You’ve probably read what you should be asking your wedding photographer, but what does your wedding photographer want YOU to know? The truth is we want you to know a lot. And we also know a lot about weddings, even if we haven’t planned our own. These are the top things I always stress to my couples.

1. Natural light is everything

I’m sure you’ve taken a selfie before and have realized that when you stand near a window, you and your skin look infinitely better. Keep that in mind when you’re choosing your getting ready location and your venue. I’m not saying you need to always have your ceremony outdoors or to have a room with all windows (while that would be so cool). But I will use those windows to pour in that natural light. The more windows, the better.

Also, I promise you that your wedding photos will not be ruined if the weather is anything other than sunny. Cloudy is great! Not only does it give no harsh lighting in some circumstances, but it also ensures you’re the most comfortable being outside. The sun is also great! It gives depth to the backdrops and emotional happiness to most people. I have photographed weddings in all types of weather - including impending thunderstorms. We got this.

2. Your budget sets what type of experience you want

Every photographer is different in how they price their services, but that gives you insight into their experience as a wedding photographer and how much it’s worth it to the photographer to invest their time into YOU. You can have a completely DIY wedding, putting it together for $500 and have it look stunning, and have it looks like a million-dollar wedding with a GREAT photographer. Or you can pour your money only into the details people will forget and skimp on a photographer and feel cheated. If a good pair of headphones is worth it to you, you’ll be disappointed in the $10 gas station earbuds. Same with photography. If great wedding photos to look back on are important to you, then you’ll be disappointed in the cheaper photographers out there.

3. Digital photos are great, but printing them is better

You’re paying for a great photographer to spend their time taking amazing photos on your wedding day. It blows my mind to think that those photos will be just another phone album to scroll through. It’s an incredible visceral experience to have your photos printed; in a beautifully designed and created wedding album, as a canvas print hanging over your mantle, as regular sized prints in frames. It’s an amazing way to relive the day over and over and feel the deep emotions you have for your partner every moment. Don’t trust me? Ask to see one of my sample wedding albums. You will feel like you were right there, alongside a stranger, living their wedding day through their shoes.

4. You should feel like you could be (or are) great friends with your photographer

Think about it. This is one of the only vendors you’ll book for your wedding that a person will be by your side for 90% of your wedding day. You should feel like you enjoy them and their presence. How do you get to know your photographer? Well, the most important part is to have an in-person meeting or a video call together. Nothing is better than face-to-face time with this person. Plus, when you enjoy your photographer and they enjoy you, your photos will be INFINITELY better in the end. Why? Because you enjoyed the time, they made you feel comfortable and yourself, and they know you a little more to capture how YOU are most yourself.

GALLERY 2019-07-06 Alyssa and Patrick Wedding 121.jpg

5. Prioritize the photos that are important

Five years from now, which photos are hanging on your wall or in that coffee table book? Those are the photos that you should ensure have the time in your day to capture. Is it photos of you and your partner in crime being alone together? Is it only photos of you and your whole wedding party? Are they photos of you preparing on that day? Don’t get me wrong, all of these shots are so important, but make sure the timeline reflects what’s important to you, otherwise you’ll be disappointed in the outcome. Good photography takes time: positioning myself in a room to get that perfect shot, giving my couples interactive prompts to pull out some genuine emotion and life, finding the best backdrop on location.

6. It’s perfectly normal to feel “awkward”

Girl, I’m probably the most awkward in front of a camera. I have no idea what to do with my hands or how to smile naturally. But when I’m with someone I trust, I know that they will help guide me through what to do. It’s not like everyone should be used to modeling in front of a camera every day. And how I help is by giving you and your partner things to do together so you forget that there is a camera. Because at the end of the day, it’s about you enjoying this life, that wedding day, that hour you spent with your person. I just have the honor of freezing those moments in time.

There you have it, I said my piece. But there’s truly a wealth of information that I could go on and on about to help you with your wedding day. Wedding photography is incredibly important, and I do not take that lightly. I truly feel that if you understand the six statements above, you will have an incredible experience with photography.

Help me help you! I think your adventurous, outdoorsy, beautiful soul and myself can definitely get along! So, let’s chat!

I'm so ready to chat!