Why You Should Hire a Wedding Photographer Early in the Process

You’re sporting that new bling. You have an undeniable glow about you. And your head is buzzing with visions of color schemes, flowers and lace. It’s that time. You’re planning your dream wedding. Even with all the beautiful Pinterest boards you’ve put together, it’s so much information you don’t know where to start. Well I have the perfect suggestion for you. Find your photographer! 

With all the options out there and all the details you have to get in order while planning for your beautiful day, hiring a photographer in the early stages can be one of the best decisions you make. Not only are we well connected with all the local vendors in the area, we are very experienced in the wedding day timeline and can help you plan. Here’s a breakdown for you.

The Timeline Expertise

This is where the magic begins to happen, when you start seeing your day fall into place. You may feel you have an “idea” of how the day should go but talking to a photographer can help you pin down exactly what you will need throughout the day. Getting that rough timeline sketched out helps you know who exactly who you’ll need to contact and what things you’ll want to get in order.

As a photographer I am constantly thinking about light and when everything needs to happen in order to get those portraits in the most beautiful light. This is where I usually start when discussing the timeline. When you know where you want to be for sunset photographs you can work your day around those opportune times.  If you want to have your bride and groom portraits right after the ceremony and sunset is at 8pm then plan on a 6 o’clock ceremony time.

I’m also available to view your ceremony or reception venues with you. Sometimes you will have the most gorgeous venue but the lighting at certain times of day can make all the difference. Depending on where light or shadow is at venue can mean the difference of evenly and beautifully lit photos or harsh, uneven lighting which can become unflattering. Little details like this can help organize the day and make sure your images come out as beautiful as you imagine.

There is a lot to fit into a wedding day. And photographers have seen it all. They know what generally works and what doesn’t work for most people when it comes to planning out your day. What stresses a bride because of a “crunch” on time or what can give them that sigh of relief knowing they are “ahead of schedule.” We have an idea of how long hair and makeup can take. We have an idea of how long it will take to wrangle all the groomsmen in one place after they ran off to the bar for one last quick drink. So rest assured when you bring a photographer on board early in the game, you have experience to help you out. 

The Vendor Connection

The Checklist starts to grow….the flowers, the band, the rentals, the caters, the cake, the dress, the menswear. Where to start and who will best fit your needs? Photographers work with almost every local vendor you can imagine. We get to see them in action at various weddings and events and know what they can bring to the table. I’ve had the pleasure to be able to get to know several local vendors and incredible talent right here in the Mississippi Delta and in Memphis, TN. 

Early Bird Specials

Often times photographers offer deals during their “off” season in order to secure future jobs. We also just love offering a good deal! So while you may have plenty of time before your summer or fall wedding, consider looking around a bit at your favorite photographers to see if they are starting to book early bird special packages.

Booking early also allows you to inquire about payment plans as well. It’s a large investment when you book wedding photography. And as photographers we want to help you any way we can. Setting up a payment plan can become a manageable way for you to work with your budget and take some of the stress off closer to the wedding day.

So don’t let yourself get overwhelmed with all that needs to be done before your wedding day. Take it one step at a time. Enjoy the time imagining your life with your partner. And when you are wondering where to start with this magical wedding planning journey, think of us…your friendly local wedding photographer.