When to Reach Out to and Book A Wedding Photographer

How much do you value Wedding Photography?

Unless you plan on displaying your shoes and centerpieces at home, the only real memoir you will have is what your wedding photographer captures. As you might already know, there is a lot that goes into planning a wedding—finding the perfect venue, deciding on a date, what style of dress you are wearing, and so on. You might not be sure when the right time is to book a wedding photographer.

So, when should you reach out to book a wedding photographer?

The short version is: the sooner, the better. I’m not saying you should pick a photographer out of the blue and hire the first one you find, but start reaching out sooner rather than later. You would be surprised to know that some photographers are booked eighteen months out. Some photographers work every single weekend, both Fridays and Saturdays, while other photographers only take a certain number of weddings a year. These are details you should take into consideration when hiring a photographer for your big day, but that is a whole other blog post on its own.

Assuming you don’t already follow a photographer you love on Instagram, I suggest you start searching for a wedding photographer soon after you have picked out a date and a venue.

What happens if you wait too long?

There are a lot of photographers around, so the odds of you being left without a wedding photographer are slim. The problem with waiting too long is that your favorite photographer, or maybe even your top 5, will already be booked if you wait too long. You’ll be left with someone you might not be too excited for and might not love the end result.

Perks of booking a wedding photographer early on

Photographers can be beneficial when it comes to planning your wedding. They have worked with plenty of vendors and can guide you in having your vision come to life. A lot of times, vendors offer discounts or exclusive perks when being referred to by specific photographers. It isn’t always the case, but it’s most certainly a special bonus when it is.

Another perk to booking a photographer early on is that you can schedule and prepare for an engagement session. These are great for a lot of reasons. You can find some of those reasons in these blog posts, but one of the main reasons is that you will get to see how your photographer will work on your wedding day.

And just in case you need ANOTHER reason to book a photographer early on, some photographers will create a wedding day timeline for you. It’s not something we think of being a bride, but photographers will know exactly what should happen when. They will plan accordingly to your venue and season and will focus and having the most perfect light for your ceremony and portraits.

While I’m no longer photographing weddings, I’m still here to capture beautiful moments for families and business owners! Whether you’re looking for heartfelt family photos or branding images that truly reflect you, I’d love to help. Let’s create a session that feels natural, fun, and uniquely you—get in touch today to start planning!