| Planning a wedding means making a lot of decisions. | | | | wedding venue. |
| One of the most important decisions is how the | | | | The reason you want to provide this communication |
| wedding will be photographed and by whom. Based | | | | in writing is so the photographer can have it with |
| upon my 20+ years of wedding photography in | | | | them during the wedding. You may think you will |
| Kansas and surrounding states, I have prepared 5 | | | | remember to make a request at the wedding, but |
| key points that will help keep your wedding | | | | will you? |
| photography planning on track. | | | | While it's "Your Day", it is also recommended that |
| An important part of that planning process is the | | | | you review the list with your Groom and all parents. |
| selection and communication with the wedding | | | | This extra step will give them a chance to add to the |
| photographer. | | | | list; when you provide it to the photographer, it will |
| What kind of coverage do you want? | | | | be more complete and last minute changes will be |
| Wedding photography styles generally fall into three | | | | reduced. |
| categories: photojournalist, traditional, or a | | | | Plan the Schedule to Allow Enough Time |
| combination of both. Traditional photographers will | | | | Way too often the schedule does not allow for time |
| tend to work with more posed images, and have | | | | for photographs. For example, if you are a |
| great skills in lighting and working with groups of | | | | traditionalist, and want to have the formal |
| people. A photographer who is a photojournalist will | | | | photographs taken after the wedding, you will need |
| document the day from a guest's perspective, and | | | | to allow enough time. If the thirty-minute ceremony |
| will work to capture more of the day's emotions and | | | | starts at 6:00, don't have the limo arrive at 6:30 so |
| all the behind-the-scenes action. The photojournalist | | | | you can be at the reception by 7:00. It won't work. |
| will rely more upon the natural lighting of the venue | | | | Photographs will need to be cut or the limo and |
| and less on creating the perfect look. | | | | caterer will need to wait. |
| A hot trend for modern brides is to go solely for the | | | | The "before-the-wedding" schedule planning is very |
| photojournalistic style of photography. Personally, I | | | | critical. Brides often schedule hair and nail |
| think this is a mistake. Your wedding day is also a | | | | appointments too close to the time they need to be |
| day to record the family as it was on the day that | | | | at the church. These sessions can often run late for |
| you got married. You decorated the venue, picked | | | | a variety of reasons. Allow a little extra time for that |
| the dress and the tux, and you want to make sure | | | | problem styling or nail. It is better to have a little |
| those are captured as a part of your wedding day. | | | | down time to socialize than to be rushed. |
| Interview Wedding Photographers | | | | Another common area where the after-wedding |
| The work of the photographer is obviously very | | | | planning can go wrong is with the DJ. If you have |
| important. When you talk to a photography studio | | | | purchased a 5-hour package from the photographer, |
| make sure that the work you are looking at was | | | | be sure that the DJ knows that key traditional |
| created by the photographer you are interviewing. | | | | photos need to take place before the photographer |
| Many studios use contract photographers who will | | | | is scheduled to leave. |
| work to emulate the studio's style. | | | | Know The Costs |
| Another consideration is: does the photographer fit | | | | While this seems somewhat elementary, you will |
| with your personality. Even if you are selecting a | | | | want to make sure that what you are expecting to |
| photojournalist who will be taking no formal | | | | receive from the photographer is spelled out and in |
| photographs, you still want to meet the | | | | writing. Photographers do not mean to be misleading, |
| photographer and feel comfortable with him/them. | | | | but misunderstanding can happen. If you are |
| They will be seen by your guests and you need to | | | | expecting to have 4 hours of coverage, a finished |
| feel that they are a good fit for the temperament of | | | | wedding album with 20 pages and two parents |
| you and your family. | | | | albums, make sure it is spelled out in plain English. If |
| Communicate What You Want in Writing | | | | there are potential extra charges for something like |
| One of the most important things you need to do | | | | overtime or change of location, make sure those |
| when planning your wedding photography is to | | | | charges are spelled out on the agreement. |
| communicate what you want with your wedding | | | | If the photographer can't provide a simple plain |
| photographer. Many wedding photographers will have | | | | English statement of costs and deliverables you |
| a shot list that they can give you to help you plan | | | | should reconsider not using that photographer. Yes, |
| the wedding day. This list is a great start, but it is | | | | there can be variables, but those variables should be |
| generic and does not show the special images that | | | | able to be stated and written down. |
| reflect who you are or the uniqueness of the | | | | |