The Knot Chicago Weddings Spring Summer 2020_downmagaz.com
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STYLE + PLANNING<br />
It’s important that the photographer and<br />
the couple are on the same page about<br />
what they value in wedding pictures.<br />
132<br />
<strong>The</strong> photography industry can be <strong>com</strong>plicated to navigate<br />
as a newly engaged couple, and hiring your wedding day<br />
photographer is arguably one of the biggest decisions you<br />
make throughout your entire planning journey. After all,<br />
this will be the person or team responsible for capturing all<br />
those emotional, tangible moments (not to mention all the<br />
beautiful details you’ve spent months planning) that will<br />
allow you to relive your day 10 or 20 years from now. Don’t<br />
stress—we’re here to help you out. We’ve rounded up our<br />
best advice to guide you in narrowing down your style and<br />
finding a true-to-you photography pro perfect for capturing<br />
every second of your unique celebration.<br />
GATHER INSPIRATION<br />
<strong>The</strong> first step to finding your dream photographer is a fun one<br />
(seriously!)—just go get inspired. Spend some time poring over<br />
any and every kind of imagery you love, such as sunny home<br />
décor shots, a fashion blogger’s Instagram feed or moody avantgarde<br />
French movie posters. Save each image that draws your<br />
eye as you go—then, once you have a good collection of inspiring<br />
photographs, take a step back and try to narrow in on what draws<br />
you to them specifically. Is it the soft pastel color palette? <strong>The</strong> offthe-cuff<br />
happy grins of the people in the picture? <strong>The</strong> interesting<br />
angles and perspectives? <strong>The</strong> more you familiarize yourself with<br />
what details you like, the easier it will be for you to eventually<br />
identify that same quality in a potential photographer’s portfolio.<br />
DECIDE ON A “FEELING”<br />
Once you and your partner have figured out what inspires you<br />
image-wise, dig deeper and dissect what feels most authentic<br />
to your relationship and celebration, and how you envision your<br />
eventual wedding album looking. If you’re a timeless couple that<br />
has your heart set on formal, Vanity Fair-like family portraits,<br />
you may gravitate toward a more classic photography style. If a<br />
lot of your inspiration ended up being fly-on-the-wall images that<br />
bottle an authentic moment in time, then lifestyle photography<br />
may be the right choice for you. If you fell in love with the sharp<br />
and contrast-y editorials of a favorite fashion blogger, then<br />
maybe you’ll want to seek out a photographer with a flair for<br />
the exaggerated and dramatic. By pairing your aesthetic choices<br />
(hint: you figured these out in step one) with the “vibe” you<br />
desire, you’ll end up with a photography blueprint that you can<br />
then easily articulate to potential pros to help explain your<br />
goals when it <strong>com</strong>es to your wedding pictures.<br />
DO YOUR RESEARCH<br />
Now’s the time to hit the web and find the pro who will bring<br />
your day to life. Browse <strong>The</strong> <strong>Knot</strong> Marketplace for photographers<br />
(and other vendors) in your area and price range, then peruse<br />
their portfolios and social media channels to identify if they’d<br />
be a good fit for your day. As you browse, ask yourself questions<br />
that are good indicators for a successful “match.” How do they<br />
capture the moments that are important to you? Have they shot<br />
in a venue similar to yours (bonus points if they’ve worked at<br />
your venue before)? Do they seem friendly and personable with<br />
their online audience? If available, check out reviews from past<br />
couples as well. <strong>The</strong>n, go ahead and send an introductory email<br />
with a bit of info about you and your soon-to-be spouse, your<br />
event (don’t forget to include your date!) and the vision for your<br />
day—you can even attach a few inspiration images you love from<br />
their portfolio, if you’d like. Once you’ve chatted about specifics<br />
(like whether their cal is even free to shoot your wedding),<br />
schedule some time to talk with them either on the phone or<br />
via video chat before signing on the dotted line so you can get<br />
to know each other on a personal and professional level. Why?<br />
You’ll be spending the most time with them on your wedding<br />
day, and you want to feel <strong>com</strong>fortable as they capture some of<br />
your and your family’s most emotional moments. ››<br />
ERSTUDIOTOK/ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES
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