Extras

Wedding planning can often be overwhelming, with so many decisions to make and all those choices! That’s one reason we love SnapKnot, the online directory that makes picking out your wedding photographer easy. With a diverse selection of professionals all over the country, you can search the site according to the 3 most important factors: city, budget, and style. Plus, you can create a favorites list to keep your top choices organized.

To make planning even easier, we invited SnapKnot’s experienced wedding photographers to share their top tips. Trust us, you’ll want to bookmark this page and save them all!

1. “If photography is in the top 3 of your most important vendors, look online for a photographer and don’t even glance at their pricing to start. Then, select 3 photographers whose work you LOVE. After they’re chosen, go back and look at what they charge. You may go into shock, or be delightfully surprised.”
- Trish Hadley

2. “Look for someone that meshes with your personality. When a client and I share much of the same personality and interests, the wedding day goes that much smoother, because it becomes a more intimate affair rather than just a business transaction. Meeting in person or even just on Skype is a great way to get a feel for the photographer.”  – Daniel Aaron Sprague

3. “Communicate your ideas and preferences to the photographer. Discuss portrait locations that are meaningful to you, such as your first-date restaurant, the park that he proposed in, or other memorable locales. Consider using meaningful props, such as an important letter from your fiancé or your wedding invitation. Be creative – have fun!” – Angelica Roberts

4. ” If possible, arrange to have your formal photos taken prior to the ceremony (often called a “first look”). Getting these out of the way early in the day frees up the rest of your time to spend with guests, and you can have peace of mind knowing that all of your formal photos are done! It’s a new age, so it’s no longer considered “bad luck” for the groom to see his bride before the wedding.” – Sean Michael

5. “Appoint a wrangler! Recruit somebody who knows a lot of people in the formal pictures to help gather others. Having them help and call out names can make that whole process go faster, so we can move on to more fun pictures or so you can get to the reception.” – Steve Hronek

6. “Have your maid of honor stick with you during your photo session, with a kit of touch up lipstick or gloss, blotting papers, and hairspray. This will assist you in getting the very best look throughout the day.” – Casie Raines

7. “Drink lots of water. Being dehydrated for a long time will show in your wedding photo expressions, so drinking water is the key to staying fresh all day long.” – Jozef Povazan

8. “If possible, change how you face when taking your vows by asking your minister to trade places with you. This way, your guests can see your faces. Your alter photos will be clear shots of the two of your without having to contend with a third person.” – Rachel Rausch

9. “Have a planned exit. Having an organized ‘send-off’ from the reception gives family and friends another opportunity to see the couple before they leave. Whether you have sparklers or just a line of well-wishers, it often makes for great photos.” – Rich Burkhart

10. “Breathe. Allow yourself to relax as much as you possibly can and try to enjoy yourself. It’s your wedding day, after all, and come what may, it will be absolutely beautiful, delightfully unique and completely yours.” – Kimberly Sauvageau

Brides, don’t miss out on a special bridal giveaway that SnapKnot is hosting now through April 15!

Photo credit: Daniel Aaron Sprague and Patrick Hadley Photography