"I just got engaged and it's time to plan my wedding. Where do I start?" Do you pick wedding date, find a coordinator, look for a venue, pick a location? What about your photographer first? Why booking a photographer first is the new trend......
Did you ask or say yes over the holiday season, ring in New Year’s Eve with a bling on a finger? Are you newly engaged, what do you do first? Pick your wedding or elopement date, coordinator and/or venue and location first? I say photographer. I know that seems a weird concept, but wedding photography has changed from asking Uncle Milton to stand next to the cake while sandwiching you and your new forever in-between cousin Mildred.
From what I can see the game changed on March 16, 2017 when wedding photographer Charleton Churchill hiked Mt. Everest to capture some seriously epic adventure elopement images of his couple James Sissom and Ashley Schmieder. The image went viral, and although the world had already seen an increase in smaller and non-traditional weddings, it catapulted the adventure elopement industry. Dare I say, created it.
Since then, other amazing adventure elopement photographers like, Henry Tieu Photography, Maddie Mae of Adventures Instead, The Hearnes Adventure Photography and many more, have paved the way for a new kind of wedding planning. And it starts with a specialized photographer.
In the beginning of this it was because these wonderful photographers has stepped the game up in information that was beyond just getting hitched on a mountain, but permitting, thoughtful packing, weather and terrain expertise that surpassed what is needed at one stop wedding venue locations. From a sweetheart table drenched in floral, to an iceberg you can only access by helicopter.
Because of this innovation that goes way past a photographer showing up just to capture the day, other photographers like myself had to step the game up (well, at least I did).
Nowadays elopement, destination and adventure type nuptials are equally sought after as big weddings. And the influence they have left on the standard wedding industry is remarkable. Even if you are looking for a luxury wedding in castle, hundreds of guests, basically a wedding that could make the cover of Vogue or National Graphic, the top wedding, elopement and adventure photographers are breaking the bounds of tradition, attempting to make everyones love story truly editorial, capturing your day in a way the world has never seen. Meaning we (and I mean us experts) have become more than just photographers. We are planners, creators and idea factories.
My specialty is revealing my couples love story, so I am involved with everything. I interview you, analyze your wedding dreams, make mood boards, curate customized engagement sessions that reflect your personalities, suggest designs, check weather reports and create timelines based off of the sun.... I make sure YOU AND YOUR LOVE are seen in the final product.
That being said, whether you have started planning or are just beginning, I say start now on looking for your photographer. Yes, before you ask, even before the date. If you have a date in mind and the photographer of your dreams isn't available, ask for a referral. If they are as wonderful as you were dreaming, they will have trusted recommendations.
If you have already begun planning and hired maybe a coordinator or venue, it's common that they will have lists of preferred vendors which can be a great place to start, but do not depend on them to truly find a photographer that specializes in what YOU are looking for. If you meet with their suggestions and you don't vibe with the photographer - keep looking!
So, long story short, stop what you are doing and find a photographer first, one that fits you, sees you and that you trust. There is an amazing specialized photographer out there that is as weird and unique or funny or fancy or epic as you are.
NEXT BLOGS COMING YOUR WAY!!!
"Tips on how to search for your perfect photographer"
"What you need to show your vendors, SO YOU CAN HAVE the kind of wedding and elopement you actually want."
"Engagement sessions. What's all the FUSS about?
AND WHY YOU NEED ONE."
"Top Engagement Portrait locations in Northern California."
Photography by:
Shannon Lea Rock, Owner of Preserve Studio
Company Site: preservestudio.com
Artist Site: shannonlearock.com
Comments