Taking engagement photos is one of the first big tasks in the wedding planning process. You’ll cherish these photos for years to come, so you’ll obviously want to hire the best photographer and do what you can to make the session a success! Here are a few tips for booking your photographer, choosing the right date, and finding your perfect photoshoot location!
Picking the Right Photographer
There are a few things that go into deciding whether a photographer is a right choice for you. First, you’ll of course need to see what their rate is. If a photographer doesn’t fit into your budget, you’ll need to keep looking!
Once you’ve found a few engagement photographers that fit within your budget, you want to start looking at their portfolios and deciding what styles you like. Even if the locations and styling change from session to session, most photographers will have an editing and shooting style that is consistent throughout their portfolio. As you and your partner look through each photographer’s work, decide whether their style matches what you’re going for.
Finally, you’ll want to make sure you’re actually comfortable with the photographer. If you don’t quite mesh with the photographer, it likely will show up in your photos. Meet with potential photographers before signing any contracts to ensure you get along well!
Choosing Your Date & Time
If you’ll be using your engagement photos for your save-the-dates, you’ll need to give yourselves and your photographer ample time for editing photos, designing the cards and sending them off. Determine how much turnaround time your photographer will need to get the edited photos back to you. You’ll also want to give yourself time to actually look through the photos and pick your favorites – it may require a bit of work! As a rule of thumb, you’ll want to book your session at least two months before you intend on sending your save-the-dates.
Even if you aren’t using your engagement photos for your save-the-dates, it’s important to put some thought into when you’re booking your session. As far as the time of the year, you’ll likely want to avoid the dead of the summer so that you aren’t dealing with extreme heat or humidity. You may also wish to avoid the winter, although some couples like the idea of wintery photos with gorgeous snowy backdrops. For milder weather (that still offers pretty backgrounds for your photos!), go with spring or fall.
The time of day is also important. Many photographers choose to work around sunrise or sunset, as you get soft, flattering light around these times. Of course, the exact time will depend on where you are and what time of year it is, so talk to your photographer to determine when the best time will be.
Finding Your Destination
Your photographer will likely have some recommendations for gorgeous areas around town where you can take your engagement photos. However, you may want to suggest a few locations that are meaningful to you. Maybe the spot where you had your first day, your go-to restaurant, or your favorite park. This detail will add a sweet personal touch to your photos!
Whatever location you choose, you’ll want it to reflect your style as a couple. If neither of you are outdoorsy, don’t feel like you need to take your photos amongst a bunch of trees in the middle of nowhere! Pick a destination that tells the story of who you are as a couple – you shouldn’t just pick a destination because it looks nice.
If you are in the process of planning your wedding, come to the next Georgia Bridal Show near you. You will have the chance to meet with professional wedding vendors of all talents who can help bring your vision to life!
Georgia wedding vendors, as well as other wedding professionals across the Southeast, can contact us about opportunities for exhibition and online marketing with Georgia Bridal Show.