Photo Credit: KGOODPHOTO

Boudoir photos are typically used as a creative and sassy gift for a loved one, for a special occasion or just for fun. The most popular occasion is for your fiance as a pre-wedding or honeymoon present – talk about a wedding gift he won’t forget!

I think that the most appealing thing about a boudoir photo is that it gives you an opportunity to celebrate yourself – the sassy gift is just the perfect excuse. You can look back on these images anytime – way in the future or when you’re just having one of those days.

Ask your wedding photographer if he or she also does boudoir shoots. Male photographers typically don’t offer this service, though there are some that do and it’s completely whatever you are comfortable with.

The best way to find your boudoir photographer is to ask your friends. Boudoir photography is very popular and chances are that someone you know has already done a session and would have some excellent advice for you. Whether it’s word of mouth, online or in publication, it’s important to go with a photographer that you have a good feeling about – quality of their work and personality.

Photo Credit: KGOODPHOTO

How do I prepare for a shoot like this?
In advance of having these photos taken, I would recommend stretching first as arching the back may be strenuous if you are not used to it. Girls will usually have an appreciation for modeling after this – it’s a bit like power yoga. Be sure to notify your photographer if you have any physical limitations.

I would also recommend having your hair and makeup professionally done – it will give you a confidence boost and help get you into character – not to mention it’s lots of fun and you can use your bridal trial for this or test-run a potential wedding day stylist. Your photographer will likely have someone in mind.  Go a bit over the top with the hair and makeup – false lashes and some extra eyeshadow. Your reflection will shock you, but the camera will see it much more tame.

Photo Credit: KGOODPHOTO

What Can I expect?
A bride’s expectations should be to feel amazing and relaxed during the shoot, and be pleased with the results, as the photos will most likely exceed your expectations. As women, we tend to focus on our physical flaws. As photographers, we see you differently, and put you in a light and angle that will highlight your assets and cause you to appreciate yourself.

For this reason, I would not recommend being very specific about poses for your shoot. Though if you have something very specific in mind, definitely explain your vision, or provide the image of inspiration.

Trust in your photographer is the most important thing, especially in a shoot of this nature. Some poses will feel silly and exaggerated, though just like the hair and makeup, the camera needs exaggeration in some positions to make it work. Just laugh at yourself and unleash your inner vixen.

Investments vary among photographers based on experience, quality, length of shoot and services. The average range is $300-800. The shoot itself will typically last one hour.

An experienced photographer will know exactly what they are going for, enabling them to pose you effortlessly as well as utilizing the entire surroundings for optimum variety in your images. If the photographer is confident, you will feel confident and at ease during the shoot. Some photographers offer options like a hair and makeup stylist, hotel room setting, and albums.

Above all, be sure to choose a photographer with work that speaks to you and makes you feel something.

KGOODPHOTO

Where does it happen?
Most photographers will have a studio setting available or an option to rent one. Many photographers come to your house and photograph you in the comfort of your own home, or a friend’s home (if it’s a sweetheart surprise!).

With portable studio lights, anywhere is a studio! Hotels are extremely popular, and your photographer may have an affiliation with one. It has a more artistic feel without the studio background, and I recommend doing it on location instead.

KGOODPHOTO

The most common question – What should I wear (or rather, not wear)?
Wear anything that makes you feel sexy or confident. Corsets, garters, swimsuits, funky lingerie, pearls and heels are popular. Sometimes we will incorporate a prop that relates to the husband/boyfriend/partner.

For example, don an apron for your chef or hug a guitar for your musical beau. Some popular themes are Cowgirl (cowboy hat and boots), pin-up (vintage lingerie + red lipstick), and the man-shirt (or sports jersey).

Talk to me about the airbrushing!
The #1 reason why women are hesitant about doing a boudoir shoot is because they can’t believe that they would know how to pose, or could look sexy in front of the camera. This is understandable because it’s the unknown, it’s natural to feel anxious when you’ve never modeled before – It’s not unusual to take a swig of wine or tequila shot before you get your bearings!

The truth is, as long as you’re relaxed and having fun, you’re going to look great! If you feel you would not suit a boudoir shoot because you are older or heavier – pish posh. I once did a groupon deal for boudoir photo shoots and shot over 200 in one year. During that time, I had the pleasure to photograph all different shapes, sizes and ages – just last week I photographed a boudoir with a 65 year old (and she rocked it).

Everyone feels sexy after a shoot like this! I promise you will be surprised with how comfortable you will feel, and how much fun it actually is!
Photoshop doesn’t hurt either! I edit the images like I would edit myself – conscious of small bulges and skin retouching but nothing major as I like to preserve your natural beauty.

KGOODPHOTO

Posing Sexy 101
Your photographer will be with you every step of the way – instructing you into the correct angles and poses, right to your fingertips.

I even have names for certain poses: when your eyebrows shoot up and you get those forehead wrinkles, I call that the “boudoir nemesis” (it sneaks up on everyone). To counteract, tilt up your chin and focus on lifting your eyelashes instead of the brows.

“The Turtle” is where you roll both shoulders forward into a concave position, hug yourself and rest your chin on your shoulder. This is great for those elegant bare-back shots.

Whenever you touch the furniture or your body, raise your wrist slightly, keeping the fingers straight, I call it “the pet”. It gives your hands and arms a dainty and feminine shape.

Always keep your neck long and relaxed, and arch your back.

Arching your back is like shoulder-checking, if you feel like you are doing it too much, you’re probably not doing it enough!

Finally, the secret to the sexy face is actually quite simple. Relax your entire face into your street-walking no-expression. Then, tilt your head slightly to one side and let your lips part. Try it a few times in the mirror, and, as Tyra says, don’t forget to “smize”!

KGOODPHOTO

Can you say Staggette?
This makes a great staggette activity! Some photographers will offer a boudoir stagette package including a hotel room or studio rental, plus professional hair and makeup. The bride usually gets her shoot free if a certain amount of bridesmaids sign up.

After the shoot, you and all your best gals are ready to hit the town with your new makeovers and an amazing experience.

KGOODPHOTO

Ideas on how to give this gift to the lucky recipient:
Sexy calendar
Photo album
Wallet-sized prints
Prints (in random places around the house, medicine cabinet, under pillow or in suitcase etc.)
Canvas Print (some moody abstract photo from your session is the perfect accent to your own boudoir)
If your man travels a lot, email him one during each trip

Can a male do a boudoir shoot?
Each photographer has their own policies on whether or not they do “Dudeoirs” as I like to call them.

I always keep it tasteful and PG. I once did a sexy shoot with a firefighter (sometimes I wonder how I get paid for this…)

For more information and photo examples, check out my boudoir site: http://kgoodphoto.com/#/boudoir/

KGOODPHOTO

photo credit: technabob.com

The first thing to think about is your lighting situation. Will you be inside or out? Will you be able to dim the lights or not? If you cannot control the lights you will need a projector that has at least 3,000 lumens. Lumens basically measure the brightness of the projection the higher the number the brighter the picture and the better it will do in the light.

Photo Credit: Tikkatikka.com

Photo Credit: TusconWeddingSite.com

Another thing to think about is power. Make sure you have enough extension cords to get to the nearest power source sometimes you may have to go up to 50 feet to get to the nearest source.

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Photo Credit: BktheDJ.com

Lastly, you want to make sure that you have enough cable to hook your laptop or dvd player into your sound system. Take a good look at what connectors you’ll need and get enough cable to go from one side of the room to other. You can never have enough cable.

Photo Credit: LusterStudios.com

Photo credit: Eddie Yee Photo Blog

After your wedding day, there are a few tasks that seem pretty daunting. There are many things that couples must do once they are married. One of the first and biggest challenges that approaches newlywed couples is writing out the dreaded thank you notes.

Thank you notes can be quite scary. It sounds funny to use the word ‘scary’ … but its true. If you have a 250 guest wedding, you have to hand write 250 thank you notes. AND these thank you notes must be written in a timely fashion while still living your busy life! … Scary? Yes!

Photo Credit: BridalPartyTees.com

I’m here to share with you a few tips on thank you notes that will hopefully help any newlywed couple get through this challenge:

First, when writing thank you notes, remember that this has to be done in a timely manner. Yes! Normally thank you notes should be written and sent out in 4-5 weeks time.  The “one year” time-frame is a thing of the past. If you happen to have relatives of who are strict on the thank you note etiquette, it would be best to send out their thank you notes first, and leave the more carefree guests at the end of your list.

In the past, the bride typically wrote all of the thank you notes. Today, both the bride and groom will likely share the gifts received from a wedding. So, it only makes sense to share the responsibilities of the thank you notes. Right? This will help speed things along.

Use spreadsheets! When planning a wedding, you most likely used some kind of spreadsheet to keep track of all the guest names and addresses for invitations. It will be a good idea to reuse your spreadsheet or create a thank you note spreadsheet with all the guests’ info and gifts received. This will help you figure out which guest gave which gift. Just remember to mark off every person you write a thank you note to.

Have a thank you card workstation! It is best to gather all the materials and supplies needed for your thank you notes before the wedding. Make sure you have enough thank you notes and stamps. This will help the production line of thank you cards. Another good idea – if you have the time to do so – is to write the thank you note as each gift is opened, so the process will be much shorter rather than dragged out over weeks.

Photo Credit: VictoriaSouzaBlog.com

Happy Planning

Photo Credit: KGOODPHOTO

Engagement shoots have evolved into an integral art of the wedding photography. They are important because they allow you and your photographer to get to know each other better and maybe meet face to face if you haven’t already.

You will get to know their shooting style, see how you jive together in the field, and help you and your beau feel at ease in front of the camera. Consider it practice before the finale. It will develop trust with your photographer and in yourself – because you’re going to look like a rock star.

Most importantly, this is a special time in your life together as a couple, which can be overlooked in the hustle and bustle, and often stressful, whirlwind of event planning. Take this photo shoot time to set aside your venue worries, bridesmaids concerns and TLC addiction to just have fun with each other, and refocus on your connection.

Some guys are even getting a photographer to hide and take snapshots while he proposes – a pre engagement shoot, shoot. This is a new thing that could become more popular, as emotions are high and the photos are magic.

Now on to the Nitty Gritty

Where:
Think about locations that mean something to your relationship – nothing is too boring or bizarre. How about that coffee shop where you noticed each other for the first time? How about that park where he proposed or that beach where you had your first kiss? Or just somewhere where you both like to venture together.

If you would rather, you can ask your photographer to pick out a location for you, they will throw out a few suggestions and you can brainstorm together. Either Way, there are a couple of things to consider. The first query I present my brides is whether they would like the shoot to be a Rural or Urban setting.

Rural is a more rustic look – open fields, beaches, forests, anything country.

Photo credit: KGOODPHOTO

Urban is something modern and upscale, often including interesting architecture, lighting and cityscapes.

Photo credit: KGOODPHOTO

Think about what would suit you both more – some couples are diehard urbanites and some love the rustic look. I really like both, they each lend themselves to a unique look and if I could only save one from a burning building, it would be a sad day.

Sometimes you can do both looks in one shoot, depending on how far away the commute is among the different locations. Be sure that the commute time doesn’t eat up the playtime. If you have a considerable commute in mind, get your photographer’s opinion on timing, and maybe talk about a longer shoot. The city park is the happy medium.

Sometimes it helps to keep it congruent with your wedding theme: If you are getting married under a giant arbutus tree, you might want to have some vintage engagement images to adorn your barn-turned-reception atmosphere. If your reception is at a modern hotel, it might lend itself better to have some photos of you smooching in a subway tunnel as the metro lights stream behind you.

The Rural vs. Urban rule is just a basic guideline though; I personally love out of the box settings and quirky ideas. When I have a couple that is up for anything, we tend to end up with some very unique and often humorous imagery.

Photo credit: KGOODPHOTO

When:
Be sure to check the weather when booking a date. It if calls for slight showers, I don’t worry about it too much as it often just ends up being overcast in my area (which is my personal preferred lighting). Bring an umbrella just in case. Even if you do get a little drizzle, that can look spectacular when lit from behind with a strobe and overall can really add a fairytale element to your shoot. Stormy clouds can look dramatic as well.

It’s not preferred, but there is, ahem, a silver lining if it does happen.

Photo credit: KGOODPHOTO

Same goes for the wedding day, but I hear you get a little extra luck for that one. Talk to your photographer about whether they feel comfortable shooting in a little rain. It’s always good to have an indoor location in mind as a fall back in case it gets torrential.

Time of day is important.
If the weather calls for bright sunshine, and we don’t want that look for your particular shoot, you can do the photos earlier in the morning before the sun is too high and hot. Dusk is referred to as “The Golden Hour” and is popular for stunning sunset photos along the beach, and the increasingly popular evening photography, lit by an external flash or ambient city light.

Photo credit: KGOODPHOTO

Photo credit: KGOODPHOTO

That’s just dandy but what do we wear?
You’ve been stressing about this one even before you booked the photographer. Here are some tips:

-Don’t wear the same thing (unless it’s intentional humor).

-Do wear something comfortable (you won’t be able to relax if you’re worried about your strapless falling down).

-Don’t brandish large logos (or they’ll think that Nikey sponsored the wedding)

-Do dress to match the location (those stilettos are for the city mouse)

-Do bring more than one outfit (I tell my brides to bring a casual dress for movement, and skinny jeans for later) (talk to your photographer about their outfit policy).

-Do bring accessories (funky hair pieces, jewelry, seasonal winter wear).

-Don’t let your man wear a ball cap (hat hair is better than no face).

-Do put a little oomph into your makeup if that’s how you normally roll (many of my brides go for the professional hair and makeup discount as part of my photo package – it really enhances the experience and may help you nail down a stylist for your walk down the aisle).

-Don’t stress about it at all, these are just guidelines – ultimately you should be yourself and wear what represents you (from ripped jeans to a mascot costume-anything goes).

Props
Are fun. Bring anything that you think would look cool. Popular ones include:
-Bikes
-Your pet
-Umbrellas
-Gum boots
-Bubbles
-Balloons
-Chalkboard
-Picture frame
-Suitcase
-Mustaches/funny glasses

Photo credit: KGOODPHOTO

Photo credit: Wedding Paper Divas

Photo credit: Bridefinds.com

Photo Credit: Adrienne Gunde

I have seen crazier things and honestly the sky is the limit! Tell your photographer if you are bringing any props and they can brainstorm some prop-associated ideas ahead of time, or ask them if they have a prop idea in mind for the location you’re going to.

Themed shoots
This is a trendy new take on the engagement shoot. You have your basic themes: Rural and Urban, but you can take it to the next level. If you are a big fan of a certain romantic movie or novel, you could recreate some scenes or use elements.

I saw an amazing one that is themed around “The Notebook” it seriously looks like scenes from the movie!

Photo credit: Blushing Bride Studios

A photographer friend of mine, Eunice Montenegro, did an awesome job with a “Twilight” theme.

Photo credit: Eunice Montenegro

If you fancy the theme notion, you can honestly re-create any famous romance, especially if you have the right location for it:  The Waldorf for Serendipity, Sleepless in Seattle etc.

I haven’t personally done a themed shoot yet, but I would love to do Pride and Prejudice or Princess Bride.

Your only job is to have fun
You are not un-photogenic. Period. If you are having fun then you will look good. Smiles and laughter are amazing like that. For the most part, you will be cuddling up, as natural as you do on the couch

You’ve chosen your photographer based on whether or not you get along with them, and whether or not you like their photography style. Which means that you trust them. He or she will give you ample direction.

So just kick back, run around, goof off and have fun with your other. Because you’ll be surprised at how fun it is and how comfortable you will actually feel.

Photo credit: KGOODPHOTO

Photo credit: www.bride.ca

With all the hustle and bustle of planning your wedding, many brides forget the small details of your wedding day. Of course, I am talking about the small details that you may not consider while caught up in planning the invitations, seating arrangements, decor, favors etc. Caring for your wedding dress is one small detail that many brides forget about. Here are a few tips I picked up while planning my wedding for prepping your wedding dress for the big day:

• Make sure your wedding dress fits appropriately. Alterations are important, and some dresses take longer to alter then others.  On average, wedding dresses take 3 alterations/fittings to be altered perfectly to your figure. Don’t leave it to the last minute.

Photo Credit: WeddingBellsBlog.com

• Sample and vintage dresses need some special love. If you are a lucky bride who purchased a dress off the rack or a vintage dress at a fraction of the actual price, spend a few more dollars caring for your dress. Sample/vintage usually need to be cleaned, altered and repaired. Check to see if there is any missing beading or rips in your dress and make sure that you leave ample time to repair any damage before your big day.

Photo Credit: ConceptsInBloom.Blogspot.com

• After alterations are completed, if you must store your wedding dress at your home, be sure to have enough space. Clear out a large portion of the closet, making sure that the floor of the closet is free of clutter. Hang your dress on a padded hanger; making sure it is out of its plastic garment bag. Shield the dress from dust and light by closing the closet door each time you open it.

Photo Credit: Dreamstime.com

• A week or two before the wedding, take your dress out of the closet, check to see if it has any wrinkles in it. If you feel the need to steam your wedding dress, you’ll still have time to get it done professionally. If the wrinkles are minimal, simply hang your wedding dress in your bathroom while the shower is running hot water. Make sure your dress is hung high and away from receiving any water damage.  This will release some of the wrinkles without leaving any water spots or marks from a home steamer or iron.

Happy Planning

Photo Credit: Kio Kreations

While fragrant flowers look beautiful and can fill the room with a sweet, perfumey scent, they also can give you a headache, cause an allergy attack or make your food less-appetizing. So before you order bunches of Stargazer lilies to fill your venue, think about their strong scent. You can still use them, but think about using smaller amounts of them in with non-fragrant flowers. Avoid using them in bouquets since those are usually closer to faces/noses for longer amounts of time.

Photo Credit: Kio Kreations

The above arrangement shows how to effectively use a strong-scented flower like Stargazer lilies in with subtle and no-fragrance blooms. The only other flower that has a scent in this altarpiece is the stock. Another ideal thing about this arrangement is it is an altarpiece, and therefore not on a guest table or being worn by the bridal party–so its scent won’t travel too far and it will likely not annoy guests in the least.

Most flowers do have some sort of fragrance, but the majority of them are subtle enough that they will not cause headaches, alter flavors or cause allergic reactions. I have compiled a list of fragrant, sorta fragrant and fragrant-less flowers below for your reference…

Usually people are more affected by the pungent (strong) fragrances that come out of these lovely blooms:
Oriental Lilies (most commonly used: Stargazer and Casablanca varieties)
Gardenias
Lily of the Valley
Lilac
Hyacinth
Herbs
Paperwhites
Christmas Greens
Eucalyptus

Photo Credit: Kio Kreations

I am a florist and even I am very allergic to Christmas greens and eucalyptus. Just being around the smell of them gives me a headache and eventually makes me sneeze or get a runny nose. I love the look of them, but they literally make me ill!!! While I do use these foliages, I try to avoid them whenever possible. In the above bouquet, I used boxwood instead of evergreens and I used seeded eucalyptus which I find less-offensive then spiral eucalyptus.

These lovelies are much less intense, but still fragrant:
Freesia
Stock
Peonies
Garden Roses
Sweet Pea
Some Rose, Sweetheart and Spray Rose Varieties
Dahlias
Stephanotis
Marigolds
Mums
Wax Flower

Photo Credit: Kio Kreations

This bouquet is the perfect example of having some mildly-fragrant blooms, like peonies and sweet pea, in with a bunch of non-fragrant ones like ranunculus and Billy balls.

And if you want to play it safe, these flowers have subtle/minimal-to-no fragrance:
Most roses
Hydrangea
Callas
Most Orchids
Ranunculus
Tulips
Lisianthus
Gerbera Daisies
Carnations
Iris
Amaranthus
Celosia
Billy Balls
Brunia
Gladioli
Kale
Larkspur
Asiatic Lilies
Snapdragons
Bells of Ireland
Anemones

Photo Credit: Kio Kreations

This bouquet combines non-fragrant kale, tulips, anemones, and lisianthus with lightly-fragrant sweet pea.

1. First and foremost is fashion tape.  Trust me, no wedding planner leaves home without it.  It can fix a ripped hem in a jiffy or if you have a bridesmaid that is constantly doing the strapless dress shimmy to cover her chest, this would also be perfect for her.  Plus, look at this darling tin it comes in!

Photo Credit: RiteAid.com

2. You should have a mini/travel size hairspray for when your dance moves are more than your hair can handle.

Photo Credit: Shampooline.com

3. While you are getting your hair done, ask your hair stylist to give you a dozen hair pins just in case.

4. Blotting papers will take away shine without adding un-needed makeup.  They will soak up oil so you can still look great in pictures at the end of the night.  Don’t be afraid to use them on your groom too!

Photo Credit: CherryCulture.com

5. Kissing your groom and kissing the cheeks of your guests will take that color right off your lips.  Be sure you have your lipgloss or lipstick handy.

Photo Credit: TheGloss.com

6. Dental Floss will be your best friend after your meal.  Keep that smile shining!

7. Find a purse size perfume.  You’ll need a little spritz at the reception, by that time, the perfume you put on before you said “I Do” will be wearing off.

Photo Credit: Nordstrom

8. Tears may be falling so be prepared with some tissues.  Etsy has a lot of options for tissue holders that come in all different colors and patterns so you can coordinate it with your wedding colors!

Photo Credit: EdwardandLilly Etsy Shop

9. Eye drops will come in handy if you know you are going to cry to give your eyes a pick me up.

10. A compact mirror is a must!

Photo Credit: ByMiMi Etsy Shop

The color wheel can be simplified into 12 basic colors. A color scheme is made by mixing logical combinations of these colors. Once you have chosen the base colors you can then experiment with different variations of each color. Adding white creates different tints, adding gray creates different tones, and adding black creates shades.

Complementary colors are colors found opposite each other on the color wheel. The contrast between two complementary colors creates a vibrant look.

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Analogous colors are found next to each other on the color wheel. Analogous colors tend to create a soothing and elegant effect. These color combinations work best when they have a similar tint; this means your colors harmonize well if they are either all vibrant or all pastels, rather than mixing the two

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Triadic colors are evenly spaced around the color wheel. A triadic scheme creates a contrast similar to a complementary scheme but is more easily balanced. A good practice is to select one of the three as the dominant color, then use the other two as accents.

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Split-Complementary schemes are similar to complimentary, but this scheme uses a color and the two colors adjacent to its compliment. These themes can be very colorful without a high contrast.

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Monochromatic color schemes use one color that varies in lightness and saturation.  These schemes are clean and soothing. These palettes integrate nicely with neutral colors such as black, white or gray.

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The color wheel can also be divided into cool and warm colors. Warm colors are more lively and energetic while cool colors give a sense of calm and relaxation.

Use these schemes for inspiration as you plan your wedding. Whether you’re seeking vibrant flowers, cool and calming bridesmaids’ gowns, or elegant centerpieces, the central qualities of the color wheel can make the tough decision a lot easier. Experiment and be bold, and see what colors are couched beside your favorites on the wheel. You might find some great combinations that surprise you!

What are the boldest colors you’ve ever seen at a wedding?

Photo Credit: WeddingTropics.com

Q: My finance and I are paying for the wedding ourselves. We are debating having a receiving line. If we do, who should be part of it? Should our parents be included?

A: The receiving line is two fold. The first purpose is for those hosting the wedding to welcome the guests to the reception. The second is for the families of the bride and groom to be able to meet and greet guests. Even though the bride and groom are hosting the wedding in this case, it would be lovely and gracious to have your parents also in the receiving line.

The typical order of the receiving line is:

• Bride’s Mother, Groom’s Mother, Bride, Groom

• Sometimes the fathers also stand in line. When this is the case, the fathers follow the Groom: Bride’s Father and Groom’s Father

• Occasionally, attendants will be included after the fathers: Maid/Matron of honor, and Bridesmaids. Rarely do ushers stand in a receiving line.

But do not feel obligated to “stand” on ceremony. You may arrange a receiving line which suits you and your wedding.

Jodi R. R. Smith is a nationally known etiquette expert and author. She is the president of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting. You are invited to email her your etiquette emergencies at Salem@Mannersmith.com

Photo Credit: Ardent Photography

Where to look for a photographer:
The best way to start looking for a photographer is to talk with friends and family members who have gotten married recently. They can often make suggestions about who they loved, why and where they found their own photographer. Having the insight from someone you trust on how a photography company handled an ACTUAL wedding is a rare and very valuable thing.

If you don’t know anyone who has gotten married recently or were just not impressed by what you found, another valuable resource is your venue’s recommended vendor list. There are often strict criteria a photographer must meet before being added to this kind of a list. Typically they must have shot a wedding (or three) at that specific venue. When venues recommend a vendor they are extremely careful about endorsing only people they know will do a good job as ultimately the quality of their vendors work will be a reflection upon them. Ask your venue coordinator about specific photography companies on the list, see if he/she has any personal insight into which companies might be a good fit for your big day.

If you still haven’t found what your looking for, broaden your search via trusted online wedding directories.  A few that our brides have found helpful are:  Style Me Pretty’s Little Black Book and Wedding Chicks. Vendor Directories are a great tool for finding a wedding photographer.  You can get an overview of the vendors that will fit your budget and narrow down your favorite choices all in one place. There are plenty of sites out there.  Many of which include region or city specific searches, allowing you to find the best options in your area.  You can also search by vendor categories.

Photo Credit: StyleMePretty.com

What should you be looking for:
A lot of this will depend on what your photographic priorities are for the big day. Things to think about may include:

• Whether or not you will want a CD of the images with the ability to print your own photos
• If your photographer will require a travel fee to shoot your wedding
• How many hours will you need to really cover your day well
• Are you looking to have one or two shooters?
• Is it preferable to have a female photographer in with you while you’re getting ready
• What kind of products are you looking to have from your wedding day (ie. albums, guest books, canvas prints)?
• What is your photography budget?

Having answers to these questions will give you something to start your search with. When looking at photographers be sure to check out not only their website and pricing but also their blog as well. Look through past blog posts to gain insight as to the quality of work they present and the types of clients they shoot for. Be sure to pay attention to the frequency of their posts. Do they seem experienced, busy and most of all when you see their photos … does it make your heart flutter? If so, then it might be time to move onto the next step … booking a meeting!

Photo Credit: Chris Barber Media

What comes next:
I cannot stress enough how important it is to meet with photographers you are interested in IN PERSON. A phone conversation about packages and pricing will not tell you anything about the photographer’s personality, the quality of the products they offer or how well you will get along with them on the big day. After you have made your list start contacting the companies you are interested in to set up a time to talk about the wedding and find out more about what they have to offer. This may include visiting their studio, having them come to your house or meeting somewhere neutral like a quiet coffee house. Try to schedule your meetings within about a one week time frame if possible. The longer you go in between your photographer meetings the harder it will be to remember what each one had to offer and compare them to make a decision.

Photo Credit: Strathmore Business Centers

So now you know what you look for, you’ve made your ‘it list’ and even have a few meetings scheduled. Check back for my next article which will help you to know what to expect during your photographer meetings, things you should ask and what to look for when choosing the one.