After months of planning and thousands of dollars spent, having a beautiful wedding album to look back on will help you relive the best day of your life for years to come. Photographers are not cheap, so how do you make sure you’re getting the absolute best results possible? New Orleans photographers Darren & Shamakia Williams, Sandra O’Claire, Mo Davis and Devonte Williford have helpful tips to help you get those gorgeous shots you’ve been dreaming of.
Figure Out Your Style
Deciding who to work with is step one. Williams, O’Claire, Davis and Williford all recommend starting your search on platforms like Pinterest and Instagram to find your style inspiration.
“We always suggest doing a deep dive on social media, wedding blogs and Pinterest to get a sense of what different style options are out there,” Darren Williams, one half of the husband-wife team, said. “Once you do that, you can narrow down your search to photographers that really match your aesthetic.”
Knowing the limitations of your venue is another crucial element that O’Claire emphasizes.
“If you find someone who matches your aesthetic that you really like, but all their photos are outside and in the daylight — and your wedding is inside or at night — you might end up being disappointed,” O’Claire said.
To avoid that disappointment, O’Claire says couples should always ask to see a complete gallery of a wedding that is similar to theirs.
“That way, you can be sure that they know how to work in that type of environment and understand the quirks of different types of venues, seasons and times of day,” O’Claire said.
Start Your Search Early
Finding a photographer should not be an afterthought, Davis said, particularly if you’re working within a tighter budget.
“COVID really changed things, I think, and people have a sense of urgency now that you really didn’t see at much before,” Davis said. “The old standard was six to nine months out, but I’m booking well into a year advance now.”
Regarding budget, Davis said about 10% of your overall cost should go to photography, which makes it hard to give an exact number of what you should expect to pay. However, she cautioned against assuming that in order to get the best, you’ll have to pay the most.
“That’s why I think it’s so important to work with a planner,” Davis said. “If you want stunning wedding photos, but you don’t want to drop the cost of that top-tier package, they can work with you to determine what it is that you want, and how to find a great photographer to accommodate that.”
Get Comfortable With Your Photographer and Be Yourself
So, you’ve figured out your style and booked your photographer — now it’s time to get the shot. For Williford, the number one advice he gives to couples is to be themselves.
Instead of posing, Williford likes to give couples prompts that elicit genuine reactions and make for sweet, dynamic photos.
“I’ll tell the bride to whisper something naughty in the groom’s ear or something, and that photograph is going to be a lot more special to them than a generic pose,” Williford said.
The Williamses have a similar philosophy.
“Our goal is to capture the love and happiness you see for each other. One way to get into that space ahead of an engagement shoot is to go on a little date, get some drinks, be flirty and fun before you show up,” Shamakia said. “That love and flirtiness is going to shine through and you’re going to get a great picture.”
While it’s not absolutely necessary to have the same person shoot your engagement and wedding photos, Davis and Williford said it’s a good way to get to know your photographer before the Big Day.
“I like to think of engagement shoots in a similar way to your hair and makeup trial. You want to make sure it’s a good fit, you want to get comfortable with it. That way, when your wedding day arrives, you won’t have to worry about whether or not you made the right choice,” Davis said.
Don’t Get Hung Up on a Shot List
Ultimately, Williford said the best photos come from subjects who are relaxed, having fun and being themselves. The best way to achieve that is to trust the person you hired and let them do your thing.
“If you’re worrying about whether or not they’re checking off every single box on your shot list, it’s going to be harder for you to be in the moment and that is going to show through,” he said.
Williams and O’Claire also decline to use shot lists, because they limit their options and take up time that could be better spent focusing on the details or the unexpected moments.
“I ask my clients to tell me what I don’t know,” O’Claire explained. “Tell me that your cake topper is your great-grandma’s, tell me if there’s going to be a surprise guest and whose reaction you really want to catch — things like that. I find that much more helpful than a shot-list.”
Meet the Photographers
Darren & Shamakia Williams are the husband-and-wife team behind DSW Photography. Their style is high-glam editorial with an emphasis on clean, chic artistry. dswduo.com, @dsw_photography
Sandra O’Claire and Eau Claire Photographics are pros when it comes to natural and unobtrusive documentary-style photography, which results in true-to-life, authentic and timeless imagery. Their look is classic, but modern, and O’Claire is committed to capturing the unique details of your day. eauclairephotographics.com, @eauphoto
Mo Davis made Harper’s Bazaar’s Best Photographers in the World list in 2020 and is based right here in New Orleans. Her look is artistic, ethereal and timeless and Davis does her absolute best to capture the emotion she believes in most in the world: Love. modavisphotography.com, @modavisphotography
Devonte Williford is the force behind Rare Sighting Photography, a local wedding and portrait service that turns out timeless, emotional images. Williford is a true believer in the beauty of candid shots, but he’s also an expert on getting his clients comfortable in front of the camera so that even the glam shots bring out their true personalities and feelings. raresightingphotography.com, @raresightingphotography
Finding a Photographer to Fit Your Venue
Venues often provide a list of recommended vendors, including photographers. If you already have your venue booked, they can give you names of people who worked there before and are therefore likely to be comfortable shooting there.