Photo Courtesy: Enchantment Resort, Sedona, AZ
Professional Wedding Photographer Advice; What The Experts Want You to Know!
Congratulations on your engagement! There are so many things that go into planning an amazing wedding but don’t forget to capture each precious moment. After all, those moments on film will be with you long after your big day. They will last a lifetime and beyond.
We at Phoenix Party Bus asked some of the top wedding photographers in Phoenix their advice. See what the experts had to say!
“Wedding photos last forever, every bride and groom wants them to be extra special. What are some tips that every couple should know about to best capture the special events during the engagement through wedding process?”
You want a photographer you can trust … wholeheartedly. I believe how we do one thing, translates into how we do most things. What do you value most in your life? Does this show up in the details of your daily? Your wedding day is a sliver in time documenting your values. Let’s make sure we capture what makes your heart race, whether it’s family & friends, adventure & experiences, nature & connection. This is how you choose your wedding day experience, authentic to your personality!
-Bon Miller, Bon Miller Wedding Photography
Wedding photography is such a HUGE part of your wedding. Make sure when you book your wedding photographer, you absolutely LOVE them! You’re going to be spending more time with them than you future spouse. Once you find your photographer, we always suggest sharing with them any special events that are going to be happening during the wedding day. This way they know what’s going on and can put together a thorough timeline that will allow them to capture it all. Timelines are so important! Once you get your timeline make sure to share it with all your vendors (if your photographer/planner hasn’t done so already) so everyone is on the same page, and this will help keep you on schedule so nothing gets missed! 🙂
-Amanda Cromer, Weddings & Engagements
The best advice that we an give any bride or groom is to be relaxed, enjoy your session and big day! The more relaxed you are the better you will look on camera. Your photographer should guide you into poses but, after that lose yourself in the moment, laugh, and just be together. After all, these moments are rare, why not enjoy them and look good doing it?
-Travis Borkenhagen, LoveLee Photography
I would recommend hiring a professional photographer for all of your events leading up to your wedding. Not someone that just has a “nice camera”. For example I include engagement photos with all of my wedding collections, this for me allows me to get to know the couple before the big day. We have a fun session, I get to interact and see how they photograph, what they are like, personalities, how they interact and learn more about them as a couple this helps to set the story and the tone for the actual wedding day which also comes in to play with their amazing wedding album in the end. You could also hire someone to document the bridal shower, the bachelorette party, the bachelor party… so that you know those memories will be given to you and will be in great quality as well!
-Wendy Nolte, Wendy Nolte Photography
In terms of advice for couples to make sure they get the best capture on their wedding day, is first, to make sure that that the bride and groom have FULL trust in their photographer and that both parties mutually want to work together. If one side does not trust their photographer or vice versa, it will absolutely show in the photographs. Second tip for couples who are uncomfortable posing, is to create movement whether its kissing a hand or dancing. This will create natural and candid images.
-Jonathan Allison, Jonathan Allison Photography
Finding a photographer that fits your style first is key. Make sure that you look through ALL of the online portfolio of possible photographers. Make sure you are booking them for THEIR style, and not for a style you would like them to emulate. Every photographer has a unique style/way of capturing moments, so making sure the style fits your vision is very important. Secondly, make sure that you are booking a photographer who has a good variety of posed portraits, as well as photo-journalistic style shots in their arsenal. Events require skill in both of these styles!
-Joshua Killeen, Photography by Joshua Killeen
Don’t wait until the last minute to book your photographer. Be aware of the busy seasons so if you are trying to book during then, your photographer options will be limited the later you wait. Here in Phoenix, the middle of October is always the most popular time and I turn more people away then due to advanced booking than any other month of the year. Also, do some research, talk to your photographer about what you are expecting or would like. For engagement shoots, avoid sleeveless tops and super short dresses. When posing for engagement photos and throughout the wedding, try not to be overly aware of the camera, just be natural and enjoy the occasion. Genuine emotions photograph much better than poses, let the photographer do the work and give direction when needed.
–Desert Sage Photography
When it comes to engagement session, listen to and trust your photographer. I’ve been photographing weddings for over 5 years now, I know that shooting in 110-115 degree heat is hot. You’re not going to want to be holding onto each other, and its not going to be as relaxing and as fun. Plan ahead to either escape the heat or plan a session during cooler weather. And when it comes to your wedding day, TRUSTING your photographer will go such a long way. The foundation of my business is my clients, I care for them and cherish and love each and everyone of them. So trust is a very big part of it, because I am in charge of one of the biggest parts of your wedding day. Trust me that I will deliver what I told you I will. And that no matter what, I will go above and beyond to give you photos that will take you back the second that you look at them, and honestly make you cry with joy.
-Veronica Ilioi, Unfading Beauty Photography
In order to best tell the story of their love, a couple should invest in wedding photographers who offer an exceptional photographic experience. Of course, a couple will want to hire photographers that connect with their style, but it’s the photographers’ ability to connect with the couple (so that the couple is able to relive the emotions of their love from these precious moments in their lives) that is most important. When a couple pages through their wedding album or gazes upon wall art from their wedding, they will want the full story of their love captured, as well as the best emotions from what will most certainly be the greatest day of their lives (so far)!
-Amii & Andy, Sunshine & Reign Photography
Don’t skip an engagement session. These photos are completely different than your wedding photos and really reflect who you are as a couple. You will appreciate having these photos as your years together as a couple pass, they are beautiful to look back on. The engagement session is also an excellent opportunity to break the ice with the photographer. You get to see how you work together and it really just makes everyone super comfortable on the wedding day.
–Keith & Melissa Photographers
Compiled by Phoenix Party Bus