Wedding planning timeline: when to book your wedding photographer
Hey friends, my names Katy and I’m a Metro Detroit Wedding Photographer.
Today’s topic is going to be, When Should I Book My Wedding Photographer?
I’ve seen a few different stances on this, and I’ve noticed recently that some people are waiting longer to make decisions and book with their vendors, specifically their photographers. If you’re newly engaged, and trying to figure all of these things out while planning your big day, you’ve come to the right place.
www.meiningermedia.co
Ideally, you should book your wedding photographer as soon as you secure your date and your venue. but keep reading, because its not just about when to book, there’s more to it.
I feel like I might get some backlash from that down the road, but ALL of your vendors need to know the date of your wedding and where the wedding is going to be in order for them to give you the best possible answers, and be able to serve you best. So, once you’ve finalized your date, and booked your venue, start looking for all of those other vendors. I might be biased seeing as I am a wedding photographer, but you’re going to spend most of your wedding day with us hanging around. So it makes sense to start the search early on, and book them as soon as you can. Let me elaborate..
1. pick your date and book Your Venue First, Then find Your Photographer
Getting married at your dream venue is going to set your wedding date. And once that date is locked in, your next move should be booking your photographer. especially if having photos you love is a top priority.
Wedding photographers (especially the ones who only shoot a limited number of weddings per year) tend to book up pretty fast.
Think: prime Saturdays in the fall, popular venues, and long holiday weekends… these dates will disappear quickly.
Most of the couples I work with book about 12–18 months in advance, and I’m often turning away couples who reach out just a little too late for a peak date.
Planning a fall wedding next year? That means reaching out now not next spring.
2. You're Going to Spend Most of the Day With Your Photographer. you have to Make Sure You Actually Like Them.
This is the part that I feel like no one really talks about…or they don’t like to talk about it.
On your wedding day, you’ll spend more time with your photographer than almost anyone else. Even your partner, at times.
So beyond just loving their work, you want to feel comfortable around them. Make sure that you can be yourself. You want to make sure their energy is going to make the day smoother, not more stressful. I cannot express enough how important good energy is on a wedding day. What I mean by that, is, can they separate their outside life from their work? Its your freakin’ wedding. You don’t want someone around who’s going to be complaining about their at home drama the entire day.
One of my past couples put it this way:
“Neither of us are big fans of being in front of the camera, but Katy made it feel so natural. She has this amazing way of putting you at ease and making you feel like your best self.”
That kind of connection doesn’t happen by accident — and it’s way more likely when you book early, before your top-choice photographers are already taken.
3. So, When Should You Actually Book?
Here’s the timeline I recommend:
12–18 months before your wedding if you're planning during peak season or want a specific date.
9–12 months out if you’re flexible on the date, want your photographer first (I’ve had people book with me because they want to make sure I am available, and then they’ve picked a date LOL)
ASAP if you already have a venue + date because what else are you waiting for?!
Booking early gives you the most options, the least stress, and the best chance at finding someone you truly connect with, and who’s work you are literally obsessed with.
And when it’s done? You get to breathe a little easier knowing that one of the biggest pieces of your day is taken care of.
I hope this helped you out a bit, and maybe eased your mind, or made things a bit clearer for you. If you’ve got any questions, I’m always happy to chat and talk, even if I’m not the photographer for you. I’m just happy to help someone through the vetting process, because it can get overwhelming!
If you’ve gotten this far and you’re like damn, Katy sounds really cool, I think I might want her to be my wedding photographer…I’d absolutely LOVE to talk with you.