When a person is about to get married or have their engagement photos taken, they generally have expectations of their wedding photographer. We all have expectations and that's ok. The issue is does your photographer know what you want, what you like and how to get it to you? Doesn't that sound like a relationship? It is. You have to develop a trusting relationship with your wedding photographer so that you can get exactly what you want - great engagement and wedding pictures. Just like most relationships, communication is one of the key elements to getting the great wedding photos you've dreamed about. Using these wedding photography tips will help you avoid the 3 most common wedding photography pitfalls.
Did You Clearly Define Your Wedding Photography Goals? Your wedding photographer needs to know exactly what you want and what will make you happy. That's right, it's important for you to clearly spell out what you want in your wedding photography. This is your dream wedding day and you need to make sure that the photographer knows exactly what you want. Are you interested in tons of formals or are you more interested in creative bridal images? Do you want engagement pictures or do you just want to focus on your wedding images?
One of the best ways to show your wedding photographer what you want is by using examples. I know you've heard it before, but it's true. A picture is worth a thousand words and surfing the web is free. Spend some time looking at wedding photography and decide on a style that you like. Once you find it, you can easily send the photographer an email with links to the images you want him to review. After that, make sure you explain why you like those particular images so the photographer can duplicate the style in your wedding photos.
Tell Your Wedding Photographer What You Expect. Does your wedding photographer know who you are? Obviously, you're a client but does the photographer know the real you? If the photographer doesn't really get to know you then how is he or she going to get unique images that represent your personality. The answer is actually simpler than you may believe. Tell the photographer about your basic information like, how you first met, how long you've been together, how your proposal occurred, and what do you like to do. Only by being completely honest and open with your wedding photographer, can you hope to get the type of images you've been dreaming of.
Create a Wedding Photography Checklist. To avoid any type of misunderstandings during your wedding photography, get together a list of "must have" photos. This is going to take some time on your part but it will definitely pay off when you see that you have all the images you wanted. If you ask your photographer, you'll find that most already have a list and will be happy to give it to you. A common wedding photography list could include things like the bride and groom getting ready before the ceremony, the wedding cake, the details of the venue, the rings, signing the marriage license, the formals, etc. Remember, it's up to you to make sure the photographer knows what shots you want and that list changes for them with each client.
Schedule Specific Blocks of Time for Specific Wedding Photos. Another common pitfall is to schedule a generic time slot for "wedding photos". A better way to do the wedding schedule and prevent misunderstandings is to set aside specific blocks of time for specific groups. By tweaking your schedule you'll be able to better manage your time and avoid having the entire wedding party or family hanging around for several hours. Your wedding photographer will thank you for being more organized and creating a schedule of what pictures will be taken and when.
When creating your wedding schedule, most people aren't well versed in wedding photography timelines and don't know how much time to put aside. As a general rule of thumb, you should probably allow about 1 ½ hours for the bride and groom alone, ½ hour for the wedding party, and about an hour for family portraits. Since your wedding pictures are the only tangible thing left after your wedding, it's a great idea to leave your wedding photographer plenty of time to get all the shots you've been dreaming of and put down on your checklist. Don't forget to give a copy of your schedule to the photographer, your wedding party and your family members.
Everyone has expectations and getting married is no different. The bride, groom, wedding planner, and the wedding photographer all have their own expectations to consider your event a success. The key is to get everyone on the same page and make sure that they know what you want, what you like and how to get it to you. Only by creating a trusting relationship with your wedding photographer and vendors can you get exactly what you want - great engagement pictures, great wedding pictures and a great wedding. Remember that like most relationships, communication is one of the key elements to success and getting the great wedding photos you've dreamed about. By using these wedding photography tips, you'll likely avoid the 3 most common wedding photography pitfalls.
You've spent months designing your dream wedding, and the special day has finally arrived. As you walk down the aisle in this picture-perfect moment, all you see is the new life together that lies ahead of you. WEDDINGS by Chris Sherburne Photography partners with you to record the story of your special day as it unfolds. Weddings by Chris Sherburne Photography is able to discreetly capture the most intimate moments without imposing themselves, so the couple and their guests can enjoy and relax.
From the engagement party to the rehearsal dinner, the wedding dress to the flowers, and the honeymoon to the years to come, a wedding is not an event that comes and goes its the beginning of a lifelong story. Its the day the two of you come together as one.
As a top Orlando based wedding photographer, Weddings by Chris Sherburne Photography travels throughout Florida, frequently shooting engagements and weddings in Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, Miami and Ocala. For more information on how we can capture magical moments that bring your engagement or wedding to life, contact us at Dream Weddings by Chris (.com) today for a complimentary consultation.
