Wedding Photography and Videography: What to Know Before You Book
Choosing your wedding photographer and videographer is about more than finding someone whose work looks good on Instagram.
These are the people who will be with you through a large portion of your wedding day. They may be there while you are getting ready, during some of the most emotional moments of the day, through family photos, the ceremony, reception, and everything happening in between.
The right photo and video team does more than document what happened. They know how to work within your timeline, communicate with your other vendors, help people feel comfortable, and capture moments without making your wedding feel like one long photo shoot.
If you are still early in the planning process, this is also why it helps to understand the questions to ask before booking your wedding venue. Your venue, coordinator, photographer, videographer, florist, DJ, and other vendors all eventually have to work within the same wedding-day plan.
In a recent Elmwood Farm podcast conversation, Lettie sat down with Mitch and Amanda of Rosenberry Media to talk about what couples should consider when choosing their wedding photo and video team.
Mitch and Amanda photograph and film weddings together, giving them a firsthand perspective on not only what creates great photos and video, but also what makes a wedding day easier or more difficult for the couple.
One theme came up throughout the conversation: the finished photos and film matter, but so does the experience of creating them.
Look Beyond a Photographer's Highlight Reel
Social media is usually one of the first places couples look when researching wedding photographers and videographers.
That makes sense. It is an easy way to get a feel for someone's style.
But a polished social media feed does not necessarily show you how that person handles an entire wedding day.
A portfolio may feature a photographer's favorite images from dozens of different weddings. Some images may also come from styled shoots, where vendors intentionally create staged wedding scenes for photography, practice, or marketing.
There is nothing inherently wrong with styled shoots, but they are very different from a real wedding.
At a real wedding, photographers and videographers have to work around changing weather, family dynamics, tight timelines, guests, lighting changes, venue restrictions, and moments that only happen once.
That is why Mitch and Amanda recommend looking deeper than the highlight reel.
Ask to See a Full Wedding Gallery
One of the best things you can ask a photographer for is a complete wedding gallery.
A full gallery helps you see how they photograph:
Getting ready
Wedding details
Indoor and outdoor lighting
The ceremony
Family portraits
Wedding party photos
Couple portraits
Reception details
Speeches
First dances
The dance floor
You are no longer judging them based only on their 20 favorite images.
You are seeing how they tell the story of an entire wedding.
If they have photographed your venue before, you can also ask whether they have a full gallery from that location.
That can help you understand how they have used the property, lighting, ceremony space, reception space, and other areas in the past.
Couples considering Elmwood Farm can also explore our wedding and event gallery to get a better feel for the property and the types of settings available throughout a wedding day.
Make Sure You Actually Like the People You Hire
Technical skill matters.
So does personality.
Your photographer and videographer are going to spend a significant amount of time around you on your wedding day.
They may be there while you are getting dressed. They may be interacting with your parents, grandparents, wedding party, and closest friends. They may be helping organize family photos or giving you direction during portraits.
You need to feel comfortable around them.
Rosenberry Media often begins the relationship with a face-to-face conversation so couples can get to know them before booking.
Engagement sessions can serve a similar purpose.
An engagement session is not only an opportunity to get photos before the wedding. It gives you a chance to learn how your photographer communicates, how they give direction, what makes you feel comfortable, and what it is like to be in front of their camera.
By the time the wedding arrives, you already know each other.
That familiarity can make the wedding day feel much more natural.
Photography and Videography Need to Work Together
Some couples hire one company to handle both photography and videography.
Others choose a photographer from one company and a videographer from another.
Either approach can work.
What matters is whether those professionals can work together.
Your photographer and videographer need access to many of the same moments:
Getting ready
Wedding details
First looks or first touches
The ceremony
Family portraits
Wedding party portraits
Couple portraits
Reception details
Toasts and speeches
First dances
The dance floor
Problems can happen when the two vendors have completely different expectations.
For example, a photographer may schedule wedding detail photos before the videographer is expected to arrive. By the time video coverage begins, the rings, invitations, dress, flowers, and other details may already have been moved.
The same thing can happen throughout the rest of the day if the two vendors are not communicating.
If you are booking photography and videography separately, ask each professional how they typically work alongside other photo and video teams.
You can also ask whether there are vendors they have worked particularly well with in the past.
Why Wedding Videography Is About More Than Moving Pictures
Couples sometimes wonder whether they really need videography if they are already hiring a photographer.
Photography and video preserve different parts of the experience.
One of the biggest differences is something couples can easily overlook:
Audio.
Your wedding film can preserve your vows.
It can preserve your parent's voice during a toast.
It can capture your grandfather laughing, your maid of honor telling a story, or the way your spouse sounded while reading a private letter.
Those voices may become more meaningful with time.
Photos can preserve expressions and freeze important moments beautifully.
Video allows you to hear those moments again.
That can be one of the biggest reasons couples value their wedding film years after the wedding itself.
Build Photography and Video Into Your Wedding Timeline
Wedding photography does not simply happen in the background.
Neither does videography.
Both take time.
Your wedding timeline should account for the moments your photographer and videographer need to capture without making you feel rushed from one thing to the next.
That may include time for:
Wedding details
Getting ready
The dress
Florals
First looks or first touches
Wedding party portraits
Family portraits
Couple portraits
Ceremony details
Reception details
A photographer or coordinator can often work backward from the ceremony time to determine when different parts of the day need to happen.
Your wedding venue and planning team can also play an important role in bringing that timeline together and coordinating arrival times with your vendors.
One of the biggest decisions affecting that timeline is whether you plan to have a first look.
Should You Do a First Look?
There is no single right answer.
Some couples love the tradition of seeing each other for the first time as one person walks down the aisle.
Others prefer seeing each other privately before the ceremony.
A first look can make the timeline much easier because it gives you the opportunity to complete more photography earlier in the day.
Depending on your plans, you may be able to finish:
Couple portraits
Wedding party photos
Immediate family photos
Other formal portraits
before the ceremony begins.
That can leave more time after the ceremony to enjoy cocktail hour, visit with guests, or simply spend some time together.
There can also be an emotional benefit.
If one or both of you are nervous, seeing each other privately beforehand can take some of that pressure away.
Mitch and Amanda both talked about couples becoming noticeably more relaxed after finally seeing or talking to one another.
What If You Don't Want to See Each Other?
A first touch can be a good alternative.
You can stand on opposite sides of a doorway or corner, hold hands, talk, pray together, or exchange private vows without actually seeing one another.
Some couples also choose to read personal vows privately during this time and then use more traditional vows during the ceremony.
That creates an intimate moment while still preserving the traditional ceremony reveal.
The important thing is choosing what works for the two of you.
It is your wedding.
Your Wedding Party Size Affects Your Timeline
A large wedding party can be a lot of fun.
It also creates more moving parts.
More people can mean more time for:
Hair and makeup
Getting dressed
Transportation
Organizing everyone
Wedding party photos
Tracking down missing people
Those minutes add up quickly.
If you want a large wedding party, that is completely fine. Just make sure enough time is built into the schedule to account for it.
Mitch and Amanda also pointed out something couples do not always consider when choosing their wedding party.
Choose people who are going to support you.
Your wedding party should help make the day easier, not turn small problems into major distractions.
Plan Your Family Photo List Before the Wedding
Family photos can become one of the most time-consuming parts of the wedding day if nobody knows who is supposed to be there.
Do not wait until after the ceremony to decide which combinations of people you want photographed.
Create that list ahead of time.
Instead of simply writing "bride's family," list the actual people who should be included.
That makes it much easier for your photographer, coordinator, or another helper to call people into place.
Family members should also know ahead of time if they need to remain after the ceremony.
Otherwise, the photographer may be ready for the next family combination while Uncle Bob is already at cocktail hour.
A little communication before the wedding can save a surprising amount of time.
A Wedding Coordinator Can Take Pressure Off Everyone
Wedding days create questions.
Lots of them.
Where should something go?
When is the wedding party lining up?
Where is the florist?
When should family gather for photos?
Is the DJ ready?
What happens if the timeline is running behind?
Someone needs to know the answers.
If there is no coordinator or designated point person, those questions often end up going to the couple, a parent, or even the photographer.
That takes attention away from what those people are supposed to be doing.
A good coordinator provides a central point of communication between the couple and the vendors.
But it is important to understand exactly what your venue means when it says a coordinator is included.
Some venue coordinators are involved throughout the entire wedding day.
Others primarily handle things directly related to the venue.
Neither arrangement is necessarily wrong. You simply need to understand what is included before the wedding.
This is one of the reasons we recommend discussing what your wedding venue actually provides before booking rather than assuming every venue uses the same definition of coordination.
Prepare Your Wedding Details Before Your Photographer Arrives
Some of the smallest items from your wedding day can carry the most meaning.
Amanda recommends putting important wedding details together before the photographer arrives.
For the bride, that may include:
Invitations
Rings
Jewelry
Shoes
Perfume
Vow books
A ring box
Family heirlooms
Other sentimental pieces
The groom can do the same with things such as:
Tie or bow tie
Cufflinks
Watch
Shoes
Cologne
Vow book
Sentimental items
Having everything together means your photographer can begin working without interrupting you every few minutes to find another item.
It also gives them an opportunity to create detail photographs that help tell the story of the day.
An invitation may show the wedding design.
A piece of jewelry may have belonged to a grandparent.
A pair of socks may have your dog's face on them.
Individually, they may seem small.
Together, they represent the choices and people that made the wedding yours.
Coordinate Your Flowers With Your Photographer's Arrival
Florals are also an important part of wedding detail photography.
Bouquets, boutonnieres, and loose flowers can often be incorporated into photographs of rings, invitations, jewelry, and other items.
But the flowers need to be there.
If your photographer plans to begin detail photography at 11:00 and the flowers arrive at 12:30, that part of the day may already be finished.
Talk with your florist, photographer, and coordinator ahead of time so everyone understands when important items need to arrive.
This is a small scheduling detail that can make a major difference in what gets captured.
Choose an Editing Style You Will Still Like Years From Now
Wedding photography styles change.
Certain editing trends become extremely popular for a few years and then gradually fade.
There is nothing wrong with choosing a photographer whose work has a distinctive style.
You should choose work you genuinely like.
But also remember that these are photographs you may still be looking at decades from now.
Rosenberry Media places a strong emphasis on true-to-life color.
The idea is simple.
If the groom's suit was navy blue, it should still look navy blue.
If the wedding dress had a particular tone, the photographs should reflect it.
When comparing photographers, think about more than whether the editing style looks trendy today.
Ask yourself whether you will still enjoy those photographs 20 or 30 years from now.
Do You Need a Second Photographer?
Maybe.
A second photographer can be extremely useful in certain situations.
They may be able to capture two things happening at the same time.
During a first look, for example, one photographer may focus on one partner's reaction while the other captures the opposite angle.
A second photographer can also help cover different getting-ready locations, additional guests, or moments happening simultaneously.
But more people are not automatically better.
If you are having a smaller wedding or getting ready in a tight space, multiple photographers and videographers can quickly make the room feel crowded.
Ask your photographer whether a second photographer makes sense for the size and structure of your wedding rather than assuming you automatically need one.
Trust the Professionals You Hire
This may be one of the most important wedding-planning lessons from the entire conversation.
Choose experienced vendors you trust.
Then allow them to use that experience.
Your photographer may recommend taking portraits at a different time because of the lighting.
Your coordinator may adjust the timeline because a certain part of the day needs more time.
Your florist may need to deliver something earlier.
Your DJ may need time to prepare equipment before guests enter the reception space.
These recommendations usually have a reason behind them.
That does not mean you should hand your wedding over to your vendors and stop making decisions.
It means that when a professional you trust makes a recommendation based on experience, it is worth considering.
Your Wedding Should Still Feel Like Your Wedding
Photography and videography are important.
They should not take over the wedding.
Your wedding should not feel like an eight-hour photo shoot where you occasionally stop to get married.
The goal is to capture the experience while still giving you time to actually have the experience.
That requires balance.
A good photographer knows when to provide direction.
They also know when to step back and let something happen naturally.
A good coordinator keeps things moving without making the entire day feel like a schedule.
A good video team captures the emotion without turning every moment into a production.
When the right vendors work well together, you should be able to look back at your photographs and wedding film and remember not only what everything looked like, but what the day actually felt like.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wedding Photography and Videography
Should You Hire a Wedding Photographer and Videographer Together?
You do not have to hire photography and videography from the same company.
Separate vendors can work very well together.
The important thing is communication.
If you hire them separately, ask how they typically work with other photographers or videographers and make sure their coverage times and expectations are coordinated before the wedding.
Is Wedding Videography Worth It If You Already Have a Photographer?
Photography and videography capture different parts of the experience.
One of the biggest differences is audio.
A wedding film can preserve vows, speeches, laughter, conversations, and the voices of people you care about in a way photographs cannot.
For many couples, those recordings become more valuable with time.
Should You Do a First Look Before the Wedding Ceremony?
There is no right or wrong choice.
A first look can give you more time for couple portraits, wedding party photos, and family photos before the ceremony. It may also help couples who are feeling nervous relax before the ceremony begins.
If you want to preserve the traditional reveal, a first touch is another option.
Do You Need a Second Wedding Photographer?
Not necessarily.
A second photographer can provide additional angles and capture events happening at the same time, but whether one is necessary depends on the size and structure of your wedding.
Ask your photographer what they recommend for your specific plans.
What Should You Ask a Wedding Photographer Before Booking?
Some of the most useful questions include:
Can we see a full wedding gallery?
Who will actually photograph our wedding?
How many hours of coverage are included?
Have you worked with videographers before?
Do you use second photographers?
How do you handle family photo lists?
What is your normal turnaround time?
How would you describe your editing style?
How do you help couples plan the photography timeline?
The goal is not simply to find someone who can take beautiful pictures.
You want someone whose work, communication style, experience, and approach fit the wedding you are planning.
Hear More From Rosenberry Media
There is much more to wedding photography and videography than we could fit into one article.
In the full Elmwood Farm podcast conversation, Lettie talks with Mitch and Amanda of Rosenberry Media about their experience photographing and filming weddings, first looks, wedding timelines, coordinators, working with other vendors, wedding details, second photographers, and what couples should know before their wedding day.
Planning Your Wedding at Elmwood Farm?
Choosing the right vendors is only one part of putting your wedding day together.
At Elmwood Farm, we work with couples throughout the planning process to help coordinate the details, timeline, vendors, and use of the property so the day can come together as smoothly as possible.
Learn more about weddings at Elmwood Farm, explore our property and wedding gallery, and continue reading our wedding-planning resources as you prepare for your day.
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