Read now →

What You Should
Know About
Disposable Cameras

Featured Post

Recent Posts:

Keep reading →

Based in vivid New Orleans, I am a wedding and couples photographer capturing the honest, intimate, and unforgettable moments. I hope you enjoy some of my most recent adventures and stories worth sharing!

I’m Olivia.

Hello!

Building Trust with Your Wedding Photographer

February 18, 2022

Filed under:

Choosing your wedding photographer is a big commitment because they’re the only vendor who will be present with you for the bulk of your wedding day. You don’t want to feel like strangers to one another when they show up. By building a trusting relationship with couples, I’ve found that I make them feel known and cared for. Building trust with your wedding photographer is everything.

wedding portrait in French Quarter

Why Trusting Your Wedding Photographer Matters

All the reasons you need to build trust with your wedding photographer come down to three main ideas.

wedding photographer getting ready
getting ready location
first look

1. Your photos will be better.

If you and your wedding photographer build a trusting relationship, your images will be higher quality. As an experienced photographer, I help couples with all kinds of decisions. I can advise them on their timeline, how to optimize lighting, and where to do portraits. 

wedding photographer with couple
first look
wedding photographer

The quality of a photo isn’t limited to the actual composition or aesthetic. In my eyes, how you feel when you look at them determines their quality. Did you feel cared for and known during our time together? Maybe you mentioned how important it was to you that your grandma could attend your wedding, and I captured a loving exchange between the two of you. Because we built trust and you let me in, I was able to capture a moment you’ll cherish forever. 

vow exchange
private vows with wedding photographer

2. You can give each other feedback.

If you and your wedding photographer trust each other, there’s room for feedback from both of you. You may be unsure about what you want in which case your photographer can give suggestions. On the other hand, you may have some hard boundaries. You should be able to assert them and trust your wedding photographer to respect them while you’re working together.

walking to the wedding venue
horse and carriage
wedding photographer with flower girl

Once you and your photographer have established a rapport, they may make suggestions about your timeline or some other aspect of your wedding day. Because you trust them, you’ll be more open to their ideas with the understanding that they’re on your side. The suggestion comes out of a desire for you to have the best experience possible rather than to make things more convenient for them.

the groom sees the bride
bridesmaids

3. You’ll feel your most confident.

On your wedding day, you should be able to show up with absolutely no reservations about your wedding photographer or the experience you’ll have being photographed. You should be able to stay present in your day with the full confidence that your photographer will work hard to capture who you are and what really matters throughout your day. I pour out so much creativity and care when photographing couples. Because we build trust first, they don’t spend any energy worrying over their photos.

Riverview Room wedding
wedding photographer at Riverview Room
rooftop wedding

How I Build Trust with Couples

I use four strategies to build trust with couples before their wedding days arrive. By the time their wedding day rolls around, a couple and I feel like we know each other.

Riverview Room wedding reception

I send questionnaires.

I send couples at least three questionnaires from the time they book until their wedding day. The first questionnaire asks basic onboarding questions about preferred communication style, what support looks like to you, big picture ideas about your wedding, and what you value in your photography. Later on I send a more in-depth questionnaire asking people about themselves as individuals and a couple. 

first dance with wedding photographer
wedding reception dancing

The final questionnaire gets the wedding day details. About six weeks before the wedding, I ask you for specific information about the timeline but also contextual information that will help me better support you as your wedding photographer. I ask what’s stressing you out, what you’re looking forward to, and which moments and details are important for your photography.

the bride at the Riverview Room
wedding photographer at the reception

We do an engagement session.

Doing an engagement session prior to the wedding has a lot of perks beyond save the dates. It allows a couple to get to know me before the wedding day. Having a relative stranger show up on one of the most important days of their lives would hardly be comfortable. This way couples can feel what it’s like to be photographed and get comfortable with it. We always leave feeling excited for the wedding day.

sparkler exit with wedding photographer

We can schedule calls.

Open and clear communication is the cornerstone of trust. I offer couples opportunities for phone or video calls. Many couples find they want to have conversations around building their timelines and finalizing their day-of details. While these calls aren’t required, they offer that much more space for us to build rapport while I support couples in a way that is useful to them.

wedding exit with sparklers and wedding photographer
rain at the Riverview Room wedding

We follow each other on social media. 

This might seem trivial, but it really makes a difference. I follow the couples I work with on social media, and I encourage them to follow me as well. It gives us both access into each other’s day to day lives and humanizes us for each other.

couple dancing in the rain with wedding photographer

Are you interested in having me be your wedding photographer? I would love to get to know you and make you feel seen in your photos. Reach out today!

Contact Me →

Have questions or ready to inquire? I’d love to hear from you. Head over to my contact page, send me a message, and you’ll hear from me within 2-3 business days!

Get in Touch

Visit the portfolio →

Want to see more? Visit my portfolio page to check out some recent couples and families I’ve had the privilege to work with. 

Explore the Portfolio

Right This Way →

Interested in seeing what I offer and how much it’ll cost? Jump over to my Pricing page to get an idea of what I offer and what a typical investment looks like.

View My Services

Where to next?