I start off with a questionnaire that I send to clients before their session that helps me to get to know them a bit better. It asks questions about your personality, the overall vibe you’d like to achieve, as well as any insecurities or concerns you might be self-conscious about when being photographed. During the session, I give very specific posing direction which helps my clients feel at ease and confident that I’m looking out for them. If I notice any stiffness, I take a moment to help them relax, recenter, ask them some questions, or crack a joke! Being photographed isn’t easy for most people so feeling nervous is totally normal.

While the portraits of the lovely couple are always fun, my personal favorites are capturing details and authentic emotions. When you look back on your wedding day photos, it’ll be an opportunity to relive that day, image-by-image. To me, the gift of photography is the ability to freeze a moment in time forever. The locket from your grandmother on your bouquet, the tears of a dear friend as they listen to your ceremony vows, and the sweet kiss from your love in the middle of the dance floor. The portraits may be beautiful to the eyes, but these types of photos are for the soul.

When I was considering photographers to join my team, I didn’t just go off their overall aesthetic, (it is a great place to start though!). I also didn’t just rely on their portfolio or Instagram, because those are just their best of the best. I wanted to see full galleries of engagement sessions and weddings. Why both? To me, the engagement session showcases the photographer’s skill at posing, composition, and lighting. It’s usually between 1-2 hours and it’s a great preview of the photographer’s thought process. Here are some things I look for:

• Posing: how’s the variety of poses? Do they look awkward or unflattering in any? Do they look too forced? Is there a good balance of candid/fun shots and posed formal shots?

• Composition: how are they framing their subjects? How do they use the pose or environmental elements to tell a story? Is the background messy/distracting?

• Lighting: is the lighting consistent on the subject(s)? Is the lighting flattering for them? Do they use lighting creatively? Are they able to capture colors in the sky?

It’s important to view a full wedding gallery as well since it’s the most accurate preview of what you’ll receive as a client. Here are the things I looked for when deciding to bring people onto my team of photographers:

• How do they approach the getting ready photos? The getting ready portion of the day is often the most fast-paced and unpredictable. The photographer usually has little control over the setting and has limited time. What kinds of shots can they achieve during this time? Are the shots messy in the foreground/background? Did they use just the room lights, window lights, flash? If the photos are indoors is the color-correcting flattering for skin tones?

• Detail photos: I've spent years honing my skill in capturing detailed images to meet an exceptional standard for clients. As a result, I have a discerning eye for similar shots taken by other photographers. I check if they are using the right lenses or if there’s any distortion in the images. Did they take time to style the items or did they just photograph them as-is? Are the details consistent with the style of the wedding overall (i.e. are they photographing the rings on a wooden floor when it’s an upscale/modern and chic wedding?)

• Group photos: this is also a big one for me because I’ve trained my entire team to make sure the group photos are top notch, frame-worthy photos. Are the people lined up straight? Does everyone’s hair/clothes look right? Are there any distracting elements in the foreground/background. And most importantly, can everyone be seen that’s in the group photo? I can’t tell you how many large group photos I’ve see where there’s a handful of people with half cut-off faces. We always take time to make sure everyone is seen in the group. Only when it’s a massive group (i.e. everyone at a large wedding) do I let clients know that it’s impossible for everyone to be seen. Fun fact: the biggest group photo I’ve successfully photographed with everyone seen clearly was 57 people and it was at outdoors at night.

• Ceremony/Reception: are they capturing flattering moments, especially when someone is speaking? Do they capture audience reactions? When they use flash do they use off-camera lighting or just flash on camera? Are the dancing photos flattering, especially the open dancing?

This may sound cliche coming from a business person, but you get what you pay for. This is probably the biggest party you’ll ever throw in your life. While it’s tempting to price shop, ask for deals, and bargain, when it comes to the photography I would suggest trying this instead. Set your budget, and then interview at least 3 different photographers- one that’s at your budget, one that’s at least $1,000 below budget, and one that’s at least $2,000 above your budget. Aside from comparing their packages and what’s included, study their body of work, the experience they have, and their approach to photographing a wedding. This is the best way to know if you’re getting a good deal no matter what your final price point is. From over a decade of hands-on experience, I've been through countless events, handling unexpected moments with adaptability and growth. When it comes to your special day, my expertise and skills are here to make it truly exceptional.