Wedding Photography... Where to Start?
You said yes! Now what?
You experienced the butterflies and euphoria as your fiance got down on one knee and asked you to spend the rest of your life together. You couldn't wait to tell your friends and family, you had a party... and now it's time to find a wedding photographer!
This task might seem daunting at first... after all, photography has become very popular over the years. I hope that this article will help you as you embark on a (hopefully) fun time in choosing the photographer who will help preserve your wedding for a lifetime to come.
STEP 1. Ask friends for referrals
Maybe you were recently in a bridal party or attended a wedding of a friend or family member in the area of your wedding. If you loved the photos from their wedding, that could be a good place to start. You can ask your friend for their photographer's email address or phone number, and just reach out and say hello. You can mention the referral and ask to see their website, or request their wedding guide. Your venue may also have a list of preferred vendors.
STEP 2. Google search for photographers in your wedding area.
If you can't think of any photographers from referrals, another good place to start is to just search for "Georgia Wedding Photographer," "Atlanta Wedding Photographer," or insert your area. You will get LOTS of options this way, and you can start saving websites of those whose styles you like.
Another good tip for this part is to already have an idea of the style of photos you like, so you can easily know if that particular photographer fits that vision. Some common styles are moody, documentary, classic, and fine art.
STEP 3. Fill out their contact form
Almost all photographers you will find will have a contact form on their website. If you like what you see, send them a note! For me, this contact form submission will be met with an excited email back with my full wedding guide for you to browse, as well as a link to schedule a quick introductory phone call.
STEP 4. Ask all the questions
Here are some good questions to ask once you have found a photographer you like, have filled out their contact form, and are on a call with them...
-What does your contract cover?
-Can I see some full galleries?
-What is your cancellation and illness policy?
-Do you have insurance? (they should! :)
-How is payment collected and what is the payment schedule?
-What would you do if..... (insert something you may be worried about for your wedding)
-What is your typical approach to the day?
-Do you recommend a second shooter for my timeline?
That is a good place to start! Treat this as a little bit of a job interview, and get to know your photographer on this call. I personally LOVE these consultation calls because I get to hear more information about you and your fiance and what your vision is for the wedding. It's such an exciting time!
If things seem like a good fit, congratulations! You have completed one more step in your wedding planning journey. Next up... florists!
Do you have any questions about wedding photography in North Georgia and Atlanta? I would love to chat with you! Please feel free to visit the following links to learn more about my services.
