Are you planning a wedding and beginning your search for a Seattle wedding photographer? You might be wondering when to book your photographer, the average cost, whether or not they’ve worked at your venue, and if their work aligns with the vision you have for your wedding day.
There are heaps and heaps of wedding blogs and publications out there readily providing advice on how and when to book your wedding vendors, including your Seattle wedding photographer. But all too often, their advice tends to miss the mark. I’m breaking down the what, why, and how of finding the right Seattle wedding photographer to capture every moment of your best day ever, in the post below.
At What Point In The Planning Process Should I Hire My Washington Wedding Photographer?
During the wedding planning process, your photographer will be one of the very first wedding vendors that you decide to hire. Typically the first three wedding pros a couple books are their venue, planner (if applicable), and their photographer. More specifically, these wedding pros book their clients the farthest in advance (anywhere from 1 year to 18 months in advance!). So it’s not uncommon to begin your search there.
However, if you are planning an elopement in Washington, especially one taking place during the week, you have a bit more flexibility with your timeline for booking wedding pros, including your photographer. The calendar of a wedding vendor is typically filled with weekends first, giving them space to work with weekday elopements throughout the year. But, with a caveat of course. If you’ve done your homework and have a very specific vision in mind, don’t hesitate to reach out to your preferred vendor once you’ve made your decision! You’ll never hear a wedding vendor say that it’s too soon to book with them.
We Just Started Searching for Wedding Photographers In Seattle WA, What Should We Be Looking For?
There will be a number of factors that help you determine who you ultimately want to capture your wedding. Cost is such a huge deciding factor for so many couples, and we’ll get into that in just a moment. Above all, their work product, the actual photos, have to speak to you. You have to be able to comb through a photographer’s website (pro tip: check out their galleries & latest blog posts!) along with their Instagram feed to see the quality of their work. Do you see yourself represented in the images they’ve shared? Can you look at their work and feel like they’ve managed to capture another couple’s wedding the way you’ve dreamed of remembering yours?
What about their style? Is it documentary? Candid? Posed? Bright? Editorial? Flash? Film? Every wedding photographer has their own style of shooting and editing. Paying special attention to their most recent weddings will give you a pretty good grasp of what to expect from your own wedding photos.
In addition to their photography style, there’s something else you’ll need to know about your wedding photographer. The experience they provide. Are they hands-on? Do they have a team? Can you expect them to communicate & support you each step of the way? Or, is their process canned, hands-off, and full of automated emails?
Unfortunately, in order to find this out, you’ll have to do a bit of digging. In particular, there is one way that will give you the information you need, their reviews. What are their former clients saying? Are they detailing the experience they had with the photographer every step of the way and raving about how much they love their photos? Do the reviews seem to be consistent and state similar experiences? Or are they a little all over the place? Having a quick look at their reviews will provide you with the last piece of the puzzle when searching for your Seattle wedding photographer.
Questions To Ask Your Seattle Wedding Photographer
Curious to know what you should be asking your Seattle wedding photographer before you make the ‘official hire’? Ideally, most of what you need to know about your wedding photographer will be readily available on their website. But, there may be some small lingering details. These questions can be asked during your initial inquiry through their contact form, or once you schedule a consultation with them.
Here are a few key questions to ask:
- Are you available on my wedding date?
- This question should be asked when you send your initial query.
- Will you be the one capturing my wedding?
- It’s common practice for some photographers to send an associate to shoot your wedding. Conversely, some photographers will arrive at your wedding with a second shooter. It’s important to know these details in advance so there is no confusion.
- Do you offer a payment plan?
- Wedding photography is an investment. Most photographers will require a deposit in order to secure your date. From there you’ll want to know what the terms of the outlined payment structure are.
- What is your expected turnaround time?
- Once your wedding is over, you’ll be dying to get your hands on your photos! But, there is plenty of work that goes into your wedding photos after your wedding day. Your photographer will need to spend a great deal of time culling & editing. This process can take anywhere from four to eight weeks or beyond. Ask your photographer in advance what their expected turnaround time is.
- How will I receive my photos?
- Many wedding photographers provide their clients access to their photos through an online gallery. After your wedding, some photographers will also send your photos on a USB. Be sure to find out in advance. If your photographer does offer an online gallery, inquire as to how long the gallery will be available. Typically an online gallery will be available for up to a year, giving you plenty of time to print your photos.
How Much Does A Wedding Photographer Cost In Seattle?
There is truly no ‘exact cost’ for finding a wedding photographer in Seattle. The cost of hiring a wedding photographer in Seattle to capture your day from beginning to end can range anywhere from $5k-$8k+. Often, couples find themselves with ‘sticker shock’ when browsing for their wedding photographer. There is a common misconception among couples that they can easily source an ‘affordable’ wedding photographer with a photo package priced around $2k or less. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Your wedding photographer is a skilled artist who will be by your side on the day of your wedding for up to 10 hours. Additionally, your wedding photos will be one of the few tangible items left once your wedding day has long since passed. In addition to that, the wedding photographer you hire has to be adept at understanding your unique love story while also having the ability to make you feel comfortable enough in front of the camera to let the moments unfold naturally.
The overall cost of your wedding photography package will be driven by a few factors. Most importantly, along with checking the total cost, you’ll want to see the offerings listed within the package.
Here is a breakdown of things to look for when understanding the total cost of a wedding photographer in Seattle:
- Engagement session
- Rehearsal dinner coverage
- Total number of hours of coverage included on the day of your wedding
- Whether or not the cost includes a second photographer
- Access to an online gallery
- Photo album
- Print credits
- Videography (typically an add-on)
We’re Planning An Elopement, How Do We Find The Right Seattle Elopement Photographer?
Planning an elopement in Seattle is significantly different than planning a traditional wedding. Elopements usually include a much smaller guest list, a shorter planning timeline, and oftentimes; but not always, travel is involved with an elopement wedding. If you are planning an elopement in Seattle, how do you find a photographer who can provide you with the exceptional experience you are hoping for on your unique wedding day?
Find a local wedding photographer
I cannot express how important this is, especially if you are planning your Seattle elopement from out of state! A big key to success when hiring a Seattle elopement photographer is finding one who is from the area. This is considerably different from a ‘destination elopement photographer’. Allow me to explain.
A destination elopement photographer is someone who hops on a plane to meet their couples wherever they are getting married. This can be tricky for a few reasons. First, there is always the chance that their own travel may incur a delay – yikes! Second, a destination elopement photographer who is coming to Seattle (for possibly the first time) will not be familiar with the area. Wondering how this could at all be important when things like Google Maps & Uber exist?
Seattle weather is, fickle, to say the least. It’s no secret that it rains here – a lot. On the days that it’s not raining, it can be cloudy and gray. Your photographer has to be skilled at finding and working with what little light the weather throws our way. Want to plan an adventurous wedding in the state of Washington that involves hiking and exploring? Your photographer will need to be familiar with the terrain (literally), required permits, foot traffic patterns (aka tourists), and the best positions at your outdoorsy location that provide you with an unforgettable wedding photography experience.
How Can I Find Out If A PNW Wedding Photographer Has Worked At My Venue Before?
I know a quick Google search will recommend asking this question of your wedding photographer. So I’m going to be controversial here for a moment. It’s entirely irrelevant whether or not your wedding photographer has photographed your venue before. I’ll tell you why.
First things first, as a local Seattle wedding photographer, I have the ability to request a walk-through of my couple’s venue. This is as easy as coordinating with your wedding planner, or simply calling the wedding venue to let them know I’ll be coming by. Secondly, as a Seattle wedding photographer, I can tell you that no two weddings are ever the same. There are plenty of wedding venues in the area that I have worked at multiple times, and each and every event was different and unique in its own way. So do you need to ask your photographer this question? Probably not.
My Approach As A Seattle Wedding Photographer
The experience I provide my clients is founded on two major cornerstones, authenticity and connection. It’s not uncommon for me to receive an email from a couple that says they received my information from another wedding I worked at who just so happens to be their cousin/friend/college roommate! I love attending a wedding that is full of guests and family members who recognize me, call me by name and treat me like part of the family.
I owe those moments to the relationships I work to actively build with my clients. As a small creative business owner, I know the importance of connecting with my couples on a personal level. That means learning their stories and getting to know more about them outside of their wedding day experience.
This connection works in so many ways. First, it allows my couples to create trust with me as their photographer which then enables them to relax and just be themselves in front of the camera. Only then, can I get to the root of the love they share together. Connection and trust give way to capturing authentic moments. This magic formula has allowed me to eloquently capture the magnetic love stories of black, interracial, and LGBTQ+ couples who are so often underrepresented in national and online wedding industry publications. My couples ultimately choose to work with me because they know I provide a hands-on experience, personalized to their exceptional love story.
But, I’m going to take my own advice here and encourage you to browse through some of my most recent work, featured on my blog!
