Wedding Photography is a big investment!  It should be!  At the end of the day, this is what is left to help you remember all of the details and moments.  I have 3 ideas on how you can make the most of that investment.

1. Hire a Photographer With Experience.

A new photographer might be less expensive and they are easy to come by, but the most important thing a photographer brings to the table, next to their talent, is their experience.  An experienced photographer will know how to handle any situation because there are very few things they haven’t seen.  Is the make-up artist running behind?  An experienced photographer will have the knowledge to jump that hurdle with ease.  And you will never know the difference.  They know how to pivot the day a bit so the bride will never feel the stress.  Is the family not gathering for family pictures?  An experienced photographer, first, will have a plan before your wedding to help to prevent this scenario from the beginning.  Are 18 of the 20 person bridal party drunk before pictures?  Don’t you worry!  Those pictures are getting done!  Is it raining on your perfect day?  An experienced photographer knows how to deal with any lighting or weather condition to get your perfect pictures.

Another thing that I get asked a lot…an experienced photographer DOES NOT need to have shot at your wedding venue before.  In fact, an experienced photographer feels more creativity with a new environment.  They know where to look to research your venue and they understand light and composition to give you the images that you have dreamed of.

How do you decide on your photographer, with experience in mind?  These are a few ideas:

• Decide on your style of photography that you would like for your wedding.
• Find a personality that you like and trust.  Look at the About Me section on their website, follow them on Facebook and Instagram, and look up reviews.
• Ask questions to find out their experience AND confidence.  How long have they been doing weddings, how many weddings have they photographed?  Do you get a feeling of confidence from them?
• Do they fit in your budget?  Are they worth stretching your budget?  Really remember that, after all the dancing, drinking and food are gone, this is how you will remember your day.

2. Do an Engagement Session With YOUR Photographer.

This is a very important time to get to know each other, to understand your photographer’s shooting style so that the day goes easily and smoothly.  There is nothing worse than a complete stranger showing up at the most important day of your life.  You spend A LOT of time with your photographer on your wedding day.  Go to THIS blog post to go even more in-depth on this topic.

3. Plan Out Your Day With Your Photographer.

Ask your photographer, if they don’t automatically give you one, an ideal timeline.  Or talk to them about advice on how to get the best pictures.  Most should have ideas on what to do to get beautiful getting ready pictures. (Go to THIS blog post to read more about getting ready pictures).  Or can give you the pros and cons of a First Look and the timelines that go with each of those options (Go to THIS blog post to read more about first looks).

If you have a wedding planner, your photographer should work with him or her to plan the timeline for the day.  A lot of times the planner has a really good idea for how to plan the day with the photographer in mind, but they should always communicate with each other to plan your perfect day.  This is another reason that having an experience photographer is so important, they know how to communicate with other wedding vendors in a professional way, so everyone gets what they need.

“Mollie was an absolute professional! She was amazing in helping us get set before our wedding day and did an amazing job in talking us through the poses and shots. My husband (then fiancé) is shy and she was wonderful in putting him at ease and helping us take the most incredible photos. I absolutely recommend her.”

Danielle Grain: 2019 Mollie Jane bride

Hi! I’m Mollie! I have been a wedding photographer for 15 years! I started in college and now I’m married to my wonderful husband and we have 3 kids, Leo, Bella and Andre. I love what I do! Next to these 4, it is my absolute passion. I would love to talk to you about how I can be a part of your day! Send me a note!

“Mollie was absolutely wonderful!! We were so pleased with our engagement photos as well as our wedding photos! She was so sweet and made us feel very comfortable! We highly recommend her! You won’t be disappointed!!”

Heather Grajeda: 2019 Mollie Jane bride