Wedding photos are a way to capture and remember one of the most important days of your life forever. These will be pictures you look back on for years to come. There is a lot that goes into taking great wedding photos, from lighting to equipment, but communication is one of the most important factors. You and your photographer will have to effectively communicate things like photo shoots, shot lists, poses and more.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when reaching out to your wedding photographer.
Keep Organized
There’s a reason so many couples start a “wedding binder” when the wedding planning begins. Your wedding photographer will only be one of many vendors you have to work with. It’s important that you keep track of all important information, such as contracts and contact info, for all your vendors including your photographer. Communication is a lot easier when everyone has all the information they need on hand.
Select a Method of Communication
These days there are tons of ways you can reach out to your photographer, such as phone calls, texts, emails, social media and more. More communication doesn’t always mean better communication though. Establishing a preferred method of contact makes it easier for everyone. When you switch between contact methods, it’s easy for information to get lost or ignored. Ask your photographer how they prefer to stay in touch and then stick with that method unless there’s an emergency.
Be Realistic
Wedding photographers know that your wedding is one of the biggest moments of your life. However, it’s important to remember that you’re likely not your photographers only client at the time. You will be the entire focus on the big day but leading up to it they’re likely juggling other client meetings, editing photos, and more. Don’t expect your photographer to text you back within a minute like your BFF does. When you established a preferred method of communication, also ask what the expected response time is so you know what to expect from the get-go. Also, remember it’s a two-way street. You have to respond to your photographer’s questions in a timely manner as well!
Use Visual Aids
Pictures are worth a thousand words! That’s why if you really want to try a certain pose or have a certain style in mind, it’s better to show us what you mean rather than explain it. It can be frustrating for wedding photographers when clients want something specific but aren’t doing a great job of explaining it. A visual example is always preferable, so take some time looking at other wedding photos online and save them for reference.
Assign a Point Person
Dealing with multiple people is always confusing, which is why it’s best to assign a single point of contact for your photographer. Select one person to take the lead in communication so that you photographer always knows who to each out to. Otherwise your photographer may get confused if you say one thing and your SO says another.
Have a Day Of Helper
When the big day finally rolls around, make sure you have a person other than the couple getting married ready to help your photographer. There is a lot of running around and wrangling needed, and the more time your photographer has to spend doing that the less time they have to snap pictures. It’s bet to pick someone that isn’t in the wedding party (as they’ll be in a lot of pictures), but who still knows everyone so they can call them over by name when needed.
Ask Questions
Don’t be afraid to actually communicate with your wedding photographer. If you have questions or need clarification on something, just ask! You should have faith in the professional you hired to photograph your wedding, but it’s perfectly fine to ask for explanations. Just be sure to keep things professional and polite. We know planning a wedding can be stressful, but nothing is worse as a photographer than when clients come at you with an accusatory tone just because they don’t understand something.
Looking for a photographer for your Toronto wedding? AGI Studio has a team of talents and experienced wedding photographers that would be honored to capture your special day. Contact us today to learn more!
