TIPS TO HELP FIND A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Writer / Michael Durr Photographer / Jessica Strickland

Many brides and grooms might find it daunting when tasked with finding a wedding photographer. Having captured many weddings myself and having the experience of finding a wedding photographer to capture our own wedding, I wanted to provide some tips on what to look for when you begin your search.

TIP 1: CHOOSE A STYLE

One of the most important things when looking for a wedding photographer is finding a style that you like. All photographers bring a certain look to their work, and you want to be sure that your expectation matches the style of your photographer. You can look at a photographer’s Instagram account, but I would advise going a step further and browsing their website to really get a sense of the style of photography they provide. A word-of-mouth referral also goes a long way. If you know someone that hired that photographer, don’t be shy about asking how their experience was.

TIP 2: PLAN AN INITIAL MEETING

If possible, I recommend meeting your photographer in person or via FaceTime if in person is not possible. It is likely that the person you will spend the most time with on your wedding day will be your lead photographer - even more so than your future spouse. They will be at your side from the makeup chair to the sendoff and you want to be sure you enjoy their presence and that they are someone with whom you’re comfortable. During this meeting you should get a clear understanding of costs and what is included with the fees. You will also want to ask if there will be a second photographer. A second photographer will cost more but it offers an incredible value. If you are someone that likes creative angles, candid moments and incredible portraits, a second photographer is well worth it. Some look at it as an added insurance policy, so no moments are missed. There is no doubt that wedding budgets can be tight but investing in a good photographer will pay dividends for years to come. After the day is over, the images will tell the story of your wedding forever.

TIP 3: BOOK AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Not all couples want to have an engagement session, but if you are considering it, I would give you two thumbs up on making that happen. This will give you the opportunity to tryout your photographer. It provides a firsthand experience of how they work and how they interact with you and your fiancé. It is a great way spot any red flags and at the same time, provides you with some great images that can be used for a save the date, signature album or prints. It is also that first step in really creating a relationship with your photographer.

TIP 4: PLAN AHEAD

Once you have officially booked your photographer you will want to schedule a follow up meeting or conversation about the wedding day itself. The flow of the day can be challenging to plan, but your photographer’s opinions and recommendations are crucial. They will know how long certain things will take, like family photos or couples’ portraits. They will be able to spot any unrealistic time constraints and will be able to help alleviate some of that pressure that can build up on the wedding day. Having a photographer that is flexible and understanding is important and by this point, you know they have your best interest at heart.

TIP 5: ENJOY THE DAY

When the day finally arrives, your photographer will be the one to be sure you have the memories that will last a lifetime. The day goes fast and trusting your photographer to deliver on the expectations you set should make you feel at ease. Power down that cell phone and let the pros handle it. Your main objective on your wedding day is to slow down and enjoy it.

Remember not to sweat the images. Your first inclination will be to see the images immediately, but I encourage you to take the honeymoon, relax and enjoy your first weeks of marriage. The photos will come, and it is likely your wedding photographer captured thousands of images. Trust them to curate and process those images for you. Remember, that’s what they do, and you paid them for their style and their vision. They will deliver, and even if it takes some time to get the digital album, it will absolutely be worth it. My wife and I made a pact that we would not look at the images until we were sitting together. We even hooked up the laptop to the TV, popped a bottle of champagne and scrolled though all the images together. It was a special evening seeing them all for the first time.

Finally, print your images! These days we may not think of print as important but taking the time to either work with your photographer in creating a printed album or taking the time to create your own is worth it. Having a tangible asset to keep on the shelf and pass down to the next generation is something your children and grandchildren will love to hold and thumb through someday.

All the images captured in this article were taken by Jessica Strickland. Being a professional photographer myself, I knew exactly what I was looking for and my now-wife had been following Jessica’s work for years (truthfully, we based our wedding date around her availability because we were so excited to work with her). Jessica delivered on every level, even going far above our expectations. She and her assistant were an absolute pleasure to be around, and we have remained friends to this day. You can check out Jessica’s work at jessicastrickland.com, on Instagram at @jessicastricklandphotography or you can email her at info@jessicastrickland.com for more information and

There are many factors that go into choosing a wedding dress. Most of it is a feeling - the feeling a woman gets when she is in the gown, and she can see that it represents the beginning of the rest of her life, marrying the person she loves the most, living out her dream wedding day and beginning a whole new chapter of her life.

Adrienne Love and her team at The Wedding Studio (TWS) take picking out a wedding dress to a whole new level.

The Wedding Studio is a bridal boutique that focuses on the memory-making experience. Located in Carmel, Greenwood and Louisville, The Wedding Studio provides a very intimate experience for the bride.

“We get to be a part of this very special and very intimate moment of a girl’s life,” Love says. “We try to make it as unique, one of a kind, and memorable as possible.”

The goal is inclusion. Love and her team ensure that every single bride who walks through

“We are making a change in how people should be treated, and how they should be loved in any space that they walk into,” Love says.

Every single member of Love’s team is trained and experienced in guiding the bride through the process of finding the perfect dress. What sets TWS apart? The team prequalifies brides before they even step into the studio. Extensive questions are asked regarding budget, venue, sizing, setting up a Pinterest board and more, to give the bridal team amazing options that brides love before they arrive for their first appointment. This creates a fulfilling 90-minute session full of dresses that match exactly what the bride is looking for.

VIP options are available for an even more immersive experience. TWS has a beautiful speakeasy room for brides and their closest family members and friends, to spend a couple of hours drinking champagne, snacking and picking out the perfect dress.

“It gives the bride a little more confidence when she gets there,” Love says. “The sales store, and she now has all the bride’s information so she is ready to find the perfect dress for her. It makes it a much more fun experience for the bride.”

After purchasing the Carmel location from two women who became very close friends, Love was loved and guided by them toward the position she is in today. As a boss, Love praises and admires the associates who work at TWS. “I have girls on my team who love the way that I do,” she says. The bridal team at TWS puts their hearts and souls into every single bride, to make her the priority while she is in the dressing rooms. Nothing else matters but their bride.

In addition to an amazing team, Love also gives credit to research. Data research, market research, tracking trends, and 10 years of experience are all factors in what makes TWS a premiere shop for all brides. As a result of the information gathered, Love has compiled a selection of gowns so the bride doesn’t have to shop anywhere else.

The ease of the process, the knowledge of the staff, and the vast number of dresses to choose from allow brides to find everything they could ever want at TWS. Shopping with TWS only requires two appointments - one to find the dress and one to pick up the dress four to six months later.

The bridal team at The Wedding Studio puts their hearts and souls into every single bride, to make her the priority while she is in the dressing rooms. Nothing else matters but their bride.

Depending on the location, TWS could have up to 36 brides shopping in the store in a single day. Appointments are booked months in advance. After dreaming about this for years, the numbers are surreal to Love. “It’s so fun,” she says. “We want to touch the lives of as many brides as we can, to give them that feeling of, ‘You belong here.’”

So why should you include them in your wedding plans? Love and her teams in Carmel, Greenwood and Louisville are providing a place of belonging, a place of healing, and a place that gives women a feeling of self-worth and self-love. Ultimately the team credits all the success of the business to two simple words - be nice. The respect, love and kindness that the team members show each of their brides, and the lives they are able to touch, drives their passion for this work.

Visit Love and her team at The Wedding Studio in any of their three locations. The Wedding Loft is their sample bridal boutique located in Greenwood. To schedule an appointment, visit theweddingstudios.net. For beautiful gown inspiration and a peek into TWS, follow them on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest.