Your Photographer Should Be Prepared, Not Just Present

This is probably the biggest fear when it comes to hiring a wedding photographer. And honestly it makes sense.

Your wedding happens once. The moments that matter most, your dad seeing you for the first time, your partner’s face when you walk down the aisle, your grandma pulling you aside to tell you something, those happen once and then they’re gone. No redos. No second takes.

So the fear of “what if my photographer misses something” is valid. You’re trusting someone to catch the stuff you won’t even see yourself because you’ll be busy actually living the day.

But here’s the thing. Missing moments usually isn’t about weddings being fast or unpredictable. It’s about whether the photographer bothered to learn what matters to you in the first place.

I Start Learning About Your Day Before You Even Book

My process doesn’t start on the wedding day. It starts way before that.

We have an initial call before you ever book with me. And part of that call is me understanding what moments matter most to you. What’s the vibe you’re going for? What relationships are most important to document? Is there anything specific happening that day that I need to know about?

This isn’t just small talk. It’s how I figure out if we’re a good fit and how I start building a mental map of your day before it even happens.

Some photographers show up on the wedding day and figure it out as they go. That’s not how I work. By the time I’m there, I already know what I’m looking for.

Pinterest Boards Actually Help Me Do My Job

I always encourage couples to build Pinterest boards for their wedding. Not just for their planner or florist, but for me too.

When I can see what aesthetic you’re drawn to, what kind of images make you feel something, what vibe you’re going for with your venue and dress and details, it helps me understand how to frame your day. I can’t create something out of nothing. But if I know what you’re envisioning, I can make suggestions on our styling call about how to actually achieve those looks.

And this isn’t a one-and-done thing. I offer additional calls specifically for this. Design, mood boards, inspiration planning. Some couples want to go deep on this, some just want to send me a board and let me run with it. Either way works. The point is that I’m not guessing.

The Final Questionnaire Is Where I Really Dig In

Before your wedding, you fill out a detailed questionnaire. And this is where I go through your Pinterest boards with my team and plan how to tackle the inspiration shots you’ve saved.

We love inspo images. They’re not a burden, they’re a tool. They help us make sure nothing gets missed.

I also ask you directly: what are the most important photos to you? Like, in a list. I want to know what you’d be devastated to not have. Maybe it’s a specific family combination. Maybe it’s a detail shot of your grandmother’s ring you’re wearing. Maybe it’s capturing a particular moment with your bridal party.

If it’s on your list, it’s on my radar. That simple.

My Style Is Built for This

Here’s how I actually shoot on the day.

I’m both editorial and candid. When it’s time for portraits or posed shots, I step in. I direct, I adjust angles, I make sure you look good and the composition is right. That’s the editorial side.

But for a large portion of the wedding day, I step back. Ceremony, toasts, reception moments, the emotional stuff. I’m not in your face directing. I’m observing. Framing images to capture what’s actually unfolding. Watching for the glances, the hand squeezes, the quiet moments between the loud ones.

This balance is intentional. I’m present enough to catch things without being so present that I’m disrupting them. The real emotion happens when people forget there’s a camera. My job is to be invisible enough for that to happen while still being exactly where I need to be.

Not Every Single Moment Will Be Captured

I’m going to be honest with you because I think it’s important.

Every wedding is different. Timelines are different. Venues are different. The flow of the day is different. And no photographer, no matter how good, can physically capture every single thing that happens.

I set this expectation with couples beforehand because I don’t want anyone going in thinking they’ll get a photo of literally every moment from every angle. That’s not realistic.

But here’s what I can promise: if something is a must-have for you, I make sure it happens. That’s why I ask. That’s why we talk about it before the day. That’s why you have my number and can text me if you suddenly remember something important.

The couples who are happiest with their photos are the ones who communicated openly about what mattered to them. Not because I can’t figure things out on my own, but because your wedding is yours. You know what matters. I just need you to tell me.

Every Wedding Deserves Individual Attention

This is the part that I think gets lost sometimes.

Your wedding is not the same as the last wedding I shot. It’s not the same as the next one. The moments that matter to you are specific to you. The relationships, the traditions, the details, all of it.

I don’t show up with a generic shot list and just check boxes. I show up having studied your Pinterest boards, reviewed your questionnaire, talked through your priorities, and built a plan with my team for your specific day.

That’s how moments don’t get missed. Not by being fast or lucky. By doing the work ahead of time and actually paying attention.

So if this is something you’re worried about, my question for you is: does your photographer have a process? Are they asking what matters to you? Are they building a plan?

If not, that’s worth thinking about.