When you choose a photographer for any occasion, that person basically becomes your closest friend. They are there for just about every aspect of the event making sure they capture all of those amazing moments to last you a lifetime.  Here are a few tips to make sure your photographer is ready to go.

1. With the exception of the massive camera and equipment being hauled around, your photographer shouldn’t stand out among guests.  Give us an idea of what the attire for the event is.

2. To avoid confusion or lost moments to capture, provide your photographer with an agenda so that they know what is happening and when.  Nothing helps us better than knowing when to shoot and what position will best catch the moment. Leaving your photographer out of any planned surprises can result in losing those images.

3. Dodge some super awkward situations by giving your photographer the names of key guests who you would like photographed. For example, in a wedding, it’s best if we know the names of the bridal party so that we can easily direct.  It’s quite difficult to be a confident and creative artist when you call everyone “hey you”. Keep in mind though, that there are more of you than there are of us so please be patient with them when it comes to remembering names.

4. Although we’re there to do a job and we want to get the perfect shot, most of us also want to be considerate of those who have special needs.  Things like hearing, vision, mobility impairments, strong reactions to flashes, or other health issues are nice things to know about so that we can avoid putting you or your guests in uncomfortable situations.  Obviously without any of this information, a good photographer will still be able to wing it and create some epic photos!

5. We LOVE photographing, that’s why we chose this industry. So share your DIY projects with us! We want to capture the overall event but it’s all about the details.  Those items that you put so much energy into can end up being some really great reminders of everything done leading up to the event. In the images below, you can see decor that was used at two different weddings and were both hand-made. 

   

6. Through my job at the Chamber, I’ve learned to never plan on eating at an event because you don’t ever want to miss the perfect shot. But from what I’ve seen, the best time to feed the photographer is right in the middle of dinner. Guests are waiting for their food to arrive or are in the middle of eating, both of which don’t make for flattering photos.  If your photographer will have to wait until the end of dinner to eat, let them know ahead of time so they can plan accordingly.

7. Give us the 411! Tell us what made you want to work with us. We’d love to think it’s because of our photographs but we’re actually not that naive and the truth of the matter is that the information is really important.  Whether it’s the packages, the album options, or the fact that you had a disagreement with the only other photographer in town; holds information we need to be better photographers and serve our clients at a better level.  Plus! It helps us to know what you like so we can make sure we capture the moments you want.

8. This goes in conjunction with number 4, but we’re looking for any kind of information that could effect the photographs we’re trying to capture.  Let us know what you’re most worried about so we can avoid putting everyone in an awkward situation.  It also reminds us to be aware at a time when we might otherwise have our focus largely on some other task.  

9. This last tip really depends on the photographer. Some photographers do not believe that sharing is caring and can get offended if you request a certain shot you’ve seen online or in a magazine. Personally, I don’t really mind because it lets me know what kind of shots you want in addition to what I’ll normally get.  Share your ideas with me! I love it!

Even the best photographers don’t remind minds so it’s incredibly important to communicate and let us know the details.  I am always happy to chat so send me a note or give me a call if I can answer any questions for you during your planning process. Also, don’t forget to book your photographer early ;-). We are starting to book up 2019 dates!

Be married my friends!