6 Easy Steps to Finding the Perfect Photographer

Your wedding day will be magic and it should be remembered as nothing less than magic. No bride should ever have to encounter a lousy wedding photographer.  Sadly the reality is there are a lot of people out there that have no business charging for pictures.  To avoid heart ache and the dreaded  wedding album that makes you cry instead of laugh, arm yourself with these 6 easy steps for booking the best wedding photographer your budget can buy!

1.     Step 1: think about STYLE

• Do your home work! It is important to know what you like and don't like.  If you review enough websites you will get to know what you like and do not like pretty quickly.
• Lighting, features, special effects (if there is something you want you have to tell your photographer)  As a note, SLR camera’s often offer the best vibrant colour images for example.
• Positioning of people- are you looking for traditional or creative poses?
• Expressions. Check to see that people are looking into the camera.  Make special note of key moment shots (walking down the isle, your first kiss, cake cutting) if these pictures do not look good to you, chances are your photographer is no good.  Anyone can do posed pictures, it's the ability to capture things as they happen that matters.
• Do you like close ups or pictures from far away (I say ask for both close up and far away of each picture)

2.   Stem 2: think about NUMBERS 

• 2 photographers is the way to go.  If your wedding is over 50 people you will want to have multiple dimensions to your pictures (expressions, reactions, different angles of key moments- overhead and direct picture of your first kiss for example). 

3.     Step 3: think about SERVICE

• Price- what do you get? 
•  Things you should look for:

• Do you get a 2-3 hour engagement shoot?
•  How many hours do they offer day of?  12-14 hours is the best way to go
• How many edited pictures can you expect to be given from your wedding?  Should look for about 5000 (tell your photographer that you want them to go trigger happy 

•  The best package is no prints, just digital images WITHOUT watermarks.  You can add in an album or 2, but it is often cheaper to make it yourself.  There are several websites that offer competitive rates and great quality photo albums.
• Do they have an online gallery? 
• Equipment- are they able to compensate for darker lit rooms if it is raining etc…  Do they have props for your pictures should you want them?  

4.     Step 4: ask if you can HAVE A SAY

• Submit a photo list- if a photographer says they don't do that, get rid of them.
• Set a date for when you expect all the pictures completed by
• Ask if they are ok with you sending examples of posses you want
• A good photographer will always give you a say in articulating what you want.  If a photographer tells you that your input will negatively influence their style - this is a big red flag.  A great photographer is able to do many styles and will always make the client happy.

5.     Step 5: ask about the photographers AVAILABILITY

• Is your photographer available on your wedding date? 
•  Is your wedding local?  If not, you should check to see if your photographer is willing to travel.
• Wedding photographers are generally booked 1-2 years prior to your wedding depending on where you live. 

6.     Step 6: Ask about an ENGAGEMENT SHOOT

• It will give you an idea of what to expect in terms of photo quality 
• It will teach you how to be aware of the camera (usually this is hardest for the groom)
• If you are not happy with the pictures do not be afraid to tell your photographer.  You can always forefeit your deposit and move on to another photographer. 
• It will get you acquainted with your photographer.

Step 1 of 4: I'm Engaged!!! Now where to begin?

Many brides-to-be do not give much thought to their wedding and more often then not they are confronted with 101 questions from parents, in-laws, family and friends the day's following the engagement.   Don't let yourself be caught off guard, and most certainly do not let people make you feel lost.  Arm yourself with these simple what to do planning tips to get yourself started.  Remember, the foundation of any structure must be sound before being able to build on top of it.  A wedding is no different. Asking yourself the below questions will help save you stress, time and will give you a great foundation for your dream wedding!

Step 1:  Ask yourself the below...

1. I see my wedding in a Banquet Hall  
2. I see my wedding in a simple environment (golf club, restaurant, lounge) 
3. I see my wedding out doors in a Tent 
4. I want something cheap, flexible and do not care too much about the overall look of the venue  
5. I have always wanted to go away for my wedding (Destination: cottage, down south etc...)

Step 2: Understanding possibility with the space you have to work with...  

1. Create a draft wedding invite list...total this up...ask yourself, are you comfortable with the final number?  Your venue will have to accommodate these numbers so keep this in mind 
   
2. What season do you want to get married in?  
3. When i think of my wedding what colours would i love to see (it is ok to have multiple colour concepts at the beginning) 

Step  3: Establish a budget...

1. Who is paying for the wedding 
2. How much is everyone contributing 
3. Keep in mind the following (50-65% of your budget will go to the venue and or Catering/B/Rentals, 15% Photography, 5% Transportation, 25% on miscellaneous expenses like: decor, flowers, attire, license and DJ)

Step 4: Evaluate what you can do with your budget by re-visiting Step1.  

If your vision is in allignmen with your budget great, if not, you will need to do some creative searching.  This means finding a banquet hall that can give you more of what you want without increasing the budget.  Ie- if you want a princess wedding, try finding a venue that has large chandaliers... if you want a garden wedding, try finding a community center that over looks some trees, if you want a sheik wedding, try looking at small or private art galleries that allow you to bring in your own catering.  There are many things you can do, you really just have to decide what you want and then work from there.

Personality on a Dime

Infuse personality into your wedding
What is the most common planning struggle a bride has today? I don't want my wedding to look like those that i have attended, but how can i make it different, but trendy, and how can i afford to do it?

Today, while brides are in-tune to industry trends, there is so much of the same thing that one forgets how to infuse their personality into their day.  And so the cycle begins.  To make your day stand out you must define what makes you as a couple stand out.  This requires you to dig deep and think what is something that say's bride and groom?

Some simple, fun way's to infuse personality into your wedding day are:
Crafts, snacks, hobbies,colour, and design.

First, begin by thinking simple. Ask yourself the following question: what do I like and what does my partner like? Write these ideas down.  Review these ideas and then rank them.  Be sure to apply your top pick in a way that compliments the theme of your wedding (i.e. colour, design, decor).

Photo/Thank you/CD

Some examples of how you can incorporate your personality subtly or strongly are:
Wedding programs
Your favorite thing (Type of fruit, decade, season etc...)

Recipe books ( Food or cocktails)

Music (CD filled with your favorite songs)
Games (Branded deck of cards with your monogram, wedding trivial pursuit, purse bingo)
Snack (Mini bag of your favorite candy)
Group day-of wedding activity (Have your guests decorate a slab of white cake)

No matter what your personality, be sure to incorporate it into your day.  I guarantee it will be the defining feature of what distinguishes your day from everyone elses.

Favors

Do it yourself wedding favors are a huge money saver and add that perfect personal touch.

Some simple, cost effective ideas include:

Make it yourself mojito kits











Make it yourself cookie jars
- this is recommended for smaller weddings - get firends and family together to bake an assortment of cookies - purchase decorative jars to allow you to see the cookies

Make it yourself flower pots











- Going green is a huge theme these days because it is cost effective - contact and purchase mini daisies, saplings, or violets from a flower distributor. They usually come in burlap bags, which can easily be cellophane. Another option is purchasing little clay flower pots.

Something...

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue!
Wow there is a mouthful! Tradition says that all brides should incorporate these somethings into their big day. Realistically, who is willing to chance tradition?

Here are my budget friendly ideas:

Something old
- A parents, friends or family members jewelry




Something new
- Brides wedding dress
- Brides hair accessories

Something borrowed
- A parents, friends or family members jewelry can double as something borrowed
- The Brides hair piece and accessories

Something blue
- The ring boys pillow
- incorporate it into your flowers
- garter belt

What's a Maid of Honour to do?

A Maid of Honour is similar to the Groom's Best Man. The difference is that the Maid of Honour is responsible for bringing the couples vision to fruition. Often time consuming and stressful, being a Maid of Honour is hard work- the Bride must always come first. When asking your best person to be your Maid of Honour make sure you are clear about what responsibilities the the Maid of Honour will be responsible for.

Below is a list of the Maid of Honours responsibilities:
- Help the Bride shop for her wedding dress and the Bridesmaid gowns.
- Visit reception sites with the Bride and offer a second opinion

- Help the Bride choose the wedding flowers
- Ensure that the Bridesmaid dresses are ordered on-time
- Help make wedding guest favors for the wedding and Bridal Shower
- Help plan the wedding shower
- Host a bachelorette party
- Attend rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
- Hold the Grooms ring
- Sit to the right of the Bride at the reception
- Conduct a final walk through at the venue for the Bride the day of
- Make a speech
- Help bring wedding gifts to the Bride and Grooms home

What's a Best Man to do?

The Best Man is the Groom's best person. The Best Man serves as the Groom's personal advisor, confidant, and time-keeper. Duties include, but are not limited to:

- Plan and pay for the bachelor party with other grooms men and the groom's family
- Rent and pay for a tux and go for fittings
- attend rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
- Help bring boxes to rehearsal, ceremony and reception

- Help the groom dress and make sure he gets to the church on time
- Keep the brides wedding ring until the ring exchange
- Sign the marriage license
- Groom and Bride will give you payment to pay the officiant before the ceremony

- You sit to the left of the Groom at the reception
- You will have to dance with the Maid of Honour
- Make first toast to Bride and Groom
- Collect and Return formal wear rentals for both yourself and the Groom after the wedding
- Assist the Maid of Honour with bringing gifts to the Bride and Grooms home