Wedding Photography — Start to Finish
Today is part 3 of 10
Navigating the journey of wedding photography from engagement session through thank-yous
Enjoy our multi-part blog series on wedding photography:
- An engagement session to set the scene- 6 Tips for a Successful Engagement Session
- A successful day starts with a timeline – Creating a Wedding Timeline to Avoid a Disaster
- Communication and creativity with other vendors- Brilliant Ideas for Working with Wedding Vendors
- To First Look or Not to First Look- The Great Debate: A First Look or No First Look
- Must-Have Pictures of the Bride – 6 Must Have Pictures to get of the Bride
- Capturing Moments with the Groom- 5 Pictures to Capture of the Groom
- Quick and Easy Family Portraits – 6 Tips for Quick and Easy Family Portraits at a Wedding
- Keeping Bridal Party Photos Smooth and Fresh – 6 Tips to Keep Bridal Party Photos Smooth and Fresh
- All About the Little Things — Details of the Day 68 Details To Photograph at a Wedding
- Wrapping it up with kindness and care 6 Tips Photographers Need to put the Final Touch on a Wedding
On the day of a wedding, there are a LOT of people involved. Of course, the couple, bridal party, family, officiant and guests. But, behind the scenes, it’s amazing. It really does take a village.
- Photographer and maybe a second shooter. Or even a third shooter/assistant.
- Wedding Planner
- Venue Coordinator
- Cake maker
- Caterer
- Venue staff
- Florist
- Videographer(s)
- DJ(s)
- Photo Booth workers
This doesn’t even include the Etsy shop creatives who designed signs, favors or outfits or the dress shop/maker, the limo service, the makeup artist, hair stylist, the location of the formal portraits…and it just goes on and on.
And like any event where a lot of people are involved, you have to all be working together, for the same cause — and that cause is to give two people their dream day. (Even when things don’t go as planned!)
Just like I ask for a timeline-related questions from the first consult with a couple (Did you catch our discussion on timelines in the last section?- Creating a Wedding Timeline to Avoid a Disaster), I also start a list on the side for when a bride mentions where she bought an item from or when I get my list of contacts for the day.
I stalk and follow them on social media — I like their Facebook page, I find their websites, I follow on Pinterest and Instagram. I learn their style and make sure I have a cell phone number for the wedding day. (I’ve actually called a florist about missing boutonnieres once and a DJ and I referred future weddings to each other).
Related Article: How to Use Pinterest To Grow Your Business
I make sure to get details about their work, too — is it a vanilla cream cake or a buttercream? Are those a specific type of lily in the bouquets? I try to write very specific blog posts with details from the day, so all of those little things help me create a better scene for the recap. AND, from an SEO standpoint, I can link to their sites when I write my blog posts and share previews on Facebook. (more on SEO: Basics of Getting Started with SEO)
Also, usually the same day that I share sneak peeks with my couple, I also message or email at least one or two non-watermarked images to some of the vendors, asking them to credit me in any online posting.
It doesn’t matter if the videographer steps in front of you in the church aisle while you’re framing the First Kiss photo or if the DJ asks you for the couple’s names (both of these happened to me this summer!) — step back in front politely and tell them it’s “Sally and John” and continue to make the day not about you or the other vendors, but again, about all working together to create a special day for two people!
Guest Blogger: Wendy ZookWendy is a Jersey Girl at heart creating adventures with her hubby and two kids (Zack-5 and Addie-3) in Rochester, NY. When she’s not capturing love stories with her Nikon, she’s reading, sipping coffee and chasing new adventures!
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