Northern California Wedding Show | Choosing your wedding photographer

You are going to spend a lot of time with your wedding photographer between your engagement photos and wedding day.  Choosing a photographer that you vibe with and that understands your style/vision is a big decision, here are our tips for choosing the best photographer for your wedding!

Tip: Don't just email or message a photographer on Facebook and ask "how much" because there is so much more than price to consider! 

Check out full galleries

Photo by Diane Nicole Photography

Instagram is not full picture of what a photographer can do, so if you are able to view full galleries or a more in-depth portfolio for that represents the amount of coverage you are looking for it will give you a better understanding of what you can expect the photographer to deliver.  Do you love candid, unposed photos that really capture emotion? Look for a photographer who has a good mix of the portraits and fun candid shots!

Set-up a meeting or video call

Photo by Pedro de Sousa on Unsplash

Getting a chance to sit down with potential photographers allows you to get to know their personality and what they are passionate about in their business.  Do they love the same reality show that you do, or have the same obsession for french bull dogs? Maybe their strong sense of community service and giving back will shine through and you'll connect with their values.  Bottom line, a photographer is an artist and a creative business owner who wants to connect with their clients on a deeper level than just being the cheapest option around. 

Contract & Pricing 

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

Understanding what is included in the various photography packages will help you decide on what is the best fit for you.  The benefit the of working with a professional photographer who has a contract with a clear outline of their packages, turn-a-round time, policies for cancellation is the reassurance of knowing that you are covered.  Working with a friend or family member on a verbal basis is rolling the dice in many ways, not only is there not a clear expectation of what they will provide but what is their back up plan if a camera fails or they can't make it?  A professional will have plans in place and safeguards that come from years of experience.

There are so many great wedding photographers in Butte County, we know you will find the perfect option for you! If you need help reaching out to potential photographers, feel free to drop a comment below or reach out on our contact page!

Northern California Wedding Show | Choosing a Ceremony Time

Planning your wedding involves many moving parts, including creating a timeline for your day to capture all of the details.  One crucial detail is choosing your ceremony start time, which will dictate what time you need to be ready, photography start time, transportation schedules, dinner start time and most importantly - how many hours you get to dance!

Photo courtesy of be authentic photography

Before you have set your ceremony time, be sure to speak with your photo and video teams and your wedding planner to make sure that everything aligns with the coverage you have booked.  Another big question you will be asked is if you will see eachother before the ceremony which is referred to as the first look.  

A Sample Wedding Outline - 4 pm Ceremony 

Now that you've seen a sample, you can discuss with your event team on what time would be best to start your ceremony.  Consider lighting, hair and make-up along with your photo timeline and the rest will fall into place.  Keep in mind that with any timeline, things will be flexible.  Other than getting you down the aisle and starting dinner on time, the rest will flow around you as your event team ensures that you are having the best day ever!

Northern California Wedding Show | Guest Post ~ Matthew Lim Photography

Thanks for stopping by Northern California Wedding Show! We are excited to share a resource from one of our local wedding photographers.  If you're searching for the perfect wedding venue, Matthew Lim Photography is breaking it down for you with a great blog post, Top 25 Wedding Venues in Chico, CA 

"There are so many beautiful and unique wedding venues to "say I do" and celebrate here in our corner of Butte County. I've been fortunate enough to shoot at most all of these places over the years, so if you have any questions about a wedding venue here in Chico or Northern California, please don't hesitate to ask! Or if you know of a wedding venue or reception space that I've missed, please let me know as I'd like to keep this list updated." - Matt Lim

Thank you Matt for sharing this great resource for couples! 
p.s Head over to Matt's website or check out his Instagram for his latest work!