If You Want Your Wedding Photographer To Love You

Alright, I'm just going to break it down for you. Most photographers aren't going to be quite this blunt because they want your money... and usually to get your money they have to act like your best friend. Well I'm going to act like your REAL best friend right now and give you all some good, honest advice that will make your photographer love you. And trust me, you want your photographer to love you. Why? Because their entire job is making you look good.

1. Know what you want. Photographers, although awesome, cannot read minds. Photographers can carbon copy every couple to look like every picture, but the good photographers hate doing that. Let your unique selves shine! Find your own locations that you love and have an attachment to. Bring props that you love and that describe you. Find poses that you love and are comfortable doing. Great photography is a collaboration between you and the photographer.

2. Wear classy clothes, formal, artistic, or otherwise. Normal church clothes are not usually very classy and there is a big difference between a classy casual shirt and a crappy casual shirt.

3. Trust the photographer, even when a position feels awkward (unless you're naked and they're a creeper... which is about 89% of the photographers in Utah County). It's horribly annoying to photograph people who won't do what you ask them because it feels weird.

4. Pull out your inner model. Photographers can lie about your fashionability only so much. Watch ANTM, pose in mirrors, whatever you need to do to be more comfortable.

5. Don't complain. We're all in it together. We all know it's hot. We all know there are bugs. We all know you aren't lounging in pajamas in a perfectly temperatured recliner eating bon-bons. Your photographer is in charge of making you and your surroundings look good, not making the weather or conditions feel good. We know if you find it's too hot/cold/whatever to continue before the shoot is over, there is a good chance you'll complain again when you get the pictures and they're aren't as many as you hoped and then we get the blame.

6. If there is something really wrong, tell your photographer. If you just had knee surgery and they positioned you on your knees, fortheloveofeverything this is an OK time to complain!

7. Don't say "oh you can photoshop that out later" about something you could have fixed yourself or about things that aren't changeable. Your failure to lose those extra 10lbs is not grounds for us needing to photoshop your body to perfection. If you let your fiance wax your nose but instead she ended up ripping your entire nose skin off in the process (you know who you are...), that's OK. Accidents happen. But, be somewhat understanding if a photographer poses you in such a way that minimizes the need for photoshop in every picture.

8. If your "friend" (aka, someone else's friend that you hung out with once at a group event one time) is a professional photographer, don't expect to get things for free. Free photography for good friends is one thing, free prostitution for someone else's friend that only calls you when they want freebies is another thing entirely.

9. Have fun with it! Photography turns out a gazillion times better when YOU'RE having fun because it probably means your photographer is having fun too. If your photographer is having fun, your pictures will turn out beautiful.

And these things are why I loved shooting this couple below so much. Not only did they exceed everything on the above list, but they also bought us all frozen yogurt after the shoot. Amazing? I say yes! 

So without further ado, I present a little D + B...

peace,
k.