When to Book Your Wedding Photographer

Proposal, check. Social media announcement, check. Engagement party planning, check, check. The wedding bells are officially ringing, and everyone in the group chat is excited. Pinterest moodboards are filling up fast, and wedding planning is underway. While it can be exciting to focus on things like dresses and dreamy venues on your wedding checklist, you also want to get a wedding photographer when you should.

If you’re an engaged couple in the thick of wedding planning, you’re in the right place to learn all you need to know about when and how to book a photographer for your big day.

Why Booking a Wedding Photographer Early Matters

In the wedding industry, time is currency. Calendars fill up fast — especially for popular photographers during peak wedding seasons — and options become slimmer with every delay.

Here are a few reasons why you should book a photographer early:

Photographer availability: Wedding planning can easily become a nightmare when you start seeing “Booked Out” headlines stretching across months on a photographer’s calendar. Panic sets in, especially when your wedding is fast approaching and all the photographers whose style matches your vision are unavailable for your date. The last thing you need is to settle for a style different from what you’ve dreamed of.
Avoiding stress and last-minute rush: As you may have already noticed, wedding planning is stressful enough. If there is anything you don’t want to experience, it’s the stress that comes with last-minute rushing to find the perfect photographer.
Time for consultation and planning: Booking a photographer early for your wedding gives you ample time to consult with your photographer and discuss your vision and specific needs.

The Best Time to Book a Wedding Photographer

Do you have a wedding date fixed yet? Or are you still consulting among family and guests to find a date that works? Whatever the case, booking a wedding photographer earlier rather than later will always be better. So, what is the ideal time frame for booking a wedding photographer? The sweet spot is 12-18 months for good reason. For starters, you enjoy the advantage of having a wide selection of photographers.

While the 12-18 months is a sweet spot, the timeline is not a hard and fast rule. Some factors can influence your decision to book earlier than 18 months, while others may give you leeway to book later. Before looking for a wedding photographer, you’ll want to consider the following factors:

Peak wedding seasons: If your dream is to say “I do” in the heart of fall or walk down the aisle amid the smell of the fresh blooms of spring, you should book a wedding photographer at least 18 months before your proposed date. Because of increased demand and competition during these popular seasons, photographers’ calendars get filled up quicker.
Off-season weddings: You’ll enjoy better deals and more availability on photographers’ calendars if you’re having an off-season wedding. For example, if you’re tying the knot in winter, you can book a photographer nine to 12 months in advance.
Destination weddings: If you’re planning to have your wedding on a magical beach in Bali, surrounded by the exotic cliffs of Santorini or in any other destination, you should consider factors like travel logistics and coordination. To accommodate travel arrangements, consider booking a photographer more than 18 months before.

What Should You Do With Short Engagements?

It’s one thing to have enough time on your hands when planning your wedding, and it’s another thing to have a tighter timeline to work with. Although looking for a wedding photographer when your date is approaching can be daunting, you can find options if you search in the right places.

Here are some tips that might help:

Leverage your network.
Seek referrals.
Look out for last-minute availability announcements on social media.
Check wedding groups and forums.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Photographer

Now that you know when to book a photographer for your wedding, let’s discuss four things you should consider when choosing one.

1. Photography Style

Traditional or modern, fine art or editorial, lifestyle or minimalist — whatever photography style you’re shooting for, you’ll need a wedding photographer who understands it well. Before contacting wedding photographers, review portfolios and galleries to assess different styles. You want to choose a photographer whose style aligns with your vision and can bring it to life.

2. Experience and Expertise

Wedding photography is a delicate art that requires skill, experience and expertise. When looking for a wedding photographer, ask questions like:

How many years of experience do they have?
How many weddings have they photographed?
Are they familiar with different venues, lighting conditions and wedding traditions?

Reviews and testimonials are fantastic resources to refer to at this stage.

3. Packages and Pricing

Assuming you’ve already discussed the wedding budget with your partner, you’ll want to find a photographer with packages and pricing that suit your budget. You’ll likely have several pricing options if you start planning early enough. Bear in mind that factors like experience and skill levels, hours of coverage, and location can influence the price of a wedding package.

4. Personality and Communication

Your wedding photographer will be with you from the consultation couch during the planning stages to your last dance in front of your family and friends. You and your partner must feel comfortable with the photographer you choose. You also want to hire a photographer who communicates promptly and professionally.

How Long Does It Take to Book a Wedding Photographer?

The time it takes to book a wedding photographer depends on the photographer and their booking process. At Shutter and Sound, we’ve been shooting weddings long enough to know how stressful planning can be. For this reason, we do our best to take the stress out of your booking experience. Our process is simple:

Consultation: You book an initial consultation to discuss your needs and vision. You’ll also get the chance to ask any questions you may have.
Package review: We have several price packages to suit varying needs.
Contract and deposit: When you find a price that suits your budget and are happy to work with us, you sign the contract and make a deposit. After this, we can start discussing timeline planning and shot list creation.

Turn Your Big Day Into a Work of Art

Weddings are special days that require planning to make them memorable. Everything from writing thank you cards to reaching out to a wedding photographer should be done promptly, especially since booking your wedding photographer early ensures a smooth planning process.

Are you ready to turn your big day into a work of art you can be proud of for years? We want to do that for you. Don’t wait! Contact Shutter and Sound today to capture your dream wedding!