Biased opinion, choosing your photographer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make while planning a wedding. When Steve and I got married, our photographer was the first person we booked after setting our date. I wanted to make sure we had classic images we could cherish forever. There are so many excellent photographers in Greenville, how on earth are you supposed to choose?
Here are some things to consider when you’re making this important decision. This advice is geared toward couples planning their wedding, but applies to any photo session!
- Personality – You’ll see your wedding photographer more than just about anyone on your wedding day. You want to make sure you get along! If you’re looking for someone with an adventurous spirit, a calm and easygoing demeanor, is super organized, and loves to laugh, I might be your photographer.
- Style – You’ll want to consider both editing style and posing style. The two main trends you hear about are Light & Airy or Dark & Moody. I don’t really fall into either category. I do minimal edits to create a clean, classic look. I like vibrant colors and sharp images. At the end of the day, I want you to look like you, and I want to create images that you’ll still love in 20 years.
- Posing – Wedding photography exists on a spectrum between Traditional and Photojournalistic. Traditional photographers will do a lot of posing and focus on formal shots. Photojournalistic or documentary photographers will focus on getting candid moments with minimal posing. My style is somewhere in the middle. I have four or five poses that work well for most couples. They’re simple and work well as a foundation. From there, I like to get you moving and interacting. I love laughter, so I keep my sessions light and fun. I think this blend of posing and candid interactions make for some truly beautiful images.
- Details – Once you’ve settled on the style and personality you’re looking for, it comes down to details. There are two common components in wedding day packages that I think are super important – engagement photos and a second shooter. Engagement photos give you a chance to get used to being in front of the camera. Not gonna lie, it can be super awkward. Having that experience will make you more comfortable and confident on your wedding day. It also gives your photographer a chance to see what works and doesn’t work for you. Every couple is different, and knowing how poses work for you ahead of time, saves time on your wedding day. Second shooters are so valuable. A lot happens on a wedding day and one photographer can’t possibly capture all of it. My friend Christi at Kingsbridge Photography wrote an awesome blog post about all of the benefits of having a second shooter. I think engagement photos and second shooters are so important, I’ve included them in all of my packages.
To sum it all up, if you’re looking for a photographer with an adventurous spirit and a sunny disposition, who will capture clean and timeless images of your day, and who will laugh and cry with you, I might be your photographer.
I would love to hear from you! Let’s talk ?
devin.hayman@gmail.com
(815)509-7074
