How to choose and work with your wedding photographer

I found Sarah Smith on Instagram a while ago and was instantly smitten with her photography. Not only does she somehow work with the coolest couples, but her wedding photography is stunning and perfectly captures the joy and beauty of her clients’ wedding days.

I’ve been sharing her photos all over this blog, because she generously allowed me to partner with her in that way, and I’m so happy to share more about her and get her feedback for you guys to use when booking your photographer and/or working with whoever you choose. 

Thank you so much, Sarah, for giving such incredible advice, and brides-to-be, PLEASE check out her site. Trust me. You’ll be so glad you did. It’s the dreamiest. 

 

Please tell me a little about yourself and your business. How long have you been a wedding photographer? How did you get started in wedding photography? 

Well, first off, hi! I’m so excited and honored to be interviewed right now! My name is Sarah Smith and I am a 27 year old wedding photographer based in Atlanta, GA. I’ve been married to my amazing husband, Zach, for almost 5 years and we have an adorable rescue pup named Juno that we are just a liiiiiitle bit obsessed with ;).

I photographed my first wedding in January of 2013, but didn’t put my all into it until the summer of 2014. Growing up, I always loved taking photos, even when I had no idea what I was doing! I bought my first DSLR camera in high school so that I could document my summer travels. I slowly began playing around with my camera and had countless “photoshoots” with my friends in my backyard. When I went to college, I decided I really wanted to dig into photography. Through lots of trial and error and tons of youtube tutorials, I learned more and more. Up until this point, photography was just a hobby and it never even crossed my mind that it could be a career!

In 2012, my friend asked me if I would take her engagement photos and she told me that she would pay me. I remember being so blown away that someone would actually PAY me to do what I love! At that point, a lightbulb clicked….I realized that other people actually liked my work AND I could get paid doing it! A few months later, I photographed my first wedding for a family friend. I did a few more weddings here and there for friends and family that year, and then continued into 2014. I spent some time working for a local photographer and learning the ropes of it all, and everything just progressed from there! I went full time in 2015, and now I’m here!

 

What do you think brides should ask when first meeting their photographer to ensure it’s going to be a good fit?

I would suggest that brides make sure that their photographer has the same vision as them for the day. Make sure that your photographer knows what’s important to you about your day and that they are on the same page as you. Also, personalities are a big part of that! If you don’t feel comfortable around your photographer, it may not be a good fit. Keep in mind that they will be following you around and capturing some of the most intimate moments of your life, so you definitely need to feel comfortable with them. I recommend having a phone conversation or an in person meeting to make sure you click! Share as much as you can about yourself, your relationship with your fiancé, and what’s important to you about the wedding day.

 

 

What do photographers look for to ensure it’s going to be a good fit for them?

I think trust is a HUGE thing that photographers look for, at least for me! Knowing that my couples trust my vision, my abilities, and my knowledge is such an amazing feeling. Also, going back to the previous question—I make sure that my vision and my couple’s vision align. For instance, the most important thing to me about a wedding day is the fact that two people are getting married. Yes, the flowers are beautiful and the cake tastes great. But what’s really important? The fact that two people are saying yes to a lifetime with each other. I try to look for couples who share the same heart as me in that. Ones that aren’t as concerned about table decor and party favors as they are about marrying each other and celebrating with loved ones. I strive to capture the emotion and story of the day instead of a ton of posed, stiff photos.

 

Do you recommend couples do an engagement shoot to get to know their wedding photographer? 

Yes, definitely! Engagement sessions are the perfect opportunity to get to know each other and to help the couple get comfortable in front of the camera. They will see how the photographer works which will prepare them for what to expect on the wedding day. It makes a HUGE difference! If we’ve had an engagement session prior to the wedding day, my couples are so much more relaxed and at ease in front of the camera. Like I mentioned before, your photographer is following you around all day and capturing some of the most intimate moments of your life, so you want to be comfortable with them!

 

What are some of the different styles of photography out there? Do you think brides should have a set style in mind before contacting photographers?

There’s a lot of different styles out there, both in the way that photographers shoot and in the way that they edit. But in terms of editing styles, I think the two most common ones talked about are “light and airy” and “dark and moody.” I don’t necessarily think brides need to have a set style in mind from the start, but I do think it’s extremely important for them to check out the photographer’s work before contacting them! Make sure you like what you see on their website, instagram, etc.  If you don’t like what you see, then they probably aren’t the best fit for you (and that’s ok!). If a bride does have a set style in mind from the start, then I’d recommend only contacting photographers with that style.

 

In your opinion how long should photographers be onsite the day of? 

For me, the sweet spot is 8 hours. Any less and I find it hard to adequately tell the story of the day. You’ll still get all of the typical wedding photos with less than 8 hours, but I like having more time to capture those little moments throughout the day. i.e. you hanging out with your girls, your dad setting up the altar, etc. This also gives more wiggle room in the timeline in case things run behind schedule. Any more than 10 hours of coverage tends to get repetitive, unless it’s a wedding with a lot of events that are out of the ordinary. Also, something to keep in mind is how long you want your photographer to be at the reception. Dancing photos tend to get repetitive after about 30-40minutes.

If you don’t care for your photographer to stay until the end of the night, but still want all of the typical reception photos, here is what I suggest: Plan all of the main events (first dances, cake cutting, bouquets toss, etc.) for the beginning of the night. Then have your photographer stay for about 30-40 minutes of dancing. If you want your photographer to capture your exit, you can always do a fake exit! After the fake exit, your photographer leaves and everyone else goes back to party on the dance floor! This is a great option if you want more hourly coverage spent at the start of the day. There are tons of timeline options that your photographer can help you figure out to make it a perfect fit for you.

What is the best time of day to get married for photo lighting?

If you are having an outdoor ceremony, I’d recommend having your ceremony about 2 hours before sunset! That way, you get the best lighting for your portraits after at sunset. You definitely want to get married before the sun sets, or lighting is tough for photos.

 

What should couples remember when planning their wedding day schedules? 

Things will likely be behind schedule. Allow extra time for just about everything, especially hair and makeup. That way, if you are running behind schedule, there’s no stress! The last thing you want is to be stressed the day of your wedding. Aim to be on schedule, but plan to be running behind. And let your photographer help with building the timeline for photos! They’ve done it before and know how long you need to certain parts of the day.

 

What tips do you have for brides communicating with their photographers? What should they make sure to tell them and when is it too much unnecessary emailing?

I love being a part of anything and everything that my brides want me to be a part of! It’s part of the relationship building process for me. I even love when brides send me photos of their dress, exciting details about the day, etc.! It makes me feel more of a connection with them. Definitely communicate with your photographer about important people at the wedding (i.e. family members that you want them to focus more attention on for candid photos throughout the day), any specific photos you want that might be out of the ordinary, any event happening that’s out of the ordinary (i.e. a choreographed first dance)…things like that! As a photographer, I want to be as prepared as possible for the day. I don’t necessarily need to know things such as timing of the bouquet toss, cake cutting, etc, unless it’s out of the ordinary. Once the reception hits, I go with the flow!

Where should we get ready that make the best photo backdrop? What should we avoid?

Lighting is key in photography! If possible, choose a getting ready location with natural light. Window light is gorgeous! Avoid dark rooms with little natural light. Also, try to keep clutter contained to one side of the room! That way, we can work around the clutter for photos.

 

What are your feelings on first looks? Any alternatives that you’d recommend for those that prefer not to do it?

As a photographer, I really do love first looks for multiple reasons. Having a first look allows more time for photos, it cuts down on stress, calms the nerves of the bride and groom, and allows for a less stressful time for photos after the ceremony! Wedding days are filled with family and friends, which is so beautiful and amazing. However, you usually don’t get much time just the two of you because of it. First looks are typically the only time during the day that you get to be together, just the two of you (well…and me!)…crazy, huh?! That time together is such a precious, emotional moment with no one else around, and there is something so sweet about that! If you choose to have a first look, I recommend reading your vows or letters to one another during that moment. It’s honestly one of my favorite parts of the day! 

That being said, I completely understand the appeal to not having one. My husband and I didn’t do a first look, so I obviously get it! If you choose to not have a first look, but still want a moment with one another before the ceremony, there are a couple of options! Have your photographer put you guys back to back, or hold hands around around a doorframe.  That way, you can hold hands and talk to one another, but you can still save that “first look” for when the bride walks down the aisle.

 

Family formals… I know these can be a pain. How the heck can we make them as easy and efficient as possible for our photographer?!

Make a list! I can’t stress this enough. Make a list of every family photo that you want and send it to your photographer before the wedding. That way, you can just go down the list and zoom through that portion of the day! Without a list, it’s pure chaos, and no one wants that! Another tip is to communicate to your family BEFORE the wedding about where they need to be for photos the day of! If you are doing family photos right after the ceremony, tell your family that they need to stick around for that. Otherwise, you’ll have to go wrangle family from cocktail hour, making the process longer and more chaotic. Lastly, if you aren’t close to your extended family, then I recommend skipping that photo. The larger the grouping, the longer the family photos take.

 

What am I missing? What are your top tips for couples to ensure that their day comes across well in photos and that you given the freedom to do your job. 

Trust your photographer. They’ve likely done this numerous times and have a lot of experience. If they have a location in mind for photos, it’s probably because they know it will look best in photos! Express to them what’s important to you for your wedding day. Don’t want pictures of your dress? Tell them. Are getting ready photos with your mom extremely important to you? Tell them. Communication is key!

I can’t speak for every photographer out there, but for me, developing some sort of relationship with my couple is so beneficial! Whether that’s having an engagement session, or chatting on the phone a few times. The more I know about my couples, their love for each other, their personalities, etc., the easier it is for me to tell their story through photos. Plus, it makes them more comfortable! Every wedding is different and unique and I never want to treat a wedding the same as the last. I want to capture the day in a way that reflects my couple, their story, and what’s important to them.

Last thing I want to talk about is a shot list. Again, I can’t speak for every photographer, but I know that I personally don’t need a shot list, aside from a family photo list. I’ve photographed tons of weddings and I know the typical list of photos wanted. If I’m glued to a shot list, I’ll be so focused on the list that I won’t be able to capture the day well. I’ll be distracted and missing important moments. However, if there is something out of the ordinary that you want photographed, definitely tell me! And example of this would be a pin on your bouquet that has been passed down from generation to generation. 

 

What are your favorite moments to capture at weddings?

Genuine ones. I love portraits, don’t get me wrong! Portraits are some of my favorite photos to take! But a wedding is so much more than that. I love capturing the look on your groom’s face when he sees you. Or your grandmother laughing during speeches. Or your mother crying during the ceremony. THOSE are the moments I love to capture most!

 

Where can people learn more about you and see your stunning photos?

You can check out my website at www.sarahjoyphoto.org or follow me on Instagram at @sjmoooth (and yes, there are 3 “o’s” in that!) 😉