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I totally think communication is a big deal - like there was a post earlier today about a girl whose photographer didn't really edit the pics sufficently and isn't returning her emails. I know I'd be really upset about that.
Oh, and presenting your own pics as yours (I've heard some presenting other's work as their own).
Honesty :)
-Good Luck with your new biz!
I wish my photographer had taken photographs of each table at our reception - where people werent eating but actually looking at the camera! I should have told him to do this so its my fault, but still I wish it had happened.
My photographer was really good at giving direction on how to pose or where to look while taking a picture. He was also very good at picking out spots for us to shoot. For example - there was a boat at the dock and we had no idea whose it was but our photographer just told us to get in and then we were just sitting and talking and kissing and he was shooting the whole time. This set of pictures are some of my favorite! He also took a lot of pictures of people dancing and its great! His photographs really tell a story of the day and I love that. I wish he had done more post-processing, but thats not a big deal because I can do that on my own for some of the pictures. Here is the link to my pictures if you would like to look at them - http://brutus.smugmug.com/weddings/the-wedding-tale-of-clare-and
The boat pictures are in Part 9 - Im obsessed with them!
I agree communication is a huge deal! I read that post and felt badly for the OP. What horrible customer service!
I think it is horrible that a photographer would try and pass off someone elses work as their own. :(
Thanks for the advice and the good wishes! :)
clarebee those pictures are fabulous! I agree about the boat photographs; they truely seem to capture the sincerity of your love! :)
I am going to make sure I get a request list from my clients. I will make sure that they are comfortable making it clear to me what they want. :)
Thanks for the advice!
Hi M,
I recently got married and I've been a BM in a few weddings this summer, so hopefully my experience will be of some help -
- While photojournalistic style is popular right now, people are going to be happiest looking back at photos of smiling guests 10 years from now, rather than that over-the-shoulder shot of someone else taking a picture.... So try and keep a good balance of artsy and simple.
- Find out who is the most capable BM (the one who knows the family and closest friends best) and reach out to her to help get people organized and ready for portraits. It always seems to be a disorganized hour or so when everyone in the wedding party is running around trying to collect the grandparents and FOB, having one person as your go-to will help!
- Try and get a timeline from the bride as early as possible, and kindly suggest enough time for portraits if it seems she hasn't allowed for enough. At least an hour is usually necessary, better safe than sorry!
- Just keep shooting throughout the day/night -- my photographer failed to capture some moments that I can never get back, and I think it could have been avoided if he had just kept shooting throughout the entire ceremony. Especially if you're working in digital, you've got nothing to lose!
- As a bride, the day just seemed to fly by! All of the little details I had worked on for months and months went unnoticed (by me at least) when I finally arrived at the reception. It would have been great to get more photos of all of the little things that made our party so special, so I could look back on them afterwards.
- Try and take photos of EVERY guest! Even those that don't like the camera or aren't on the dance floor. They were invited to the wedding for a reason, the couple would probably like to look back on the photos and see everyone that shared in their wedding day. One suggestion - try and take a group photo at every table. They are not the most exciting photos, but hopefully it will ensure everyone is included.
I hope these suggestions help! If you have any other specific questions, don't hesitate to ask. Good luck and have fun!
Hm.. a couple of suggestions:
Communication is #1
Our photographer posted a slideshow of our wedding pictures on her Facebook group before even showing me or telling me they were posted... I found them on my own. Slightly mad about that...
She didnt take a full legnth picture of me in my dress. There are some of me with other people but none of me alone. My mom is pretty disappointed about that.
Have LOTS of poses in mind. Our photographer was pretty new to the business as well and while doing our pictures there was a lot of standing around trying to come up with poses. Even though I sent her a ton of example pictures that I liked.
If I think of more, I'll defin. post back!
Ladytron, that you so so much for all of the suggestions! The details note is a huge deal to me and love detailed shots of the little things. I love the idea of getting a timeline from the bride and selecting one BM as a go to gal. Thanks again for your suggestions! :)
I agree about the details. I made a list for our photographer of stuff I wanted pictures of and I'm SO glad I did. Its nice to see those little details after the wedding.
Sunshine23, thank you for your suggestions! I would be mad too if my photographer posted pictures to Facebook without even informing me first. Good ole Facebook. I do need to work on compiling a list of poses. I want to scope out the location prior to the event so I can get some ideas in mind.
Thanks again! :)
I love my pro pics, they came out amazing! With that being said I was very nervous about using this photographer. Whenever I would email or call it would take a couple of tries to get through. So during this stressful time as you know it's great to have someone who is available whenever needed, even if it's just a quick email.
Make sure you ask the bride what she is looking for an wants and see her vision as well. Also my photographers were amazing in the fact that they rolled with the punches and dealed with the confusion of a massive loud Italian family and make it look easy. I chose them because I felt comfortable that they could handle my wedding which included 6 little kids. Also it was a husband and wife team and the wife constantly worked to adjust me. Because no bride wants to look heavy because of the way she stood or elf her arms, etc.
This is a couple things that I found both at my wedding and at a wedding that I was a second shooter for this past weekend:
- Ask the couple beforehand what photos they definitely want. Our photographer did this and we were able to inform all our family about what photos were taken so people weren't just milling around confused - it also meant that we were able to plan the family shots properly so we didn't take a photo with my family then DH's family, then my siblings, then DH's siblings, etc which is what happened at the recent wedding I was at.
- Make sure you have a contact number for the MOH or someone in the wedding party and that they have your number. My photographer was running a little late - but thankfully was a friend of ours so we already had her number. The recent wedding's photographer didn't have a phone number for anyone in the wedding party, got lost in the maze of the house the wedding was being held in and then the MOH was running around looking for him. Again, as said before, this is a total communications thing.
- Generally for business, make sure you have business cards on you. I forgot to get a new batch for the wedding I was photographing and missed out on being booked for a future job because of it.
- Think about the photos YOU want to see. The photos YOU want to have in your wedding album. Chances are that the couple will want them too - they'll just have forgotten about it or they never thought of taking a photo of them underneath that long flowing veil or something.
I hope you enjoy photographing your first wedding!
I agree with the other ladies to do a mix of photo journalistic and posed shots. I think having a good mix of photographically artistic and basic posed shots will help to keep clients happy (a bride may want artistic but her mother may want a full lenght posed shot for framing).
Little details are a big MUST. Those are the things that brides stress about so I'd suggest asking your brides in your meeting what they are most excited about - if it's food then get some shots of that, if it's the dancing then make sure to capture it.
Also pictures of everything set up before guests arrive is nice, but also posed pictures of guests at the tables - sometimes this is the only photo you'll get of some people.
The best thing to do is be as familiar with their venue as possible so you can be sure to use it to it's fullest to create unique shots.
@camrie: Totally agree with being familiar with the venue! Our photorapher arrived at our venue about 30 minutes before coming to my house to photograph with me so he could walk the grounds to scope out potential shot places. There is a picture of us sitting on a ledge next to a golf hole and I had NO clue that was even there but I have been going to this lake for several years and had been to my venue at least 5 times!! It was awesome that he found this spot!
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Hi bees!
While I am a bride to be, I am also trying to start up a photography buisness. I have booked two weddings in October and have one person I am working with. I have never photographed a wedding before and although I am confident in my abilites, I wanted to check my handy weddingbee girls to get suggestions.
What are some of the most important things you look for in your wedding photographer? What are something thats that you wish your photographer did or would have done?
I want to make sure I deliver the best service to my clients and you girls and guys tell it like it is! All advice wecome! :)