Your getting married. You want your day captured for posterity. This images are, after all, the very first family heirloom!
So HOW do you go about finding a true professional in the unending sea of photographers out there?
The Professional Photographers of America offer some excellent advice in the video below..
Head on over to the PPA, search for a photographer, fine tune your search and look for the Certified Professional Photographer (CPP). These select photographers pass a rigorous exam, maintain educational credits and continue to learn and master their craft! It is 1 way to start your process for choosing a photographer that is the perfect fit for YOU!
Check out the video below for some true life Photo Fails!
Haley & Alex were destined to be together….from days of working alongside each other at part time jobs at a local grocer, to the elegant woman and young Marine who stood before each other with their vows, theirs has been a road of not only destiny, but of faith.
With a nod to the gorgeous surroundings of the North Georgia Mountains, one can’t help but have some rustic to the theme, but doing so with elegance requires something more, and that is where our friends from The Historic Tate House come in!
If you want rustic but rustic with elegance, well, look no further than here!:
From the start of their day through a beautiful ceremony in the Tate House’s new Enclosed Garden Terrace the beautiful surroundings are Southern Elegance at it’s finest.
1) Plan ahead. We have seen advice about planning for venue, photography and other crucial components of your wedding in as little as six months out! YIKES!
NOTHING could be further from the truth! Plan ahead, way, WAY ahead, as far out as you can stand. Keep in mind no matter what particular vendor your are searching for , there are only so many weekends in the year. Solid vendors book quickly and your ability to get just what you want becomes much more difficult the closer to your date you start the process.
2) Choose and actually list your priorities. There is a reason weddings and the vendors associated with them create such variety…Your personal taste, I repeat YOUR taste is what should reflect your choices, and to some degree everyone’s is different. For some the venue is king, for others it’s the food, for quite a few it is the Photography (we agree with that one , naturally!) and with some it is the entertainment. The point being only you can define and determine what your priorities are, and this will come in handy when you start to deal with the budget, which leads us to…
3) The Wedding Budget. Once you have made the choice about what your priorities are, and going hand-in-hand with starting early in your planning process, you should list who is paying for what. Although we see an increase percentage of couples paying for some, most or even all of their wedding themselves, there still remains times when Mom, Dad or other family are picking up at least some of the cost and determining that early will help you target and define those budgets for each category of your wedding.
4) The above suggestions are assuming you have chosen a theme. I know, it sounds like there is pressure to have a specific Wedding, but it does not mean your wedding theme has to be exactly like someone else. Maybe a barn or vintage wedding is your style, or maybe classic is more to your personality. Whatever your choices is, be unique. Don’t be afraid to alter, change or mix themes if it is what’s in your heart. What you will discover is wedding planning is a true balancing act, and it is also wise to at least consider an actual wedding planner. Many venues will have at least someone to help coordinate on the day of, and that help can come in very handy to ensure a smooth flow to your day.
5) Last, and we give this advice often, relax! Taking the time to enjoy your wedding day, a day like no other! Whether it is a classic wedding, a vintage wedding, a barn wedding , a wedding at a historic site or even a wedding at your family or friends home, once the planning is done and you’ve chosen your vendors, make sure you take the time to prepare to actually enjoy the day. After hundreds of weddings we have found time and time again the weddings that rock are the weddings with brides, grooms, family and friends that have an open heart and an acceptance of small variables. Don’t stress over the small stuff! Remember, it helps to make it YOUR wedding!
Below is Courtesy of The Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel & Brandpoint
(BPT) – Some moments are simply too important to trust to a camera phone.
Your wedding will be one of the most memorable times of your life and no one can capture it better than a professional photographer. So how do you find the right one? As you begin the interview process, here are 10 questions to help you determine if you’ve found the best photographer for your wedding.
1. Does the photographer have a gallery of wedding images you can review?
Reviewing sample work allows you to see the photographer’s strengths and weaknesses – don’t fool yourself, every photographer has them. You’ll also be able to get an idea of their style. Are they formal with an eye for the perfect picture or do they love to capture the hidden moments when no one is looking? Look for images that you can see yourself in. Think of three words that describe you and share those with your photographer. Every photographer has a style and reviewing their gallery can help you determine if theirs is right for you.
2. What is the photographer’s working style?
Some photographers are orderly and operate like wedding planners. Others prefer to sit back and let the events of the wedding unfold. It’s important that you find someone who can understand and meet your expectations. Discuss this ahead of time and ask away, so that you understand how well the photographer’s working style matches your own.
3. Is the photographer available for an engagement session?
An engagement session does more than provide you with priceless images together before you get married. It’s also your first opportunity to work with your photographer and develop a relationship that will allow you to be completely at ease on your big day. Use this session to confirm if the photographer is indeed the right person to capture your wedding.
4. Will the photographer create a detailed shot list?
This list will ensure no important photo is missed during the commotion and excitement of the big day. You should be able to create that list together, add to the list leading up to the day and have a copy of that list the day of. Take an honest look at what images really matter and fill your photographer in on situations he or she might need to be aware of in order to prevent awkward moments, and to ensure that he or she can get the shots that matter most.
5. What kind of lighting will be used?
Whether you have an indoor or outdoor wedding, you’ll want to make sure your photographer has professional grade lighting equipment to deliver the images your wedding deserves.
6. Does the photographer have backup equipment?
You’ve prepared contingency plans for every other aspect of your wedding; your photographer should as well. A true professional photographer won’t miss your perfect shot because of a technology issue. He or she will always bring one or two backup cameras, lenses, flashes, additional lighting equipment, extra memory cards, and batteries.
7. Does the photographer have liability insurance?
Accidents happen at weddings and if one of your guests trips over your photographer’s light stand, it’s good to know you both are protected. Your reception venue may even ask the photographer to submit a certificate of liability ahead of time.
8. Will there be one photographer or two?
A second shooter increases the probability that no shot will be missed, especially if you are having a large wedding. If there will be two photographers, ask to meet them both to get a feel for their personalities and how well they might blend in on your big day.
9. What will happen to the images after your wedding?
Will your images be backed up to a hard drive or the cloud once processed? How long will your photographer keep the images afterward? Will they be kept for a couple of years or dumped immediately? If you have any concerns about losing your photos, knowing what the photographer plans to do with your images after your wedding is important.
10. When will you get your photos?
No, you won’t get your pictures the day after; no photographer can deliver that quickly. It’s a good idea, though, to get a general idea of the timeline ahead of time. You might even be able to agree on getting a couple of images ready for social media use very quickly. But obtaining your photos will likely take several weeks. To help with the wait, some photographers will send you a sneak peak with a few images. Just ask ahead of time!
You won’t be able to see everything that happens during your wedding day. The right photographer will capture moments you never knew existed. To learn how you can find the perfect photographer for your wedding, visit ppa.com/weddingphotographer.
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