Let’s Meet Before Your Wedding
With some wedding vendors out there you don’t necessarily need to meet the person that is doing you a service (DJ, caterer, etc.), I mean, you totally can, but don’t absolutely have to. One of the people you SHOULD meet before your wedding is the photographer. I’m not just saying that because I am one, I’m saying that so that YOU know what you’re getting. You can look at a photographer’s website or Instagram all day & like their images, but what if your personalities don’t mesh? Yikes! There are many reasons why you should interview your wedding photographer, there are also many reasons why a wedding photographer should interview YOU.
Yeah, you read that right. It’s a two-way street. At every one of my meetings with brides (& sometimes grooms or bridesmaids), I am asking questions to get a feel for the wedding, as well as the bride as an individual, & them as a couple. There is nothing worse than meeting someone for the first time & you realize they are difficult to work with. Now, I haven’t had this happen…yet…(& I hope I don’t), but that’s why I love to have a meeting before signing any contracts or scheduling out any days for a wedding.
LET’S CHAT
Ok, pretend that I’m the one behind the laptop & you’re that beautiful lady in the dark orange top. This is like 98% of what meetings with me look like. I will set up a date & time beforehand, with you usually at a coffee shop like Archive or Broads Brew, just somewhere we can talk for about an hour, & I can ask all my questions, compile estimates, make suggestions for timelines, & go over contracts.
It’s really not as intimidating as it seems! It’s more like an informal interview of each other. You get to ask me anything & everything you want to, & I get to dive deeper into what you are expecting of me.
I ask a lot of questions about you as a person & you as a couple. That means I will ask things like how you met, how long you’ve been together, what you like to do, if you have a theme for your wedding, is there anything special going on, like your dog walking you down the aisle, all that good stuff. I LOVE to hear about all this stuff. I am totally a romantic & I love to see how people love other people, so talk allllll day! Tell me all the stories! I want this meeting to be an open discussion, I want you to feel free to be open & honest because that helps me do my job better. If I don’t know all those juicy little details about your love story, I won’t know to capture it. I mean, I will try my hardest, but I won’t know that the ceramic elephant sitting on the food table is significant unless you tell me lol.
SHOW ME
It is always a good idea to show me examples of images you want, themes of your big day, & color palettes. I know I’m not a wedding planner, but those things are important for me to know too!
I tell people to go to Google, Pinterest, where ever to find inspiration & show it to me! Even if it’s poses, locations, decor, documentary-style images, one of a kind ideas you want to implement, etc. Let me know!
Btw I totally just looked up weddings on Pinterest & screenshot it for that piture there lol!
One thing I can guarantee is that you will have images that last.
The cake will be gone, the music faded, & the dress boxed up, but those pictures will be there.
Those snapshots will continue to tell your love story to everyone who sees them.
Those are some examples of the simple & quirky things I love to know so I can make sure I photograph them!
First, LDS wedding in Portland, burnt orange suit, vintage dress, signing each other’s special shoes, & a breakfast themed reception- yes, that is for sure a waffle & maple syrup cake.
Second, quick courthouse microwedding in Hillsboro, black dress clothes, black velvet dress, awesome bouquet & headdress, reception at their favorite mexican resturaunt with a Pokemon theme Tres Leche cake & Tigger, obviously.
Third, this was an after-wedding Christmas themed shoot at the Jordan Covered Bridge in Statyon, with the bride’s snazzy, vintage red leather jacket, & daughter as the flower girl.
There is a Frequently Asked Questions section on my website, mostly Q&A about general sessions, but still apply to weddings, so reading those can help clear up any questions you might have! But if you still have questions, text me! That’s the easiest & fastest way to get a hold of me & I am always glad to help!
Also, if you are having reservations about the cost of wedding photography (pretty sure everyone does), read my post Investment Breakdown to help break that all down for you & help you feel a little more at ease with it! These photos will last a lifetime, the investment is worth it!
I can’t wait to hear from you, I love chatting with people about their weddings & just life in general, so hit me up!
