Tips for Getting the Most From Your Wedding Photographer

Your wedding is perhaps the most important day of your life, at least until your first child arrives, and then, believe me, nothing else comes close. Either way, your wedding is a once in a lifetime event (hopefully) and you need to plan ahead and record the events for those children we just mentioned to look at and pass down for generations to come. So how do you ensure everything goes according to plan on the big day?

Well, the obvious thing to do is hire a professional wedding photographer. Sure, Uncle Bob has a nice camera but can you rely on him to get the shots you’ve always dreamed about? I mean really rely on him? There’s so much going on when the day arrives and the last thing you need to worry about is the wedding photographer. If you hire a true professional, he/she will be able to get on with it and all you have to do is follow their direction. Simple right? Not quite… there are some things you can do to prepare for the photographer and really ensure things go off without a hitch! Here are a few tips that should point you in the right direction…

Tip One: Hire a photographer that you get on with! Communication is key during a wedding and if you have a good rapport with your photographer the day will run more smoothly.

Tip Two: Make time for photographs. It’s easy to purchase the cheapest package possible but if you are having a big wedding with a big reception and plan to have a group photo session too, a 4 hour package just won’t cut it. Plan your shots in advance – who do you want in each shot, how do you want your family/friends arranged? Your photographer should talk with you about this before the day but make sure you let people know what is going to happen. If guests are expecting to be in photographs they tend to be there when the photographer needs them. There’s nothing worse than spending 20 minutes looking for Uncle Bob who’s off sulking somewhere because you wouldn’t let him photograph your wedding! If time is going to be tight after the ceremony then have your group shots taken before hand. Your makeup and hair are fresh at this point too!

Tip Three: Ties in with tip two really, but plan your locations in advance. You don’t want to be standing there on the day itself thinking “Where should we do the group shots”. A lot of clients at Paul Hazon Photography have their group shots taken at a local park or the beach before heading off to the ceremony. Visit the park before the day and pick out the spots that you find most pleasing for your photos. Maybe go there with the photographer so you are both on the same page. Think about the time of day you’ll be there – will it be too busy, will there be parking, what if it rains. Always have a contingency plan!!!

Tip Four: Be natural and don’t be afraid to ask the photographer if you can try your own poses/looks. Unless your name is Paris Hilton, it’s not often we have a camera pointed at us all day… so enjoy it! Be a celebrity for the day and bring a celebrity attitude with you to the shoot. The world does revolve around you on this day. Again, planning is also key here. Let the photographer know what you want your shots to look like. Mix it up, some posed, some candid and some outright silly! Look through wedding magazines and cut out clips of pictures you like. Show them to your photographer so you are still on that same page.

Tip Five: Trust your wedding photographer. They know what they’re doing and will provide you with the best service they know how. Communication is key throughout but at the end of the day you need to place your faith in them and trust they will do the job. You already know they are capable, you’d have hired Uncle Bob if you didn’t think so!
A company like Paul Hazon Photography will strive to please the client before, during and after the big day. If you’re looking for wedding photographers in North Vancouver you should look no further than Paul Hazon and his band of trusty colleagues!

Paul Hazon is a wedding photographer in North Vancouver, BC. His company, Paul Hazon Photography offers photography in a number of fields including wedding photography, portrait photography, headshot photography and real estate photography.