Choosing and working with the wedding photographer
CONTENTS
This article has been on my mind for a long time. And it is in Skirt, professional wedding photographer at Ohlala Studio that I found my muse. A fashion photographer since 2008, Saya exhibits a series of portraits in New York, San Francisco and Paris. In 2012, she discovered the world of weddings and created the collective Ohlala Studio. It was at this time that she contacted me for the first time, in a 100-line block of text she told me everything: her journey, her idea for a collective and her doubts. I already knew that I was going to love this girl :)
As you will have understood, Saya is one of those beautiful people that I met on my way. She is passionate about her job and has a fair view of her profession. Which is not necessarily easy when you put a lot of love into what you do.
So it's a pleasure to have her here and share her valuable advice. Thank you Saya!
1. Choose the wedding photographer
Today it is difficult to choose your wedding photographer. With blogs, Instagram and Pinterest, you are drowned in visual information and tempted to take all the photographers of different styles to cover your wedding! So how to make THE right choice?
Choosing the Wedding Photographer // Credit – Saya Photography
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Determine your budget envelope
Start by defining your photography budget. This will help you in your search for your photographer, will avoid disappointments, will guide you in your research and above all will reduce your choice of photographers. The photographic budget ranges are currently between:
Beginners 1800€ > 2500€
Confirmed 2500€ > 3500€
Claimed 3500€ > 4500€
Renamed 4500€ > and more
Prices vary depending on the number of years of experience and the service offered by the latter (number of hours of presence at the wedding, number of photographs retouched, proposal of photo album, etc.)
Choosing the Wedding Photographer // Credit – Saya Photography
Choosing the Wedding Photographer // Credit – Saya Photography
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Determining the photographic style
All weddings are different and reflect our couples. The choice of your wedding photographer is often made because you identify with his or her world. Take the time with your spouse to settle in and remember your memories as a couple: your travels, your anecdotes, your meeting and your history. This is the information that will help you create the world of your wedding and define your photographic style preferences:
- What atmosphere do you want in your final wedding report: bright / colorful / cinematic etc…?
- What are the 3 words that will define your ideal wedding report: authenticity / naturalness / emotion etc…?
Try to keep these elements in mind during your research, in order to find THE photographer who will provide you with the report that suits you best.
Choosing the Wedding Photographer // Credit – Saya Photography
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Choosing your photographer
Make a small selection: To avoid getting lost in choosing your photographer, limit yourself to a maximum of ten photographers corresponding to your photographic style criteria mentioned above.
Contact each of them and ask them for access to a complete wedding gallery. Ask them to send you a report that would be similar to your wedding. For example, a report of a church wedding, or a secular wedding depending on whether yours is in a church or outdoors. This will give you an idea of what your photo report could be like and especially of its mastery of the different lights.
Choose the human: Your wedding photographer is the person who will follow you throughout this day, so it is important that you feel comfortable in his presence. Each photographer is unique in his experience, his past and his story. We create our photographic universe through these elements. Your wedding photos will be successful above all if you are yourself and comfortable in front of his lens, no matter the photographer. This is why it is important to complete your choice of photographic style with a choice of feeling.
Choosing the Wedding Photographer // Credit – Saya Photography
2. Prepare the meeting with your photographer
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Meet your photographer
It is important to meet your photographer before your wedding. The more transparent and authentic your relationship is, the more the report will reflect your couple.
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Wedding planning
This is also an opportunity to review your quote, contract and important points of the big day together. Each photographer has their own way of working, in order to adapt your schedule according to:
- Ask him about his habits: how much time does he take for preparations, when does he want to take the couple and decoration photos.
- Ask him about his lighting preferences for outdoor activities: this will determine the times of these activities and also the location of these activities. Prefer a ceremony in a shaded place if it takes place in the early afternoon to avoid harsh lights on the faces.
Choosing the Wedding Photographer // Credit – Saya Photography
3. The big day
Preparations: Plan two bedrooms for the bride and groom, spacious, bright and tidy. Favor natural light and if you only have one photographer try to have your bedrooms not too far from each other.
Details: The day before, put aside all the accessories that you want your photographer to take pictures of: invitations, shoes, dresses, jewelry, bouquet, guest gifts, ceremony wishes, etc.
Parents : When the photographer arrives, ask your witnesses to introduce him to the main people involved in this big day: witnesses, parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters.
Ceremony : Cut yourself off from your phones to enjoy the big day and especially to avoid costume distortions with it on your photos! Leave your family record books with your parents for beautiful photos of leaving the town hall.
Having dinner : If possible, schedule a time for your photographer to photograph the empty room.
Choosing the Wedding Photographer // Credit – Saya Photography
4. Be yourself
"The atmosphere of your wedding report is certainly done through the eyes of your photographer, through his universe but above all through your personality. On the day of the photo shoot, focus on the emotions that you want to immortalize. What do you want to see in your images? Your complicity, bursts of laughter or even tenderness. The production of a wedding report is a collaboration between the photographer and the couple. Be yourselves, enjoy this big day, because beyond his photographic style it is what will come out in your images.
Your wedding photographer is above all the witness of your story.
Photo credits
Wedding Planners:
Wedding Of Excellence in Provence
Instant Prestige
The Wedding Bliss
Call me madam
Photographer: Saya Photography Ohlala Studio
TO BE CONTINUED…
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR
If you enjoyed reading this article, you might also like:
13 Wedding Photographers with a Couture Universe
Your Wedding Budget – How Much Does It Cost?
20 exceptional places for an elegant and refined wedding
Where to find inspiration to decorate your wedding?
Saya Photography
Hello all Madame C readers!
Clementine and I hope this article will help you! Do not hesitate to ask us questions by contacting me directly if necessary! I will be happy to answer them!
Skirt
Kewin Connin Jackson
A very sensible article. Thank you! :)
Chloé
Hello Mrs. C and congratulations for this article :)
It's not easy to find THE right photographer, I'm sure this information will help future brides and grooms!
Thomas
Nice, well-written article!
Glad to see that you also put the human in the selection criteria. Because many future brides and grooms forget this very important point and only see the quality of the photos and the budget.
And the pictures are superb :)
Emilie (Remember Happiness Photography)
Amen! Thanks for this article!!
Saya Photography
Oh happy to see this article again :)
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A very good article, well thought out, complete, and above all balanced! Indeed, as you point out, we should not necessarily rely on the price, but also on the human and trust, that seems obvious to me.
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