What to talk to photog about?

[panda08]

Hi everyone!

I''ve been busy and primarily lurking but have enjoyed reading about everyone''s goings-on and seeing the lovely wedding and engagement pics.

We''re less than five weeks out from our Aug. 18th wedding and I''m tying up loose ends right now. I haven''t been in contact with my photographer since I hired her back in March. I feel like I need to have a conversation with her about the photography for the wedding but have NO idea what to chat about. Any suggestions? Particularly from the ladies (and gentlemen, if any) who have received their pics post-wedding. What would you have told your photog if you could do it again? My photographer hasn''t done a beachy type wedding and there are a couple of photographers'' website that I wouldn''t mind pointing her to for inspiration. Is that totally uncouth?

Thanks!!!

 

[EricaR]

This is one of the most important things that I did NOT do!!!

I would talk with her about the pictures you want her to take. Family shots, posed pictures, just candids, etc. I loved my photographers work but I didn''t realize until too late that he didn''t "do" posed family photos so those are missing from my pictures. I didn''t get any shots of me with my parents, DH with his dad, etc.

I wouldn''t hesitate to make a list of photos you want or to point her towards blogs with examples of pictures you like.

 

[Lilac]

DEFINITELY talk to your photographer IN DETAIL about the types of photos you want. I can''t possibly stress that enough.

I trusted my photographer to do a good job without speaking to him about it beforehand and he came back to me with TERRIBLE pictures. Nothing I wanted at all. He argued with me at the wedding about what I wanted him to do and he refused to do it. I ended up with no pictures from my wedding that I really love. Recently my husband surprised me and hired another photographer to re-take "wedding" pictures with us dressed up again and I love those, but I don''t want you to have to spend more money like we did!

Talk to your photographer about which family shots you want, the style of pictures you want, and I would absolutely show her some examples of the types of pictures you love. She shouldn''t get offended - after all, you hired HER! Just tell her you''re confident she will do an amazing job, but you have a certain vision of what you want your pictures to look like, so if she could just take a look at some pics to get an idea of what you love...

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I think it''s perfectly fine to share photos you like with the photographer so they get a sense of what you look for in good photos. As long as you don''t demand that they recreate it exactly, I don''t think they''ll mind.

I''m actually inviting my photog to our casual rehearsal dinner so I could introduce them to all the key players (bridal party, parents,, etc) and to scope out the photo shoot area before hand.

And a list of "must have" shots is probably helpful for them.

 

[lala2332]

give them a list of all the posed portrait type pictures you want with all the different family, bridal party, ect combinations.

if there are certain people at the ceremony or reception that you want to make sure they get photos of....i.e.your grandparents, college friends, ect. you should get someone that knows all or most of the people to be the photographers liason. I.e. the person the photographer can ask who people are so that they are sure to get the shots of the people you want. maybe your MOH or someone else.

You probably want to talk about the "moments" that you really want him to capture, the normal: first dance, cake cutting...but their could be others, like your grandparents dancing or you and BMs singing with the band. or to make sure to get some of the people not dancing. (i think photogs sometimes get in a rut and since dancing shots are all fun and easy they tend to forget that there are other things to take pictures of once the band starts playing.)

maybe talk about the mood that you want him to try to capture, or an overall look that you''ve been trying to acheive...i.e. if you''ve used bright colors, to portray fun and upbeat you don''t want him to overexpose the pictures to get that washed out look. Or if you are going for a 1920s art deco feel then maybe a few more serious pictures with architecture elements.

Also, remember that any picture can be made black and white but not vice versa, so if they use film (i don''t think many do anymore) to make sure they are color rolls.

 

[Clairitek]

We just gave our photographer a list of the posed shots (and any details- dress, shoes, rings, etc) we wanted. Of course, I was too busy to truly follow it so we are missing a few things here and there. I also had a list of places in mind where I wanted our coupley stuff to be taken so once the ceremony was over we had a game plan. I don''t think its rude or anything to even show your photographer a couple of shots that you find inspiring- both from their portfolio and perhaps from some other photographers that you like.

 

[sunnyd]

General wedding day timeline. So they know when they need to be where, they can figure out a good time to take a break, etc.