CONGRATULATIONS! You are newly engaged, on cloud nine, and can hardly wait to spend forever with the love of your life. If you are ready to plan the day you have always dreamt of and wedding photography is of top tier importance, then this post is for you! I am providing a short list of 5 things to consider when choosing a wedding photographer.

Before we dive in, I do want to preface with a couple of things to consider doing first (if you haven’t already done so).

1. Decide on the Priorities: Sit down with your fiancé and discuss what is most important to the two of you. Know where your priorities lie and you can allocate your budget and booking order accordingly.
2. If you are considering a wedding planner, book them first! If you are considering a wedding planner, start your booking order here! I highly recommend a wedding planner to any couple, who values being fully present, staying organized, and reducing stress around planning such gatherings and events. A good wedding planner will offer endless resources, guide you every step of the way, and of course, help bring your wedding day vision to life!

Let us then chat about my favorite topic: wedding photography! I am sharing below 5 things to consider when choosing your wedding photographer.

01 AVAILABILITY

I know this may seem obvious to some, but it actually is not! I often receive inquiries for wedding photography before couples have booked their wedding date. If you have your heart set on working with a specific creative team, I recommend reaching out sooner rather than later. If you and your venue are flexible on dates, it is worth reaching out to your “must have” vendors to check in with their availability before solidifying a date.

02 AESTHETIC & STYLE

You will know in your gut what sort of aesthetic speaks to you. Do you prefer a dark and moody, light and airy, or a more classic, true to life edit? Narrowing down your preferred editing style will help you vet initial portfolios pretty quickly.

Pay attention also to shooting style. How are the moments captured? Are they more documentary, editorial, story telling, candid…? It is likely that most wedding photographers will offer a healthy mix of all of the above. However, this is not always the case.

PRO TIP: There is nothing wrong with asking to see a full wedding gallery. When looking through the gallery, keep in mind the circumstances of your wedding day will be totally different. No two wedding days are the same. However, you can get a very good feel of a photographer’s general aesthetic and style from a full gallery!

03 APPROACH

What is it like to work with this photographer from inquiry to post wedding delivery and communication? Do they share this process with you up front or over the consultation call? Is it written on their website? Do they lay out clear expectations of what the client experience is like? Be sure their approach to service and client experience aligns with your expectations.

04 PERSONALITY

Your wedding photographer is likely the vendor you spend the most time with, leading up to and especially on your wedding day. It is important to feel comfortable with the team you are working with. You want to trust that you can be yourself and get the most authentic photographs of yourself and the overall story of your day.

PRO TIP: Hop on a call or video chat with your photographer. Do you feel an instant connection? Do you feel comfortable? It’s easier to trust your gut through phone and video than via email.

05 EXPERIENCE

When hiring someone to capture some of your most important memories you want to make sure they have experience that you can trust. From professionalism on a wedding day, collaboration with other vendors, knowing best business practices, and confidence in leading you through the whole experience. You’re investing in a professional so they can do what they do best and you can relax and be in the moment on your big day knowing they have you covered.

AM I THE RIGHT FIT? A LITTLE MORE ABOUT ME…

Availability: Click here to inquire!

Aesthetic & Style: I capture romantic love stories with a breath of nostalgia. My style is elegant, artful, and natural, feeding the romantic, adventurous, and poetic soul. I am a classically trained artist, fusing timeless art with organic storytelling. I deliver a dynamic gallery to my clients that includes both documentary-style moments and high quality, classic shots with an editorial flare.

Approach: I deeply care about the people, the relationships, and the moments happening in front of me. My approach to capturing any wedding day requires me to be fully present, so I am able to capture the naturally unfolding moments.

My business and client experience focuses on service, quality, communication, and hospitality.

Personality: My clients have described me as, “patient, fun, and super sweet…we felt like we were meeting a friend from the very beginning. She made us feel comfortable, was highly organized, and attentive to detail…she is very creative, a master behind the camera, but also very professional and responsive.”

Experience: I began my business as a professional wedding photographer in Boston in July 2014. For nine years, I have been working to honor the unique vision of each couple, to serve their families, and to capture the intimate moments of love and joy, both curated and candid, throughout the day. I am an artist, a professional at my craft, and a business owner, but I am also a wife, a mom, and was once a bride, too. I care about the story of your love, your wedding day, and the joining of your families.

Inquire About Wedding Photography Services

Genuinely, I would love to work with you. I would not have made this my life long career otherwise! 

To inquire about my availability, to learn more about my wedding photography services, or to schedule a virtual coffee to discuss your wedding plans further, drop me a note here!

Congratulations again! As we say in Greek, Να Ζήσετε (well wishes for your life-long marriage)!

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Alexis El Massih is a wedding and portrait photographer serving Washington DC, Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the greater DMV area.

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