STYLE + PLANNING
It’s important that the photographer and the couple are on the same page about what they value in wedding pictures.
The photography industry can be complicated to navigate as a newly engaged couple, and hiring your wedding day photographer is arguably one of the biggest decisions you make throughout your entire planning journey. After all, this will be the person or team responsible for capturing all those emotional, tangible moments (not to mention all the beautiful details you’ve spent months planning) that will allow you to relive your day 10 or 20 years from now. Don’t stress—we’re here to help you out. We’ve rounded up our best advice to guide you in narrowing down your style and finding a true-to-you photography pro perfect for capturing every second of your unique celebration.
and contrast-y editorials of a favorite fashion blogger, then maybe you’ll want to seek out a photographer with a flair for the exaggerated and dramatic. By pairing your aesthetic choices (hint: you figured these out in step one) with the “vibe” you desire, you’ll end up with a photography blueprint that you can then easily articulate to potential pros to help explain your goals when it comes to your wedding pictures.
The first step to finding your dream photographer is a fun one (seriously!)—just go get inspired. Spend some time poring over any and every kind of imagery you love, such as sunny home décor shots, a fashion blogger’s Instagram feed or moody avantgarde French movie posters. Save each image that draws your eye as you go—then, once you have a good collection of inspiring photographs, take a step back and try to narrow in on what draws you to them specifically. Is it the soft pastel color palette? The offthe-cuff happy grins of the people in the picture? The interesting angles and perspectives? The more you familiarize yourself with what details you like, the easier it will be for you to eventually identify that same quality in a potential photographer’s portfolio.
DECIDE ON A “FEELING” Once you and your partner have figured out what inspires you image-wise, dig deeper and dissect what feels most authentic to your relationship and celebration, and how you envision your eventual wedding album looking. If you’re a timeless couple that has your heart set on formal, Vanity Fair-like family portraits, you may gravitate toward a more classic photography style. If a lot of your inspiration ended up being fly-on-the-wall images that bottle an authentic moment in time, then lifestyle photography may be the right choice for you. If you fell in love with the sharp
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DO YOUR RESEARCH Now’s the time to hit the web and find the pro who will bring your day to life. Browse The Knot Marketplace for photographers (and other vendors) in your area and price range, then peruse their portfolios and social media channels to identify if they’d be a good fit for your day. As you browse, ask yourself questions that are good indicators for a successful “match.” How do they capture the moments that are important to you? Have they shot in a venue similar to yours (bonus points if they’ve worked at your venue before)? Do they seem friendly and personable with their online audience? If available, check out reviews from past couples as well. Then, go ahead and send an introductory email with a bit of info about you and your soon-to-be spouse, your event (don’t forget to include your date!) and the vision for your day—you can even attach a few inspiration images you love from their portfolio, if you’d like. Once you’ve chatted about specifics (like whether their cal is even free to shoot your wedding), schedule some time to talk with them either on the phone or via video chat before signing on the dotted line so you can get to know each other on a personal and professional level. Why? You’ll be spending the most time with them on your wedding day, and you want to feel comfortable as they capture some of your and your family’s most emotional moments. ››
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GATHER INSPIRATION
11/7/19 1:26 PM