When you hire a wedding photographer, you’ll be working with a professional who knows how to capture beautiful shots at exactly the right moment – this does not mean that your photographer can read your mind.

As a bride, you’ve spent months planning your special day, so naturally, you want to capture all of the things that are important to you. Your photographer, however, has not been involved in the entire planning process, which is why it’s so important to discuss your likes, dislikes and the shots you really want well before your wedding.

5 Must-Have Wedding Photography Discussions


Here are a few key things that many brides tend to forget to discuss with their wedding photographers.

1. Your venue/s. Will your ceremony and reception be taking place at the same venue? If not, your photographer will need to take travel time into consideration and plan accordingly. It’s also important to mention whether there will be any lighting or photography restrictions during the ceremony based on the venue.

2. Sweet surprises. If you have something special planned for your day such as sparklers, lanterns or a fun first dance, be sure to mention this to your photographer so that the special moment can be captured.

3. Must-have shots. There are certain shots that every wedding photographer has on their list but if you’re looking for something very specific, discuss these photos with your photographer ahead of time. It’s best not to spring a lot of new requests on your photographer the day of your wedding or you could end up feeling disappointed when you don’t get all the photos you really want.

4. The timing of your day. Once the timing of your day has more or less been finalized, share your timeline with your photographer so that you are both on the same page. You may need to make some slight adjustments to your timeline if your photographer requires more time to take certain photos.

5. Family drama. While you don’t need to share your entire family history with your photographer, it’s best to tell them about any family conflicts that may be going on. If having a happy day means not placing certain people in the same photo, be sure to make your photographer aware of who those people are.

If you’re unsure about whether something may be relevant to your photographer, check with them just to be sure you’re covering all your bases.