How Far in Advance Should I Book a Wedding Photographer?

Recently, engaged couples have been leaving the hiring of their wedding photographer until much later in the planning process. Until a few months before the big day, some people don't even begin thinking about wedding preparations.

However, we have no solid theories about what could be triggering this. However, we considered it necessary to clarify a few aspects of wedding photography to prevent couples from being unsatisfied with their wedding images because they were not taken by the photographer of their choice. Wedding photography is a big deal, so if you're looking for help, Wild Romantic Photography has you covered.

Now, some advice for the soon-to-be-weds as they plan their weddings. Prioritise the planning of your wedding based on what is most essential to you.

If you and your significant other do not have an unlimited budget, it makes the most sense to talk about what parts of your day are most important to each of you so that you can allocate more of your resources there. Since the proliferation of social media, there has been a shift towards putting a premium on outward appearances.

It goes without saying that we like photographing stunning weddings with Pinterest-worthy elements, but it's also important to remember that weddings are a stepping stone on the path to marriage. Who knows if we'll still be able to access photos from a USB drive in the future? We like to think that in twenty years, when printed images from this era are rare and valuable presents, our couples will be gazing over their wedding album with their families.

It makes perfect sense to book your photographer as long in advance as possible if having high-quality images shot at your wedding is a top priority for you and if you have a specific photography style in mind.

After you become engaged, well-intentioned friends, relatives, and acquaintances will flood you with suggestions about when to book your vendors and other details of the wedding. Sometimes it's hard to keep your bearings when you're given advice that contradicts itself. When planning a wedding, how far in advance should you book a professional photographer?

However, this timeline might change based on the region and local traditions, with the average engagement lasting roughly 14 months and the average engaged couple booking their Photographer nine months before the date of their wedding. Depending on the specifics, a meeting's duration can be drastically decreased or extended.

Finding a photographer is something you should get started on as soon as possible if your wedding is happening in less than a year. Assuming less than nine months remain until the big day, this should be your number one wedding preparation priority.

What's the big deal about planning ahead for your photographer? In contrast to florists, tuxedo rental services, caterers, and so on, photographers often only take on one wedding per day. When the Photographer reserves a popular date, it is no longer available to other couples. Naturally, the most reputable and accomplished photographers are the first to be booked, so if you have a particular photographer in mind, you should not procrastinate in making your reservation.

The photographer is one of the few pros who are typically hired months in advance. To be safe, hold off on making a reservation just yet. In this article, we will explain in detail how to book a professional wedding photographer and provide you with all the information you'll need.

When to Schedule a Wedding Photographer

Although a seasoned wedding photographer should be one of the first providers you book, now is not the time to rush. Among all of the mementoes from your wedding, the photographs will be the ones you cherish the most.. Not sure where to start when it comes to looking for your wedding photographer of choice?

Do not put your signature on the dashed line until you have made sure of the following:

Plan the wedding's general schedule and location in advance

Establishing a schedule for your engagement with your future spouse is the first and most important step. Do you want to get married and walk down the aisle as quickly as possible, or would you rather take your time? Just try to picture the exact date, month, and location it will take place in.

Next, have a chat with your parents or anybody else who will be attending your wedding as a very important person. You have high hopes for the survival of these individuals since you need them for your "I Do" to come true. Identifying any major disagreements between the couple is necessary prior to setting a perfect date.

Learn How to Manage Your Money

The inevitable conversation about the wedding costs has arrived. It's inevitable, even if it's unpleasant. Without sufficient resources, it will be impossible to select a first-rate location for your special event. Before making any major decisions, find out who is footing the bill and how much money they are willing to contribute.

Make Reservations with Key Suppliers

Once you have a handle on the wedding budget and a rough date in mind, you can start looking for vendors. If you haven't already and are thinking about hiring a professional photographer but weren't sure until you found a boyfriend, it's a good idea to get in touch with a few different options before making any final decisions.

Wedding Location:

Even though it may seem obvious, the first step in organising your wedding is to choose a location. You can't move forwards with the rest of the planning until you choose a wedding date, which is entirely under the control of the website you're using. It would be a huge letdown if the venue insisted that you only engage the providers on their favoured wedding supplier after you had already contracted with your prefered specialists.

Wedding photographers should be contacted well in advance of finalising a venue to ensure their services are still accessible on the desired date(s) and/or year(s). Before finalising a reservation, double-check that your prefered platform is available during your prefered time slot.

Wedding Coordinator: 

Before making any major choices, it's best to consult with a wedding coordinator. A wedding planner's wealth of knowledge can be put to good use in helping you limit down your choices by making recommendations for photographers that are both aesthetically pleasing and affordable. It's possible that they've worked together in the past, and that this gives him or her more leverage when bargaining for favourable terms or preferential treatment.

In what timeline should a wedding photographer be scheduled?

Make sure to book your photographer and videographer at least nine months in advance to ensure availability for your big day.

Here are some of the reasons why we share that opinion:

If you're planning a wedding, you should already know where it will take place, what colours will be used, how many people you're expecting, and what time the ceremony and reception will begin and end. This will be useful for your photographer because...

• Photographers typically do extensive research before a shoot to find the ideal locations for taking images, so after you've decided on a location or locations, you can relax and let them do the legwork for you.
• You'll be able to identify the friends and family members, both near and far, whom you wish to include in your photographs. (Add to your reloading plan!)
• If your wedding is a blend of traditional and nontraditional elements, having a rough timeline to guide the photographer is useful to ensure that he or she doesn't miss any of the action.

Do you want to make sure you don't miss a thing at your perfect wedding? Wild Romantic Photography will take care of all your needs, so relax.

Prime Dates

In most parts of the world, weddings take place on Saturdays, though this varies widely depending on the season. As a rule, though, Saturday is the most popular wedding day. Typically, summer and fall are the most sought after months for weddings among newly engaged couples. Determine the "busy season" for wedding photographers in your area so that you know which dates to avoid.

Holidays

Dates around major holidays, especially those that land on a Friday or Monday and allow for a longer weekend, tend to book up quickly. As with New Year's Eve, you should be aware that lodgings around certain times may command a premium rate and fill up quickly because of the high demand they attract.

Vanity Dates

These are dates that have a memorable sequence of numbers because of their rhythm or rhyme. If you're dead determined on having your wedding on February 20, 2020, for example, you've picked a vanity date that may fill up quickly. These dates are in high demand since they fall during the busy season and because they tend to sell out quickly.

Guests are notified with "Save the Date" cards

Your wedding date is likely set if you have previously booked a location. But before you get too excited, you should probably send out some save the date notes. You'll have time for engagement photos if you hire a photographer before you send off invitations. Once you get your images taken, you can utilise them for a variety of wedding-related purposes.

An engagement session is a great opportunity to practise being photographed and build rapport with your photographer. On your big day, you'll be eternally grateful to have these two things.

When Should You Hire Your Wedding Photographer?

As was mentioned before, photographers regularly run into scheduling conflicts. You will need to plan ahead and schedule a meeting several months in advance with a professional whose services are in great demand (maybe because their work has been featured on various forms of media). At the very least, a year will have to pass. Even if you don't have much of it, it's not a waste to find out if any photographers are available for your event. Keep your expectations low, and don't pin them on any one person.

You shouldn't worry about not having a photographer if your engagement is on the shorter side because there are so many to choose from. Plan on booking your photographer at least nine months in advance, but sooner if you can.

In need of a Yarra Valley wedding photographer? Stop right there! Luckily, you can rely on Wild Romantic Photography to have your bases covered.

Before You Make That Booking

Since you now know when it is suitable to hire a photographer for your wedding, you can move on to the next steps.

Check the References

Jot down the names of photographers whose individual styles you admire. You may learn more about the services they offer, their prices, and their general attitude by visiting their webpages. Check their availability if you think they could be a suitable fit, given your current location and financial situation.

The photographer will play a significant role in ensuring that you feel relaxed in front of the camera on your wedding day. Constantly keeping that in mind while you communicate with them is crucial; you cannot learn this information any other way than through face-to-face or remote video conferencing.

Before making any long-term commitments, it's a good idea to meet with them first and get to know them better. It's important that you and your wedding photographer click because you'll be spending a lot of time together that day. In addition to boosting your day-to-day spirits, this will also give you access to better lighting for your photography.

Take a Look at All Albums

We hope it goes without saying, but in case it doesn't: Insta is a highlight reel. If you've fallen in love after perusing a Photographer's profile, that's wonderful news. The best images from each wedding are selected and posted to Insta.

It's important to request full portfolios even if they don't appear on the wedding website. Look at the pictures, detailed information, and spontaneous photos in addition to the sweeping sunset photos to fully appreciate their talent.

Choosing a photographer for a wedding is a huge deal because the photos will be cherished mementoes forever. Although it may take some time to find the right wedding photographer, you will be able to put your feet up and enjoy the planning process after you have secured the services of a professional.

How can I tell if I've chosen a popular date?

There is no way to find out for sure unless you could perhaps interview every engaged couple in Perth. In the spring, summer, and fall, Saturdays tend to be the most popular day for weddings. Sundays aren't as well-liked as they once were, although Fridays are still a popular day of the week.

Shouldn't I book my venue first?

The vast majority of newly engaged couples do, in fact, reserve their location before looking at any other providers. Having the date set in stone is a major benefit, so this makes great sense. However, several of our former couples have found it helpful to verify our availability once they have narrowed down their potential wedding date options at the venue.

What do I do if the Photographer I want is already booked for my date?

Since we are a team of two, we are able to book two ceremonies for the same day. For this reason, we may not be as busy as some solo photographers. If you need a photographer for a special occasion and we're already booked, we encourage you to contact another member of the AIPP (that's the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers) in your area.

In the event that your prefered photographer is booked, you should enquire as to who they would recommend in their stead, as they will likely have a decent notion of who can deliver services that are on par with what you had envisioned.

Here at Wild Romantic, we pride ourselves on having the most talented wedding photographer in Mornington Peninsula.

How far in advance should I book your wedding photographer?

We usually say, "as soon as your venue is confirmed," when asked how long before the event to start organising. Commonly, this takes place between six and twelve months before the wedding. You shouldn't panic if your wedding is sooner; there's a chance we still have availability or that we've had a cancellation. In our twelve years as wedding photographers, we've taken reservations anywhere from eighteen months to two weeks before the big day.

Common Mistakes All Brides Make With Their Wedding Plans

You may have heard the phrase, "time is money." This is excellent advice if you're organising a wedding. When should wedding invites be sent out the earliest? What is the latest date that hotel reservations must be made in order to secure a block of rooms? We'll explain everything in detail so you can plan your wedding without stress and avoid the most typical mishaps.

Getting in Touch with Suppliers Too Soon

Actually, such sort of thing does occur. Pre-engagement phone calls from the "brides" are not uncommon. or the future spouses who contact us two or three years in advance of their wedding. Although we appreciate the compliment, at this time we must prioritise the requirements of other clients who have come to us for help.

Reserving the Venue and Hiring Other Important Vendors Before Choosing Your Coordinator

You should always talk to the wedding planner you're thinking about hiring before making any big decisions like reserving the venue, arranging the rentals, or selecting the florist. Rather than buying flowers, she says it's more efficient to rent them, as "many event design businesses also generate in-house floral and advocate renting things as one of the conditions of their employment agreement." Professional event organisers often offer floral decoration services.

Putting Off Hiring Essential Suppliers

She claims that if you wait even months to engage a caterer for your destination wedding, you will not be able to get their services.

More high-volume services, like cake makers, florists, and caterers, can be booked closer to the big day.. Disc jockeys, photographers, event coordinators, and even some florists fall into this category. Good suppliers need to be booked quickly.

Last-Minute Videographer Booking

The bride-to-be often neglects to secure the services of a videographer for the wedding because she is preoccupied with other matters. Since she is pressed for time, she starts hunting for assistance anyplace she can find it. She believes the most common regret she hears from brides is that they didn't hire a videographer, so if you want to avoid that feeling yourself, you should do it immediately.

Invitations to the destination wedding have been sent out too late

The timelines for invites (and RSVPs) are significantly different for nuptials that take place away from the bride's home than for nuptials that take place at the bride's home, as stated by Sandy Malone, creator of Wedding in Vieques and a destination wedding coordinator. Guests will need plenty of time to plan and secure transportation to the ceremony location, so be sure to send out invitations and save-the-date cards at least 18 months in advance.

Even if it's been more than a year after the first invitation was sent, the RSVP deadline should still be no later than eight weeks after the invitation was mailed. She cautions that if you put off sending invitations until the last minute, you may not have enough time to plan and allocate funds for all the activities planned for the wedding site.

Failure to Immediately Reserve Hotel Space

Don't procrastinate if you require a large block of hotel rooms for a conference or convention in a metropolitan area. Your wedding venue may be booked solid six months in advance if it falls on the same weekend as a major conference or sporting event being held in the same city.

Soon after settling on a date and venue for the event, she suggests booking multiple hotel blocks. Your guests will have more time and alternatives to find a suitable place to stay if you give them advance notice.

If you’d like to work with professional photographers for your wedding, book with us at Wild Romantic Photography.

Giving Primacy to Attention to Detail

Some brides-to-be start off by worrying about the "small things," postponing decisions on the "big things" until it's too late. For instance, you shouldn't reserve the reception hall and order the food until you've selected the wedding colours, linens, and napkin rings.

Conclusion

Some engaged couples delay booking a wedding photographer until months before the big day. How far in advance should you book a professional photographer? We have some advice for the soon-to-be-weds on how to choose the best photographer for your nuptials. Finding a photographer is something you should get started on as soon as possible if your wedding is happening in less than a year. Photographer is one of the few pros who are typically hired months in advance.

The most reputable and accomplished photographers are the first to be booked. Make sure to book photographers and videographers at least nine months in advance to ensure availability. Consult a wedding coordinator before making any major decisions about vendors. Having a rough timeline to guide the photographer is useful to ensure he or she doesn't miss any of the action. Summer and fall are the most sought after months for weddings among newly engaged couples.

Major holidays, especially those that land on a Friday or Monday, tend to book up quickly. You will need to book a photographer for your wedding at least nine months in advance. It's important that you and your photographer click because you'll be spending a lot of time together that day. The photographer will play a significant role in ensuring that you feel relaxed in front of the camera. Choosing a photographer for a wedding is a huge deal because the photos will be cherished mementoes forever.

It may take some time to find the right wedding photographer but you will be able to put your feet up and enjoy the planning process after you have secured the services of a professional. Brides-to-be often neglect to secure the services of a videographer for the wedding. Disc jockeys, photographers, event coordinators, and florists fall into this category. If you wait even months to engage a caterer, you will not be able to get their services. The timelines for invites and RSVPs are significantly different for nuptials away from the bride's home.

Guests will need plenty of time to plan and secure transportation to the ceremony location. Don't procrastinate if you require a large block of hotel rooms for a conference or convention in a metropolitan area.

Content Summary

• Wedding photography is a big deal, so if you're looking for help, Wild Romantic Photography has you covered.
• Prioritise the planning of your wedding based on what is most essential to you.
• It makes perfect sense to book your photographer as long in advance as possible if having high-quality images shot at your wedding is a top priority for you and if you have a specific photography style in mind.
• Make Reservations with Key Suppliers Once you have a handle on the wedding budget and a rough date in mind, you can start looking for vendors.
• Make sure to book your photographer and videographer at least nine months in advance to ensure availability for your big day.
• An engagement session is a great opportunity to practise being photographed and build rapport with your photographer.
• Choosing a photographer for a wedding is a huge deal because the photos will be cherished mementoes forever.
• Reserving the Venue and Hiring Other Important Vendors Before Choosing Your Coordinator You should always talk to the wedding planner you're thinking about hiring before making any big decisions like reserving the venue, arranging the rentals, or selecting the florist.
• She cautions that if you put off sending invitations until the last minute, you may not have enough time to plan and allocate funds for all the activities planned for the wedding site.
• If you'd like to work with professional photographers for your wedding, book with us at Wild Romantic Photography.