In the middle of winter we went looking for a little summer inspiration. Unintentionally of course, as most favourite things tend to be, but the light was just so lovely. These sun-kissed photos remind me of the feeling of the sun on your face, and the air soft on your skin, the smell of fresh fruit, kids laughing & leaping through sprinklers. My oh my, summer is where it's at.
Thanks to the wonderful Rachel & Ilona :)
Vancouver wedding photographers are awesome. There I said it. I met up with a few of them to trade headshots and this morning on Granville island. Despite some seriously windy weather- really you should see the crazy hair that's happening in some of the outtakes!- it was an all around good time. The group got split up pretty early on in the day and we never did manage to find each other again so I only managed to get everybody in this first group shot. No, I'm not in it- Oh the life of a photographer. But I did get in front of the camera later on, so watch my Hello page for some new photos of me soon.
Choosing a photographer can be baffling for most people. When I was looking for our wedding photographer I came across all types of lists on the internet called "50 questions to ask your wedding photographer". They never quite got it right though and to be honest, they weren't very helpful. And, if I may be so self-interested, that's an awful lot of questions to ask your poor photographer! So here's what you really need to know to choose a wedding photographer.
Step 1: How important is photography to you?
Maybe it's not. Maybe you're not the type to look back through photos and you just could care less. Or maybe you think that the photos will be important for you to look back on and remember the day. Thinking about this will help you figure out your budget.
Step two: Figure out what you like
Time to start googling. Look through photographer's online portfolios and get a feel for what you like. Don't bother with prices just yet, just get a sense of your tastes in photography. Photographers will start to look the same after a while but hopefully some things will jump out at you that you'll like or dislike. Maybe it's the colors, soft or dramatic lighting, maybe they do really great candid shots, or have romantic or fun portraits. Figure out what style of photography you're after and note the photographers that you like. Then send out a couple emails to get an idea of prices.
Step three: Ask your friends
Talk to married friends or friends who've been bridesmaids before. Ask about their experience with their photographer. Were they happy with their experience and their photographs? They'll usually have some good advice and might be able to recommend a great photographer.
Step Four: Get real
Chances are photography costs more than you thought it did. Photography can be a significant portion of your budget. So you need to figure out how much of your budget you're willing to dedicate to photography. This goes back to step one- how important is photography to you anyways? Wedding photography as it is now is a pretty recent thing and it turns out it's not a legal requirement to getting married, go figure. Once you've figured that out you can start looking for a photographer in your price range. Email a few and see what packages they offer. If you're looking for a photographer in a lower price range, sometimes photographers can recommend a newer photographer that's assisted them at weddings in the past.
* A word of warning.
Lots of couples at this point think "No way, we'll just ask our friend Johnny to take photos!" This article does a pretty good job at explaining the dilemmas involved but I'll just add this...ask yourself how disappointed you'd be if the photos don't turn out very well. And then get your friend to take some photos of you first... both inside in dark places and outside. Don't go easy on them. Churches & reception halls are dark! If they can't take a great portrait of you in any lighting conditions well, you've been warned.
Step Five: Take your time
Once you've found some photographers that you like, follow their work for a while. Follow their blog, check them out on Facebook. Blogs are often the best place to get a sense for a photographer's work. Their main website probably has some of their best images, while their blog will give a more rounded feel for their work. After a while you'll start to get a feel for their photography and their personality. Don't take too long though, photographers start booking dates as early as 18 months in advance, although the big rush comes about 8-10 months out from a date. If your wedding is on a Saturday in summer, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to choose a photographer.
Step Six: Meet them for coffee.
Choose a few photographers whose work you like and who are in your price range. You've already done the hardest part. You know you like their work, their wedding packages and they fit into your budget.The most important part of meeting different photographers for coffee is to see if you like them. You'll be spending the whole day with the photographer so make sure that they're someone you could see yourself sharing the day with and who fits with your personalities.
Step Seven: Important questions to ask
There are a few questions you should ask your photographer. What is their shooting style like on the wedding day? Some photographers are like are fly-on-the-wall types while others are more directive. Their own style can affect how you experience their photography and your day so definitely discuss this. Discuss what's included in their wedding collections and make sure you really understand it. You need to know how many hours they'll shoot for, if they're bringing a second shooter. Do you get the all the high resolution photos, some of them,or do you purchase the prints you like at an additional cost? What extras are included? (For example, an engagement shoot or an album). Also, how long does it take to get your photos and your album? You can ask about their equipment but it doesn't really matter. Most photographers will have all the equipment they need, but it's worth asking what they shoot with just to see what they say.
You might also ask why they shoot wedding photography. In my opinion, your photographer should do it because they love something about it. Photographers who are passionate about it will probably work a little harder & more creatively for you than others.
Step Eight: Choose Somebody
The last step can be the easiest or the hardest. Sometimes your heart just knows, sometimes tough decisions around budget or other things have to be made. Whoever you choose, stay in touch! The experience is nicer for everybody if you feel like old friends on the day of the wedding. And for those photographers you met with but didn't choose... send them a little note thanking them too. You don't have to explain yourself but it's still nice to let them know your final decision.
I hope that helps. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask here and I'll do my best to answer them.
Happy Valentines Day! It's time for our big announcement. We had so many wonderful entries to our love shoot giveaway! You guys are just amazing. It was so heart-warming to read through all your entries, every one of them made me smile.
Today, I chose at random, and the winner of our styled love shoot giveaway is...
Christina & Peter! (madly in love and not afraid to show it!): sexy (that was his pick!), passionate, and insatiable!
Congratulations you two! Bailey's Brides will help you plan a theme for the shoot, MUAHjwn makeup & hair will get you all gorgeous, and I'll photograph your love shoot! I'm so excited to meet you both!
Since there were so many wonderful entries (!), we wanted to offer something special to all the couples who entered the contest. So Jess & I are offering 15% off of a couples love shoot with makeup & hair if you book before March 14th! And there will be some other opportunities too so keep your eye on the blog & Facebook for more news :) Happy Valentines everyone and have a wonderful evening celebrating your love!
Well okay, no. My name in print. I got some new business cards. It's surprising how happy a little piece of paper can make you but I was really happy to get these. Check em out.
Here's some more behind the scenes from the Ellebay Bridal Boutique photoshoot. Krysta and Alissa were pure gorgeousness and Jeremy was fantastic behind the camera. It kinda makes me wish we wore dresses like this everyday.
