HOW TO CHOOSE A TOP WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Selecting a wedding photographer is one of the most critical choices for your wedding. It's one of the most enduring choices you'll make as a newly-married couple. Surely, you have an abundance of choice. I know this and I'm enormously grateful for your consideration. I encourage you to speak with me as well as a few other photographers as everyone's style, approach, and level of service differs. Here are a few important elements to consider when selecting the right photographer for your day.
PERSONALITY
You're selecting more than just a photographer for your wedding day. You're hiring a companion, an advisor, a trusted storyteller. Personality matters! I come to you with true servant's hearts. I laugh with you, cry with you, and become an indelible part of your day.
Your wedding photographer can set the emotional tone. I am a true "people person," making friends and sharing laughter with [almost] everyone I meet. Warm and outgoing, I look forward to getting to know what makes you you, to hearing your story as a couple, and to celebrating your two families becoming one. I also know that this is your day. This is not a staged photo shoot and the day doesn't revolve around me. I aim to be as unobtrusive as possible as I capture your day unfold.
EXPERIENCE
Price is one factor to consider when selecting your wedding photographer, but it should by no means be the major consideration. Your wedding is a big investment. Hire a photographer dedicated to honoring and protecting it. When all is said and done -- the guests go home, the food is eaten, the flowers wilt, and your dress is preserved away -- the photographs are the only tangible part of your wedding that remains. Too often, horror stories emerge when an inexperienced, under-resourced low-cost photographer is involved. Penny wise, in this instance, is truly pound foolish.
Select a photographer who invests in her business, with professional equipment, back-up equipment, skilled associates, insurance, proper legal protection, storage and backup, editing and post-production, strong vendor relationships, as well as experience and skill to anticipate and respond to your needs. Further, choose someone who has spent decades honing her craft and mastering creative and technical skills to tell your story artfully. I bring 18 + years and have worked with literally thousands of clients. I personally photograph every wedding (never abdicating to a younger associate) and only hire only vetted and experienced associate photographers on my team.
À LA CARTE V. COLLECTIONS
Be sure to choose a wedding photographer whose offerings meet your needs. Often, photography collections offer too much (you pay for what you don't need) or too little (forcing you to add on services to truly meet the needs of your day). While there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to wedding photography offerings, select a pricing model that allows you to create the experience and deliverables right for you.
I offer a base service collection that includes FULL DAY COVERAGE on your wedding day. Each experience includes a wide range of optional services and fine artful presentation pieces. Every experience includes both wall art and album credit because I believe so strongly in the power of the printed work. I include an engagement session credit as well.
Because I understand that weddings are truly family affairs, I go above and beyond with exceptional offerings, including a premium leather archival print album with parent albums matching in exact size and specification (not a diminutive version of the "real deal"), bespoke hand-crafted album display and transport totes, a bound wedding guest book featuring engagement portraits, among an array of stunning display products.
My pre-ceremony bridal portrait session is its own affair with a choice of borrowed coordinating silk floral arrangement. I know how important the dress is and how the day can pass by like a blur, sometimes leaving little time to focus on this important piece. Either before the wedding day or after, we'll recreate you looking and feeling as gorgeous as envision yourself to be.
ALBUMS & ARTWORK
Don’t underestimate the importance of owning printed photography from your wedding. This is your first heirloom as a married couple and will endure as a lasting symbol of your love for generations to come. Select a photographer who has sourced the highest quality and most artful albums to tell your story. I've researched hundreds of options over may years and selected three albums with a range of design and options.
At the end of the day, you are investing in artwork for your home. Owning the digital proofs offers psychological reassurance, but nothing ignites the senses like masterfully-printed custom-framed large wall art or stunning album on display. Be sure to select a photographer who has spent the time sourcing and understanding the right products and finishes to meet your needs, as well as one who can execute flawlessly.
I specialize in wall art. I undergo a meticulous multi-step process with clients to ensure a perfected finish product. In fact, I'm so proud of my work that I offer a lifetime quality guarantee.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
Most weddings can benefit from at least two photographers to ensure complete coverage. No one person can be in two places at once and there is so much going on in your day. Plus, stories benefit from a multitude of angles and creative approaches. I personally photographs every wedding she books. I do NOT outsource the most important part of your day to a cheaper "newbie" to turn a quick a profit. Upon request, I offer additional seasoned associate photographers at your request to ensure complete coverage on your day.
PROFESSIONALISM
We all want to be treated like a VIP. We can all sense when we're just "a number" or low on the totem pole, or when a business simply doesn't care. I and my team go out of our way to serve clients with the utmost care and concern and to ensure a smooth, enjoyable day. I respond to all inquiries in a timely manner, communicate terms and pricing in simple, clearly-written form, guide clients through the many options and ideas to customized your experiences in a ZER0 PRESSURE environment. I arrive promptly, dressed for the occasion, ready to give 110% energy and effort for the day. I pride myself in working well with others, including bridal parties, family and friends, vendors, and staff. I work diligently to deliver images in a timely way, and guide you through creative design and delivery from beginning to end.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
In sum, it's important to consider the elements most important to you. I encourage you to speak with several photographers, ask them pointed questions, be sure there's a personality fit. I enjoy the opportunity of meeting with every couple in person (or online, as needed) prior to beginning our work together. If you would like to set up a no-obligation discovery consultation, I welcome the opportunity to share my services or answer any questions you have.