How to Book A Wedding Photographer

I take it for granted that the process to book a wedding photographer is very straightforward. It could be, but since this is most likely the very, very first time people have looked into the process of plunking down a sizable amount of money for photography services, it doesn't hurt to spell everything out.

Please note that I'm writing this as it pertains to booking me, so if you end up booking someone else, make sure you discuss everything clearly and spell everything out in the contract.

This is what usually happens:

1. Somehow the client happens upon my website and/or blog (through Google, Yelp, Facebook, or through a friend). They check out the photos and decide to find out whether I might be their wedding photographer. They send me an email (or fill out the contact form) to inquire.
2. Besides your names and contact information, the next most important information I need is your wedding date. People usually start contacting their wedding photographer at the beginning of the year of their wedding. Six months is a good amount of time before your wedding to book your photographer. Once I have the wedding date, I can tell the client immediately whether or not I'm available. No point in going further if I'm already booked on the same day.
   
3. After this initial point of contact, there are two routes this can take. (1) We hash everything out via email and phone calls and we decide whether or not to go forward. Since I have so many images online and a ton of info about me on my blog and my Facebook, I've booked quite a few weddings "sight unseen," and it's not uncommon. (Things are done electronically and through the mail. The first time I see the couple is for their engagement shoot.) (2) We meet up in person and discuss your wedding day in great detail. This is a great way to throw out any and all questions you may have about me, my photography, or just get suggestions on wedding planning as it pertains to the best photo opportunities. Couples go home armed with a ton of information and if they want to book me, I draft up the contract and we go from there.
4. Click here to view the sample contract that I use (PDF). I spell everything out: what I'm providing and when to expect pictures and products after your wedding day, when payments are due, etc. Everything is in there to cover all parties involved. The $500 deposit is due with the contract to secure your wedding day. And, as I stated before, I only shoot one wedding a day so I'm there when we designate the start time and if you need me to stay later, I'm usually more than happy to.
5. So after the contract has been signed, if the couple elected to have an engagement session, we schedule that at our convenience. Then, approximately two weeks before the wedding, I will contact the couple to either get all the information they have regarding the event. This can happen electronically or with a scheduled sit-down chat. The remainder of the fees are due a week before the wedding.
6. [This is where the wedding happens, you're having a ball and getting married! And I'm there to document it all.]
7. As soon as the photos are ready, I notify you via email with a link to the online gallery. And then I deliver the DVD. If you ordered - or want to order - an album, we'll sit down to discuss which images you must have in there, and I'll build the design around it. You get final approval of the design (if you want to) before I send it off to the printers. Anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks after I send it off, you'll have your amazing album in hand.
8. And what's the next step? If you have kids or just next year around Christmas time or summer time, you'll give me a call to set up a portrait session. I want to build life long relationships with my clients and provide products and services that warrant referrals and repeat-business.

There it is! If you have any questions, please feel free to email or call. I hope you've found this helpful. (: