Your Wedding Day: What Really Goes Into Being a Wedding Photographer
Hey there, future newlyweds!
As engagement season is upon us and as more couples start to research and book vendors, and start the wedding planning process, I thought it would be the perfect time to share just exactly what us photographers do when you book us for your special day! Wedding photography can often seem like a photographer will just show up on the wedding day and click a button- but I’m here to tell you that as a professional, we do SO much more than that! I know that wedding photography is a huge investment and takes a big percentage of a couple’s budget when it comes to their wedding day. I want to walk you through the process and share a little behind-the-scenes information of what goes into being a wedding photographer!
***Please note, I am only speaking from my very own processes and what I personally offer- I am not speaking on behalf of all wedding photographers- we are all a bit different!***
The First Step - Inquiring and Consultations
Let’s start at square one! When you inquire about me possibly photographing your wedding (engagement or other session), I receive your contact form in my email and immediately transfer your info to my client software. There, I make one “client card,” as I call it, and keep your email, phone number, wedding date, and any other pertinent info on file and it follows you as you go through my workflow process. If I have your date available, I email back as soon as I can and try to schedule a consultation immediately. If I don’t have your date open, I’ll often send recommendations to other photographers that I love in our area! I believe in community and love helping you find someone who will do an amazing job as well.
I LOVE consultations— whether they are in-person at my favorite coffee house (pre-covid) or on a video chat for those who may be out-of-state or busy! This is where I start getting to know you on a friendly basis. I get to hear more about your story (how you met, the proposal, what you love to do together, etc) and what you envision for your day. In the end, this helps me figure out if we’re a good fit for each other and to either recommend one of my packages, or make a more custom package to fit your needs. Since a wedding photographer follows you through one of the most important days of your lives, I always want you to feel comfortable with me and feel like we’ve known each other for years. I love entering a bridal suite, for example, and being able to say, “Hey, beautiful! How’s work going? How are your dogs?” instead of having to introduce myself or ask things about your life as I’m taking photos.
Once we agree on a package that suits the needs of your wedding day, then it’s on to paperwork! To become “officially official,” and on my calendar, I require a 30% retainer of the package you choose and a signed contract. All of the paperwork is sent through email so it’s easy to take care of if you don’t live here locally!
FAQ: Why is a retainer required to officially book photography services?
Requiring a retainer to save and book a wedding day is a common business practice throughout the service and wedding industry! It shows the photographer that the couple is very serious about having a them capture their day. Wedding days are typically reserved on a “first come, first serve,” basis, and the retainer secures that specific date. The retainer also covers administrative work, time emailing or planning for the wedding, etc.— any work completed ahead of the wedding day.
You're booked! Yay! What next?
There is a lot of preparation in the months leading up to your wedding day— not only as your wedding planning increases and you start to decide on the nitty-gritty details but also for us photographers! Personally, I love being a bit hands-on and active through the planning process. I love being able to answer any questions you might have as you continue to plan your wedding and love helping to create a timeline for the day of (read here on why timelines are SUPER important)! I also have a list of recommended vendors that I can send to my couples as well, if you’re still needing a florist, DJ, cake baker, etc. Since my own wedding was a destination wedding, I know that it can sometimes be hard to find vendors in a specific area- Google can only help so much, it seems! I’ll also sometimes tour a venue or go location scouting during the months leading to a wedding. If I haven’t been to a place and need to test out lighting, touring a venue is often the best way to make sure I’m good-to-go on the day-of!
We’ll also schedule an engagement session! I include a complimentary engagement with all of my wedding packages because I love that it’s another way to get to know my couples even more. Engagements give us some time to hang out together without the stress and crazy time constraints of a wedding day, get to know each other more and it truly helps the couple get comfortable with being in front of my camera before the day. I know how awkward it can feel to take photos (my husband and I are also awkward people, so I totally get it), and these sessions are a great way to relax and get used to being in front of my lens.
Finally- The Wedding Day
After months of planning, it’s finally your wedding day! It’s time to sit back, relax, and take in one of the best days of your life. Trust me, it goes by quickly, but that’s what I’m here for— to capture those moments and details that you may miss and that you get to relive and cherish for years to come!
Work for wedding days truly starts the night before. I’ll print out the timeline, family formal list, and the questionnaire, for both me and my second-shooter. I charge all of my batteries, organize my lenses, and clear my memory cards. The next day, I’ll pack my bag in the morning and eat a good breakfast to keep me going! I always like to arrive a little early- just to make sure that I get there with no hiccups. Traveling can be unpredictable, no matter if it’s 10 minutes away or a 2-hour drive to the venue. Once I arrive, it’s showtime! I get my gear together and usually start capturing details (rings, dress, invitation, etc), along with the getting ready process. On the day, photographers also tend to take on many other hats, including (but not limited to): keeper of the schedule (note — I do recommend hiring a day-of coordinator to take on most of this hat so that we can truly focus on the photos), dress and veil fluffer, boutonniere pinner, messenger, etc. I even had a second shooter that literally had to sew a bridesmaid’s zipper on her dress moments before a ceremony! Since we’re usually with you from the beginning of the day to the end, we’re your personal paparazzi and also sidekicks, and we’re here to make sure that you get to the aisle and have an amazing day!
Post-Wedding to Delivery
As newlyweds, I know that it can be super painful to patiently wait on photos from your day! You’re excited to relive those memories, see how everything turned out, and of course, show the family! After the wedding, I always download my cards immediately and back the files up onto multiple drives to ensure the safety of the files. After that, a few days after the wedding, I always send a few sneak peeks— a few of my favorite photos from the day— to share how beautiful you guys are and how amazing your wedding day was!
After peeks, I go through and pick my, “keepers,”— this is called, “culling!” As I cull, I get rid of any duplicates, any photos with blinks or unflattering facial expressions, etc. Once I have my batch of keepers together, I go through each photo and edit them one by one. As I edit, I add my style to each photo and color-correct, brighten, and crop as needed. When I edit portraits, I only take out temporary characteristics, such as acne or scratches, and will always keep things that make people who they are (birthmarks, moles, unique things like that). I never “photoshop,” people to change how their body looks- I truly believe that everyone is beautiful in their own way and that these things make you, YOU! I willl also often Photoshop out distractions, such as fire hydrants, telephone poles, other hikers or people in the background, traffic cones, random rocks or leaves— anything that might take your eye away from the couple.
After everything is edited, I export the photos as high-resolution jpeg files and upload them into my gallery system! I organize the gallery for you to view and then send it off to the couple! I’ll be very upfront— since I’m a “one-woman show,” my delivery time is often a bit slower than most… just know that I’m taking the utmost care to make each delivered photo as perfect as I can. I always say that a gallery can take up to 3-months to be delivered after the wedding day, but always hope to deliver it SOONER, of course!
Well, that’s it! That’s my process— from start to finish! I hope that this blog post was educational and gave you all a little insight to what really goes on behind our cameras and computers! If you have any questions at all, I love being super transparent and open, so please don’t hesitate to reach out! You can best contact me by either my email, katy@katysergent.com or my inquiry form, which you can find here: click here! I can’t wait to chat with you about your big day and answer any questions you may have!
