduce that creativity and art if they are allowed to do so. If you or your team constantly tell the photographer what photos to take, you will annoy your photographer and have them resent you, which will likely lead to a bad experience for both of you.
When you interview your wedding photographer, ask hard questions.
Do you have my date available?
Will I have a signed contract?
Will you be the photographer assigned to shoot our wedding?
Do you have liability insurance?
Is there a second shooter?
How will you be dressed at my wedding?
How would you describe your style of photography?
What happens if you get sick or there's an accident?
Is it okay for my guests to take photographs
How long will you stay at the wedding?
Will you have backup equipment in the event of a failure?
How many pictures can I expect from my wedding?
How long before I see the photographs after the wedding?
Do you retouch your photographs?
Do you create albums?
What makes your product and service unique?
An exceptional wedding photography company should have all these questions answered in the FAQ section of their website, and it shows the value they place on your time.
At the end of this process, the questions you ask yourself should include the following:
How do I feel about the printed images now that I've seen them?
Do I like their presentation?
Do I feel connected with this person, and do I like them?
Did they listen to my concerns and show an interest in my story?
How consistent were they with their online presence?
If the answers are satisfactory, then you trust, let go and hold them accountable.
You need to be more precise about your vision for photos.
When planning your wedding and scouting photographers, you must both communicate your vision for the photographs you want to take. If one of you needs clarification about what you want to see, you will likely end up with photos that do not quite capture the spirit of your day. You want to be sure that you and your spouse are on the same page regarding what you expect from the photos.
If one of you needs clarification on what you want, your photographer may end up with photos that do not quite capture the spirit of your day. It can be helpful to create a vision board or have a photographer help you brainstorm ideas for pictures. You can talk about important things, such as the look of your wedding, the people you love, or the location of your wedding. You can also have your photographer help you think about things that mean a lot to you, such as a song or something you learned about on your wedding day.
The photographer's style of shooting attracted you in the first place. So, let that be a starting point.
Look for consistency in their style and creativity because you are expecting an end product in line with what drew you to the photographer in the first place. Above all, share your ideas and get feedback. If the answer is yes, ask why, and if it's no, ask why. The answers will give you better insight into the photographer's thought process and approach to photographing your wedding.
You do everything yourself:
While knowing your way around the day and helping your photographer when you can, it is also essential to let go and let your photographer do their job. Your photographer will be there to capture your day, and they can do so without your assistance. It is one thing to assist your photographer and direct them when they need it; however, it's another to try and do their job - this will likely lead to a disappointing and a frustrating experience for you or your photographer. Let your photographer take the reins regarding photography. The good idea is to hire an event planner and let them relieve you of the stress of planning and coordinating the wedding day events. If you show up to your wedding with the sole purpose of getting married and enjoying yourself, then that is what your photographs will show, a beautiful ceremony and celebration.
You don't hire a wedding planner:
Wedding planning is not just about finding a venue, having a few lovely pieces of wedding décor, and picking a theme for your day. It is also about ensuring that you and your bridal party are comfortable with the schedule and timeline for the day. A wedding planner can help you avoid making some of the mistakes mentioned above and ensure you are as stress-free as possible on your wedding day. If you are not hiring a wedding planner, you will be more likely to do the following things: - micromanage the details - Need to let go, and trust your photographer and your wedding planner to do their job. - keeping your bridal party waiting - Unless you are willing to go and pick everyone up at their respective homes yourself, it is crucial to make sure that your bridal party is taken care of by a wedding planner, who can make sure that they are comfortable and not waiting too long. - keeping yourself and your spouse on a tight schedule - Having a wedding planner can help you avoid running late to your ceremony, reception, or any other event that is an integral part of your wedding day. - not taking your bridal party seriously - You need to make sure that you are taking your bridal party seriously, or else you will have a rough day.
Thou shalt not keep your wedding guests waiting:
As you plan your wedding day, you will likely start to think about the logistics of how you want your day to go. You may begin to think about how you want to spend your day and how you want to spend it with your spouse. However, remember how you want your guests to spend their day. Your guests will likely travel to you for your wedding, and they will be spending money on accommodations and transportation to get to your wedding day. They deserve to have a memorable time at your wedding, and a wedding planner can take care of those details.
Don't let perfectionism control your wedding day:
Perfectionism is a common trait among many brides, but it can lead to stress when you go for worry-free photography on your wedding day. It is important to remember that when you hire a photographer, you are hiring them to take photos, not to make you look perfect. Photographers have their styles when it comes to photography, and they will likely have their way of capturing their images. You should not expect your photographer to be the same way that you wish they were. Instead, you should expect them to be who they are and to capture your unique personality in your photos.
Remember you did your homework in choosing your professional wedding photographer; now thrust your judgment and them to deliver.
What is perfect for you may be different for your photographer, which is okay.
It is okay to change your mind about what you want to do on your wedding day, and it is okay to ask your photographer if they think something is a good idea. If a photographer tells you they are worried about doing something because they believe it is not the best choice, it is a good idea to listen to them. Your photographer has a more precise picture of what's happening on your wedding day than you may. They may be privy to information you are not and have a timeline for what they must complete. It is essential to be present on your wedding day, and it is vital to listen to your photographer if they tell you that there are better ideas than this one. Trust your judgment.
Jaxon Photography | Atlanta Wedding, Portrait and Event Photographers | 659 Auburn Av., Ste G12 Atlanta GA 30312