You want to be able to remember your wedding day for the rest of your life. And while memories themselves can be a great way to live in the moment, there’s nothing quite like being able to look at your wedding photos to really relive the experience of marrying the love of your life.
Yet despite the fact that we all carry a camera in our pockets nowadays, some people can still be a bit uncomfortable in front of the camera. Especially when it comes to the ‘pressure’ of taking the perfect wedding shots.
But don’t worry! Your wedding photographer isn’t just there on the day to take a photo of you, regardless of what it looks like. You’re in it together and they want to be able to capture the perfect images for you, whether those are traditional shots or some candid images.
Which means that your photographer wants to make you feel more comfortable in front of the camera throughout the day so that you can work towards getting the best shots together. Photographers don’t just have experience in capturing the right shot, but they can also help make you laugh and relax you while you’re getting your photos done.
This is why we always recommend hiring a photographer that you’re comfortable with and who you will trust to really make you feel comfortable on the day. Here are a few ways to know if they’re the right fit for you.
Meet in person beforehand
It might sound straightforward, but with social media, it’s easy to feel like you know a person without actually meeting them in person. With your photographer, however, it’s important to be able to sit down with them before your wedding day. Not just to look through more of their portfolio work, but to also make sure that they’re the right fit for your wedding day.
Without hiding behind social media meeting in person can really show your true self, and it gives your photographer the chance to work off your initial reactions. They’ll be able to tell whether or not you’re comfortable with a particular style of shot or if you like their style more from being able to see you in person. And likewise, you’ll be able to see how they respond to your reactions and whether or not they can help make you feel less stressed or more uncomfortable.
The more time you have together before the day, the more likely you are to be a couple and photographer match made in heaven!
Have an engagement shoot
One great way to get to know your photographer and their style is by actually experiencing the photo shoot beforehand. An engagement photo shoot is also a great way to get some gorgeous images of you and your spouse-to-be for your engagement invites or even thank you cards.
This allows you to experience your photographer from A through to B. You’ll be able to book them, go through the photo shoot, and also go through the editing and delivery process with them to really see how your entire wedding photo process is going to work.
Scout out locations together
If you’re getting married at a bit of a unique location or somewhere central in the city and are interested in scouting out some different photo locations, then book in some time with your photographer to do so. This gives you a great chance to get to know them without the camera between you, and you can also bounce ideas off one another for the wedding.
It also gives you the opportunity to witness their expertise first hand by seeing what sort of a visual they have for your wedding. They’ll be able to tell you the best shots in which locations and how different elements of lighting will impact your photos, to give you the best advice ahead of your big day.
Book them for another family event first
If you don’t necessarily want to meet your photographer one-on-one and have more photos taken of you, then see what other big events you have coming up in your calendar. Whether it’s an engagement party, a 1st birthday or an 80th birthday, hire the photographer you want to book for these events to see how they interact with your family and friends.
This is another great way of seeing them working in the field and is a particularly good way of seeing how they capture the best group shots and blend in with the crowd.
It can also be a good way for your parents or wedding party to meet the photographer before the actual wedding day.
Boudoir photo shoot
If you’re not nervous about getting your gear off then consider a boudoir photo shoot for your significant other. This can be an intimate gift that you give your spouse-to-be on the wedding day and can even feature some of your wedding elements, such as your veil, tie, shoes or the wedding rings.
Plus it is a great way to know whether you are comfortable with someone! It doesn’t matter whether they’re your photographer or not, getting your kit off in front of someone is a surefire way to seal the bond and make you more relaxed the next time you see them!
Have a pre-wedding photoshoot
If you don’t want to take too much time out of your actual wedding day, then consider doing a pre-wedding photo shoot beforehand. This is a big part of wedding culture overseas, particularly in China, and can give you some spectacular photos that will stand out from the crowd.
Pre-wedding shoots can often include full hair and makeup (and are a great way to tee up a trial with your hair and makeup artist) and can also include several outfit changes. They can also take a lot of time, which gives you the opportunity to get to know your photographer over a longer stretch of time.
It means that when all of your wedding day nerves settle in that person will be able to help you relax a bit more! Plus you have less pressure to get posed photos as a couple on the day and can focus more on enjoying the moment and capturing that moment through candid images.
