So Cal Event Planners

SO you’re engaged. Check. You have a ring. Check. You selected your venue and the date. Check. What comes next? Well it’s time to sit down and make a list— I would find a cozy corner near a window and bring along a hot cup of tea. If you are working with a So Cal Event Planner, she would most likely go through this list with you but you should do your homework regardless. List some of your own must-have wedding features, in order of importance. For many brides, the primary component is a wedding photographer. Regardless of budget, photos and video are permanent. They capture the emotions of an entire day and make it an everlasting experience. However, every photographer differs from the next just as every wedding has its own character. Here’s how to find the perfect photographer for your wedding. Click to continue reading and for pictures from different photographers and their styles! 

1. Budgeting:
On average, brides spend 10-15 percent of their budget on photography service. What does that mean? Not much because you set your own rules. If you want to spend more or less or nothing at all, you do what you want. Still, you get what you pay for. Start with yelp and send emails or call local photographers. Check out their websites to get a feel for their style. If you find yourself falling in love with the pictures contact that photographer. Next we look at exactly what to say in your email.

2. Contacting:
Your photographer will want to know a few things: wedding date, venue, hours of ceremony/reception, number of guests and how many photographers you would like to document the festivities. Ask about what’s included in the price: prints, canvases, flash drives, etc. Remember to inquire about how long the photos will take as well. You don’t want to be waiting until your one year anniversary for your photos.

3. Monitoring:
Monitor their enthusiasm and attitude. For your wedding, you should be putting together a team of wonderful vendors to help you create the day of your dreams. Your photographer should be accommodating and willing to ensure your happiness. Watch out for vendors who discourage or belittle your ideas.

4. Feeling:
Write down five words that describes how you envision your wedding day. Look through galleries and read reviews of many photographers before coming to a decision. Would you trust this photographer to capture every critical moment? Would you be comfortable having this paparazzi follow you around? Do you have confidence they can follow your vision completely? And finally, does their previous work embody your five description words you listed? You will know when you have found ‘the one’.

Lastly, make sure your Day-Of Coordinator connects with your photographer to provide a must-take photo list of all immediate family, bridal party members and poses you want captured. Your coordinator will provide the photographer with a complete schedule of the day to ensure all your best Kodak moments are captured on camera and guide the photographer throughout the day to ensure things run smoothly in a timely manner. Whether you dream of an offsite “first look” near the beach or a quiet moment you and your fiancé share before walking down the aisle, So Cal Event Planners can make sure to execute this for you flawlessly. Just another reason why we’re here!

So Cal Event Planners wants everything to be picture-perfect for your wedding day. Reach out to us if you have any other questions or concerns about photography. Put the effort, do your research and don’t give up. Your perfect photographer is out there somewhere and, if you’re having trouble, we’re always here with professional vendor recommendations and ideas!

When searching for your photographer, browse their gallery and select the photographer who has worked on weddings similar to your own vision for your wedding. See three different styles below! Then, head over to our gallery to begin to deduce the specifics you want from your own photographer.