There are a lot of wedding photographers to choose from, but not all wedding photographers are created equal. Here are ten things that experienced photographers may do to go above and beyond:
When I meet with a couple for a consultation, they typically have two things set in stone; the ceremony time/venue and the reception time/venue. The rest is a mystery.
I ask a lot of questions and get answers like “I don’t know”, “I never thought of that” and “What do you suggest?”. By the time the couple leaves, they have a solid plan and itinerary for the day. They have new ideas and things to consider that they didn’t know existed. They are better informed to make important decisions. Just at the consultation, I have helped with a big chunk of wedding planning without taking a single picture.
Your photographer is one of the first people you see on your wedding day and one of the last people to leave at the end of the night. I often joke with couples that they will spend more time with me and my crew than each other on their wedding day. It’s a long day that is physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting.
I understand that part of my job is to be an encourager. Our presence and experience should be calming if you feel anxious and encouraging when you feel exhausted. I’ve heard the horror stories of photographers pushing couples too far and pushing them over the edge. This breaks my heart for the couples. I understand that my job is more than photography.
As photographers we try to get the image as close to perfect as possible in camera. I love the exclamations of excitement from my couples when I show them an awesome shot from my camera. These great images are enhanced even further in post-production.
Editing photos is an artform; the best wedding photographers can deliver excellence in both areas. It takes experience and hard work to deliver such a large quantity of well-edited photos in a short amount of time.
Many couples have little to no experience with weddings. It’s hard to plan your perfect day without much knowledge or experience. Even if you have stood up in weddings or been married before, it’s still hard to pick up on all the options that are available to you.
Couples typically lean on me for advice leading up to and during their wedding. Your wedding photographer should have the experience to help you navigate questions you have and offer advice on things that you may not have thought about.
It is customary for photographers to gain experience by assisting and being a “second-shooter” until they have enough experience to navigate something as important as a wedding. In the words of photographer Jason Lanier, “You only have one chance to get it right.”
I’m not suggesting that we create arrangements or grow the flowers, but once the flowers are delivered, most wedding parties are lost. Often, they are asking the photographers, “Who gets what flowers?” and “How do we pin these things on?”.
As the photographer, we must know the answer or things may be done wrong. Passing out flowers to the right people and pinning boutonnieres should not take time away from your wedding day. We’ve got that covered.
I can’t say this one is my favorite part of being a wedding photographer, but sometimes I am the only one the wedding party will listen to. Whether it’s diffusing tension between people or keeping the wedding party under control; these are regular parent-like responsibilities we have as photographers.
Having a party bus is ideal for most weddings but many times there are travel needs that don’t warrant such an expensive ride. For many weddings, the photography crew helps the bride and groom with transportation in their own personal vehicle. You want a responsible photographer/driver with a clean ride and who knows their way around. Don’t forget to tip your driver at the end of the night.
Distractions at weddings are one of those things that even if you try, you can’t prevent. You can, however, prepare for them.
As an experienced wedding photographer in Metro Detroit, I know where these tend to show up and I have the confidence to handle them appropriately. For example, when Uncle Jim is leaning into the aisle with his iPad to take video as the bride comes down the aisle, I can handle it appropriately. I already saw him with his iPad out and talked to him preemptively. Or when your beloved aunts are zealously trying to get the best angle for your grand entrance at the reception, we can set them up in a special location that isn’t in front of our lenses. I haven’t seen it all, but I’ve seen enough to handle most of these situations.
On your big day, you shouldn’t have to be glued to your watch or have every step of your itinerary memorized. You have people to do that for you. I will be the one keeping things moving to keep as close to schedule as we can, with room to deviate if circumstances arise.
Most commonly, if a wedding gets behind schedule, it is within the first hour of the day. I have seen wedding timelines set back by over an hour by hair and makeup and grooms that are woken up by us ringing their doorbell when they are supposed to be already dressed. We gently move things along and adjust the schedule to make sure the ceremony and reception aren’t affected. This takes experience and a great attitude to navigate these changes well.
I’ve had some interesting requests over the years when it comes to making things disappear. Anything from double chins to unwanted guests that clients didn’t want to see in their photos. It is our job to remove distractions and unwanted things to the best of our ability. I have also been requested to make things appear that weren’t there. We aren’t magicians, but we do our best to accommodate where we can.
When you hire a wedding photographer, you aren’t just hiring someone to take photos, you are hiring a team that should enhance the wedding experience that you will hold on to for a lifetime.
Experienced Detroit wedding photographer, Steve Gabrail of Studio 41 Photography says it this way, “Photographers are like the guardian angels of the wedding day. We pep talk, motivate, encourage, make jokes to create a comfortable environment. All those things go unseen by everyone just so we can get the “shot” and give the couple memories they will cherish forever and images they will be proud of. Our image, as a company is imbedded in every photo we take on the wedding day, and the more we care, the more it shows, there is no way around it.”
The services your photographer provides will outlast most of the other things you spend money on for your wedding. Don’t sell yourself short; you may need a good coach, cheerleader, or magician as well as a good photographer.
To see more images from my wedding portfolio click here.