Ask the Expert: Wedding Photographers

 

Today we had the pleasure of speaking with a couple of amazing wedding photography pros! These pros are here to give us their best advice from selecting your wedding photographer to the must-have photos on your wedding day and beyond. Let's introduce these amazing wedding pros quickly before we jump into the fun stuff! 

Amelia, the owner of Amelia Marie Photo, is based out of Burlington, Vermont but serves all of Vermont, New England, and beyond. Amelia is truly an adventurous soul and is not afraid to jump in headfirst for her couples. Amelia has that warm personality that just invites you in. You will truly leave any session with her feeling like you've made a new friend. 

Ellen, the owner of Ellen Sargent Photography, is based out of Boston, MA but has some very strong ties to Vermont as she grew up on the shore of Lake Champlain. One of our favorite things about Ellen is that she has mastered the art of simultaneously streaming a Boston Bruins game while catching up on the most recent episode of The Batchelor. We have worked with Ellen numerous times on weddings and her talent has never ceased to amaze us. We were recently featured on Vermont Weddings with Ellen after she reached out to us for a Suprise Spring Minimony for some of her amazing clients. Check out the feature here!

We curated a list of questions for Amelia and Ellen and they so graciously answered them all in great detail. 

• Since wedding photographers are one of the most important vendors for couples to book, what is the single most important question that they ask you. 

Both Ellen and Amelia agree, one of the most important questions is most easily the first question you should ask, "Are you available for our date?" Ellen says it's really important for her to hop on a call, zoom, or (pre-pandemic times) meet up for coffee with couples before they book. Ellen always tells her clients if you don't feel like we vibe, go with your gut instinct and choose someone you do vibe with. You should of course follow up with other more important questions like pricing and packages but keep it simple to start off. Amelia has a great blog called 15 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer. We highly suggest you check out her blog after you're done here! 

• When does a couple typically book your services? 

Amelia says, "At least a year in advance is a good rule of thumb. However, like most other wedding vendors, photographers have experienced many postponements and reschedulings in 2020 and 2021. So, keep in mind your dream photographer may be booked farther out than normal due to COVID." Ellen followed up to say, "I'm booking into September 2022 and beyond, which is the furthest out I've ever booked. With this pandemic wreaking havoc on the event industry, I think that any "rules" that existed before March 2020 are out the window!"

• On the wedding day when do you typically arrive? Do you have a suggested number of hours to book? 

Ellen helps couples create a wedding day timeline that best suits their photography desires. Both Ellen and Amelia agree that 8 hours seems to be the sweet spot for coverage. Amelia says that her typical wedding day starts at noon to 1pm and end anywhere around 8-9pm in the evening. This allows your photographer time to get everything from those getting ready shots to those dirty dance floor shots. Ellen says she rarely stays to the end of the reception. She said those late-night photos are best shot on your iPhone. 

• What is your favorite photo to take on the wedding day? 

Amelia says, "I love taking the opportunity to step away from the celebration with just my couple to snap a few portraits at golden hour. It gives the two of them a moment to really soak it all in, and I get to capture them in the most beautiful light of the day!" Ellen agrees but says, "Ohh, that’s so hard to answer! While I work hard to make everyone feel comfortable in front of my lens and assist with posing so there’s no excuse that my clients are “awkward in front of the camera”, my favorite images are often not from any of the posed portraits. I live for candid photos. The photos that freeze time forever and let my couples look back at the belly laughs they shared with some of their favorite people."

• What about photos couples tend to overlook and then wish they had taken later on? 

Both Ellen and Amelia agree that is it so important for couples to create a shot list so that they don't miss those must-have shots. Amelia noted though her style is very candid, authentic, and in-the-moment. However, she makes a point to still get those priceless photos of grandparents, dads, sisters, brothers, etc. Ellen says while she works incredibly hard in the planning phase to ensure it doesn't happen usually if it does it is due to things that are out of everyone's control(like the bus breaking down on the way to the wedding venue). Woof! Sounds like that has happened before. 

• As a wedding florist, we are a huge lover of detail shots. What are some items that couples should have on hand for those detail shots? 

Both Ellen and Amelia recommend having some items on hand for detail shots but think it is a task best delegated to a wedding party member or family member. Ellen says some of the most common items to have on hand are: a full invitation suite, shoes, jewelry, rings (both bride’s and groom’s), any special heirlooms, veil, and dress are typically photographed. She suggests couples consider bringing an attractive hanger so we’re not left to use the one the dress was stored on or one from the hotel’s closet. Ellen says some couples opt to purchase a ring box from The Mrs Box to play on their color scheme and elevate their flat lay. Side note, we love when couples ask us for some styling blooms. Those tiny pops of florals also help add some dimension and interest to your detail shots.

• Do you think it is important for couples to have an engagement shoot with you before the wedding?

Amelia and Ellen both feel so strongly about the importance of an engagement shoot before the wedding that they include it complimentary in their wedding packages. Amelia says, "It’s a great way for the couple to get to know their photographer and vice-versa, as well as have the opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera and break the ice a bit before the wedding day so you know just what to expect." Ellen says she loves doing engagement shoots because if your portrait time on the wedding day gets cut short, we can still get a lot of awesome shots because the couple has already experienced a couples session and knows the posing, prompts, etc. You spend more time with your wedding photographer than anyone else on your wedding day so it is so important that you are comfortable with them.

• If you could give couples any last advice when scoping out a wedding photographer what would it be?

We really resonated with Amelia when she said, "My biggest piece of advice would be to invest in a photographer that fits your personality and style." We could not agree more with that advice as it is something we often preach to our own couples who seek us out for wedding florals. Both Amelia and Ellen agree it is important to do your due diligence by not only looking at their social media but also asking for a full gallery of images so you can see what the finished product may look like. Ellen noted, "Do keep in mind that each galley is shot with the couple's vision in mind, so while it might not be exactly what you'd want, look through the lens of do you like the style, do you like the edits, and do you like the overall vibe?"

Thank you so much Ellen and Amelia for letting us #AskTheExperts and breakdown some photography questions. We have worked with Amelia and Ellen many times and a lot of photos in our portfolio actually belong to them. We highly suggest you check them out if you are in the market for a wedding photog. We will leave links to them below! Who do you want to see us chat with next? Venue Owners? Caters? Bakers? Let us know in the comments. 

Ellen Sargent Photography 

Amelia Marie Photo