How to Choose the Best Wedding Photographer for You (Part 3)
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Welcome to the final installment of Hannah’s wedding photography guide. If you’re just joining us, this is a response to an infographic, and you can click herefor Part 1 and herefor Part 2 of this blog series.
Most photographers really appreciate having a list of shots that you hope to take. This ensures that he or she can give you a collection of photos that are tailored for your wants and needs. But before you throw together a mile-long Word doc with everything you’ve ever seen on Pinterest, let’s go over some tips for creating a great list.
What not to include.
The wedding photographer infographic gives some great ideas for shots. However, a lot of these shots are actually standard for a professional wedding photographer, kind of like announcing you man and wife is standard for a wedding officiant. So instead of copying this basic list, try asking your photographer what his or her standard shots are. If they don’t include at least most of these, you probably should find another professional.
· Solo pictures of the bride dressing up.
· The bride surrounded by her bridesmaids/groom surrounded by groomsmen.
· The entire bridal party together.
· The groom waiting for the bride.
· The bride walking down the aisle/any other part of the processional.
· The father of the bride giving away his daughter.
· The bride and the groom’s first kiss/any other major part of the ceremony.
· The bouquet and garter tosses/any major parts of the reception.
· The bride and groom with their parents/any traditional formal photos.
If these shots are already standard for a professional wedding photographer, what’s left for you to request? Take a look at the following list and think of what sounds right for you.
What you should include.
· Specific details. Most experienced photographers will know to get all the basic shots, plus photos of all the “pieces” of your wedding: bouquets, wedding dress, garter, favors, etc. However, if you’re using your great-grandmother’s handkerchief and want a photo of that, add it to your list. If you’d be devastated without a photo, let your pro know!
· Specific people. If your best friend from middle school and her dog flew 2,000 miles to attend your wedding and you’d love a photo of you all together, let your photographer know. Special people will slip your mind on the wedding day, so make sure your photographer knows who those people are so he or she can remind you.
· Specific poses. Did you see a gorgeous silhouette on Pinterest that you’re dying to try? Put it on the list! The same goes with photos with special props. Make sure you have all you need for these shots, and you’ll be more likely to be successful.
· Priorities. You may really, really want the shot of all the bridal party’s shoes, but your mom would be devastated if she didn’t get a photo with you. Which would you rather cut in a time crunch? A professional photographer will do whatever it takes to get all the shots you wanted, but if you run out of time, there’s nothing he or she can do. That’s why it’s important to be clear about your priorities and realistic about how many shots you’ll be able to get.
In the end, remember that time is the best ally or the worst enemy to your shot list. The more time you allow for just photos, the better chance of checking off everything on your list. People who do their photos before the ceremony, while breaking tradition, will usually have much more time to get through their shot list and end up with more fantastic shots. However, you can still get plenty of photos in between ceremony and reception if you schedule wisely. Weigh your options and decide what’s most best for you.
If you have any more questions about getting the perfect shot list, or anything else having to do with wedding photography, send us an email at [email protected]or [email protected]. We’re happy to help!
~Hannah
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