Wedding Photography Consultations – Why they are Important

One part of my client services are wedding photography consultations.  In this digital age of e-mails and text messages, you can collect a lot of information very quickly and go about your day.  You cannot, however, get to know someone and their personality through your computer screen or phone.  Meeting with the photographer, DJ, and officiant, to name a few, will help you select the people that mesh with your personalities as a couple and fit with your wedding day visions.  On your search for a photographer, you will look at many websites and images trying to decide on who to hire.  Once you find a photographer with the style you are looking for, you will want to meet with them to see if they are a good fit for you.  Your first choice might not be the perfect fit, so don’t give up hope!  Spend the time to meet with vendors until you find the ones that fit you best.  It will be worth it when you look back at your photos and all of the wonderful memories of your special day.

When I am contacted by you as a prospective client, I will gladly answer any questions you may have asked in your initial e-mail, but I also ask right away about setting up a meeting at a time that is convenient for you and your fiancé.   I prefer to sit face to face with both of you (if possible) so we can get to know each other while we go over the details of your wedding day.  I am happy to meet wherever you’d like, whether it’s in your home, a local coffee shop, or restaurant.  As long as it’s somewhere quiet where we can chat and not have to talk loudly to each other, it’s all up to you and what will make you most comfortable.  Once we sit down, I start by collecting the general details of your day such as times, venues, wedding style and colors, wedding party, and family members.  If you have a basic timeline set up already, we’ll go over that too so I can make recommendations on when to fit in formals.  I use the timeline to come up with the best times to fit in all of the different formal photographs, so your day flows smoothly and you can enjoy it as much as possible.  If you’re still early in your planning, don’t worry!  No pressure, you can always update me later.  I also ask what style of photos you are looking for or most interested in.  I’ve had couples most interested in wedding details, some more interested in candids instead of posed bridal formals, and some who like an even mix of everything.  It’s your day, and the photos should be what you want to see when you look at them years from now.  Consultations usually last an hour at most, so we don’t take up much of your time.  I also do a follow up meeting a few weeks ahead of the wedding so I can gather your final timeline and any details and changes you may have made.

I’ve only had one couple that I didn’t consult with.  They booked me only a few weeks before their wedding and we really didn’t have a time to meet because of our schedules.  While they were still very happy with their photos, I had a harder time trying to come up with ideas on the fly.  I was also unable to do site visits prior to the wedding day, something I do with venues I’ve never shot in before.  I’ll be writing another post about those later!  When I already have your information ahead of time, I take your feedback and ideas from our meeting to come up with ideas prior to your wedding day, and will document them in your electronic file in an app on my computer (which syncs to my phone and other devices so I always have it!).  I am much more prepared and confident, which is what you deserve in your photographer!

Everyone has a different style and yes, different price points when it comes to weddings, or any special event.  While staying within your budget is a big factor in your wedding planning, connecting and clicking with your photographer is just as important if not more.  You want to trust and feel comfortable with the person or people you choose to document your big day.  The photos and video (if you choose to have it) will be one of few tangible things left after the day is over.  Your photos will be hanging on yours and your family’s walls forever.  No matter what point you’re at in your planning when you look for a photographer, always set up a wedding photography consultation.  I, along with most other photographers offer consultations at no charge.  If we meet and you don’t feel that we are the perfect match, that’s perfectly okay and I will not be offended if you choose another photographer.  All you have to do is politely follow up with an e-mail or phone call and let me know so I can open your wedding date back up to other clients.  It’s as simple as that!  

Just as every couple’s wedding style is unique, so is every photographer’s style of photos.  Choose the one that fits you best, and you will have the most beautiful and perfectly preserved moments from your wedding day to look back on and enjoy for years to come!