editorial Wedding Photography

The Wednesday Blog

The Process to Hiring a Wedding Photographer

Planning a wedding is takes a lot of time and effort. Between choosing a venue, to finding a planner and wedding photographer, there are many bases to cover. It can be hard to remember that this process is supposed to be fun! To ease your mind and help you understand how hiring someone for wedding photography works, I’m breaking down the steps and actions below!

The Wedding Photographer Interview

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but working with me is easy. As your wedding photographer, we’ll get to know each other and collaborate together on your vision for your wedding photos. It’s important to me that we’re on the same page; you feel comfortable, heard, at ease, and trust me with your photos on your special day. You’ll be spending almost the entire day with the photographer you choose, so in addition to loving their style, having an in-person or phone interview is a great way to make sure you’ll be happy to have them around!

Working Together

After you email me, we’ll set up a video chat. During our first chat, we’ll get to know each other and see if we vibe. We’ll talk about your wedding and what you’re looking for in a wedding photographer. Together we’ll figure out how many hours of photography coverage you’ll need and discuss how you’ll want to preserve wedding memories after. From there, I’ll build you a customized package and send you a contract to lock in your date.  

This is my favorite part, because I get to share a mood board with you and really bring your vision down. I love sharing past wedding photography with my future clients and showing them what I can make happen! Plus, it’s so much fun to go down memory lane and see how far I’ve come as a wedding photographer.

A bride and groom pose for their wedding photographer on a rooftop in New York City
A wedding photographer takes pictures of a bride and groom on a rooftop in New York City
An auburn dog smiles at the wedding photographers camera
Wedding photographer Jenny Fu takes a photo of a wedding dress hanging in a window

After You’ve Booked Your Wedding Photographer

As the wedding planning evolves, you’ll be able to periodically email me or reach out to book a “catch-up meeting.” It’s also important to keep me in the loop on any changes to your wedding timeline or venue. This is a good time to introduce me to your wedding planner as well if you’ve opted for one. If you don’t have one but are looking for one, I have a few I always recommend!

If you’ve decided to book an engagement session, we’ll take the engagement photos anywhere from 3-9 months before the wedding date. The engagement session is an opportunity to get comfortable being in front of the camera and with your wedding photographer before the wedding. This will make your wedding day experience feel extra smooth and seamless. It’s a great time for me to take note of how you and your partner work together. This makes it a lot easier to get the perfect wedding photos on your big day!

We’ll also sync up again 30 days before the wedding day to go over the expectations and any areas of concern. If there are any poses you really want (or don’t want!) now is the time to iron them out.

Your Wedding Day

On your wedding day, I will strive to make sure that you and your loved ones feel natural and supported; just as if a friend is on the other side of the camera, capturing you just as you are! As a wedding photographer, it’s my job to teach you how to be in front of my camera. Through guided direction and encouragement we’ll make sure there are moments to breathe so that you can be as present as possible on your wedding day. After all, it’ll be over before you know it!

After your ceremony, we make time to get all of the shots we’ve planned out together. This is the time to take all of those fun wedding party photos with your pals, family, and friends. We will also be shooting all of the gorgeous intimate moments with you and your partner. You’ll be feeling extra lovey after saying I do, so I’ll capitalize on those ooey-gooey feelings!

Newlyweds walk down a street with their wedding party in New York City
A dog jumps at a bride and groom kissing outside of a New York City wedding venue
A couple smiles at each other on a staircase on their wedding day
Tall centrepieces on a circular table with white, orange, and pink flowers
A bride and groom kiss in New York City
A man in a white tuxedo smiles

Post-Wedding

I’ll deliver a few high-resolution sneak peeks a week after the wedding so that you can get excited! You can then expect to receive the final wedding photos 60-90 days after the wedding (depending on the season). Included is a full online gallery with a private link to share your wedding photos. You will also receive a “photographer’s favorites” gallery, and a slideshow. I always suggest you view the slideshow first together and with a bottle of champagne.  Now is the time to relive that day and remember all of the fun you had together.

My goal is to highlight your unique story with each album created—placing focus on your photos and the moments that matter most. This is especially true if you’ve chosen to preserve your photos with a hardcover wedding album. A tangible album is the absolute best way to view your pictures and pass down your memories for generations to come. 

And that’s it! When you break it down into increments like this, it seems a lot less stressful (at least to me!) I would love to photograph your wedding, so reach out and let’s meet!