Since January 4 (which was the day most of you went back to work after your holiday breaks), the inquiries have been flooding in. Since so many people get engaged over the holidays each year (yay!), there is always lots of interest right after the first of the year.

Some wedding vendors call it “engagement season.” I think it’s exciting. One thing we take for granted as wedding vendors, however, is that we do this every year. The people inquiring about packages and availability are doing this for their first (and only) time. Ever, for most of them.

So I thought it might be helpful to share some tips with all of you freshly-engaged guys and gals about how this all works (or should work) and how to get the most out of this time of fierce planning and anticipation.

When do I hire a wedding photographer?

A wedding photographer is a big piece of the planning process that is your wedding — I’m not just saying that because it’s what I am (honest!) — it’s really true. As such, it should be part of the first wave of arrangements you make for your big day.

You have to start with the venue, logically, because until you have it reserved, you can’t be 100% sure of your date. Then once you’ve got that nailed down, start your search. When you find a wedding photographer you love, book them before they can fill your date with someone else’s wedding.

Note: This is especially important for brides getting married in July and August. There are only nine weekends this year in that range, and tons and tons of people who want to get married then because of the usually-stellar Oregon and Washington weather.

How do I choose a wedding photographer?

It can be daunting to start out fresh searching for a photographer for your wedding. Instead of taking it to the gods of the Google search right away, try talking to your friends. Think about people you know who got married in the last several years and ask them what their experience was like. If they had a great one, they may recommend their photographer. If not, you’ll know who to steer clear of. Your wedding coordinator will probably also have some suggestions for you.

All that said, you want to find a photographer whose style you love, since that style will undoubtedly find its way into your photos. Once you’ve found one or two that you want to check out, let them know you’re interested and ask for pricing information, to make sure their vision is in line with your budget.

I wrote another advice post about a year ago about how to choose the right wedding photographer for you, so if you haven’t read that, check it out by clicking here.

What’s the process of hiring a wedding photographer?

This one differs just slightly from photographer to photographer, but let me give you the basic rundown, which I am taking from my own business, my fellow photographers’ businesses and my experience trying to hire one of my own back when I was a bride.

This process usually starts with you reaching out to the photographer and letting them know you’re interested, and asking for information about their packages.

Remember that when you contact a photographer to ask about availability, they’re going to give you the most up-to-date information, but it has a short shelf-life. In a month where there are thousands of people planning their weddings and asking vendors about their availability, there is a high chance that there will be others asking about your date (although many photographers, like myself, will call and give you the first right to the date in the event that someone else does want it).

Some people choose to book right away, but most people prefer to meet face-to-face with their photographer (when possible) to get a feel for what they do and how easy they are to get along with, as well as seeing some of their offerings and products in person. Then you’ll usually have a chance to sign a contract and put down a deposit to secure your date, which I’d recommend doing just as soon as you know you want to hire this person.

What if they’re already booked?

If you have your heart set on a photographer and someone beat you to the punch on your date, it can be a terrible feeling. But photographers (at least here in the Pacific Northwest) are part of a supportive community and most photographers you love will be able to point you toward someone who has a similar style and pricing options. Ask the booked photographer if they can recommend someone they’d trust and you’ll most likely get a great recommendation.

Enjoy your time out there planning and have fun! I remember how fun it was to be planning my own wedding a couple of years ago and I can’t wait to see what all you engaged couples come up with this year.

I wanted to take one more day to share with you some brilliant ideas I saw this year between all the weddings I attended, plus some ideas on how to improve on those ideas for 2010 weddings and beyond. Let’s just jump right back in!

2009 Trend: A Splash of Color

I’ve got to admit, there’s not a whole lot more fun as a wedding photographer (especially in Portland, where we have more than our share of dreary days) to show up to a wedding and see bright pops of color. I saw quite a few fun, colorful touches at weddings this year, like Anna and Alex’s purple decorations (above left) and Anna’s brilliant, bright bouquet (above right). Below left is Jody and Jeremy’s Tiffany-blue cake (complete with bling) and below right is one of Shannon and TJ’s bright bouquets — there were a whole array of them in peaches, pinks and purples and all were handmade by Shannon’s amazing mom.

Make it 2010: Go for the cool combination

I’m all in favor of keeping the color in 2010 weddings — I say the more, the better. It shows such a vibrant side and definitely looks great in photographs. This year, why not think outside the box with the actual combinations of color? Take your color cues from unusual sources or play around with an application like kuler from Adobe to come up with something unexpected. My vote? A rich turquoise with mustard yellow and purple accents. Think jewel tones. And after you’ve picked those colors, please call me. I want to photograph all that color.

2009 Trend: Unique locations for portraits

I had several couples this year set aside time for an extended portrait session on their big day away from the action. In Jody and Jeremy’s case, we took a walk in cute downtown Centralia and they danced in the middle of an abandoned street. Below, TJ and his groomsmen taking a jump on a cool bridge in Bothell Landing, a few miles from the wedding site. I loved these opportunities to incorporate a new location into the wedding-day photos, and they also gave the bride and groom a few minutes to play and have fun without the wedding coordinator, minister or mom rushing or stressing them.

Make it 2010: Bring in some contrast

There are so many options of places to go on your wedding day (if you set aside the time — that’s key). But where to go? I’d love some big-time contrast between the sites. Say for example that your 2010 wedding will be held at a country club with very formal, traditional touches throughout. Why not escape beforehand and take some photos in an industrial setting, or sharing a milkshake at a local diner down the road? If the wedding is country, go urban. If the wedding is on the beach under the wide open sky, why not opt to go inside somewhere for a more cozy setting? The variety is endless here — use your imagination.

2009 Trend: No matching!

It’s been cool for a little while now not to make your bridesmaids matchy-matchy. Alisia did it subtly (above left) by putting her bridesmaids in the same color, but drastically different styles. Andrea told her bridesmaids (below, shoes above right) to wear gold, yellow and brown. That was the only guideline. Didn’t they come out cool? When you don’t force your bridesmaids to match, you’re likely to have happier friends plus they end up in things that set them apart as individuals instead of lumping them together.

Make it 2010: Keep one element consistent

By keeping one element the same, you identify these wonderful women as your attendants, but you still don’t stifle their individuality. For instance, what if they’re all wearing the same dress but you tell them to wear their own shoes, and to think unique! You could end up with a variety of jewel-toned and bright shoes while still maintaining an air of uniformity. Uniting with color is a good way to do this, just make sure you’ve picked a color that’s standard (like the blue dresses above) or that will be OK even if all the shades aren’t the same (like with Andrea’s yellows, golds and browns). Or how’s this for a new one — have custom headpieces with flowers, feathers etc. made for each girl that will unify the group, but then let them wear whatever dress they want in a certain color family.

2009 Trend: Early send-off

Two of the couples I worked with this year did one of those traditional send-offs in a way that doesn’t happen much anymore — they did it in the middle of the celebration. For Andrea and Paul (above left), they were announced into the reception hall and welcomed with bubbles, and Annie and Dan (right) were showered with bubbles on their way from the church to the reception (in her dad’s 56 Cadillac convertible, no less). These worked great because everyone who was there for the celebration was still present, so it made these send-offs much more impressive (not to mention photo-worthy). I loved these moments!

Make it 2010: Think outside the box

I totally advocate for newly married couples to do a send-off (or a welcome, or whatever you want to call it) in the middle of the celebration — ideal timing is between the ceremony and reception. But why not incorporate something new? Try having your guests sprinkle flower petals or paper confetti in your wedding colors, or go old school with birdseed (check with your venue, some won’t allow it). Why not have your sendoff through a tunnel of people with big palm leaves, forming a roof on the tunnel? With a little imagination, this age-old moment could be really new and modern.

I hope this week has given you newly-engaged  couples lots of food for thought! It’s been really fun reliving some of the fun celebrations I got to attend last year, and it makes me so excited for what’s to come this year! Next week on the blog I’ll be sharing some fun portrait sessions, including one with my favorite floral designer!

The last year was so much fun — many of my weekends I filled with wonderful celebrations of love, and I was so inspired by not only the romance, but the ingenious ideas that people implemented into their celebrations. Since it’s that time of year when there is a whole new crop of couples planning their nuptials, I thought I’d share my favorite ideas and details this year, along with some ideas for how to bring them up to speed for the new year.

2009 Trend: At-Home weddings

This year, I attended a few weddings held at private homes, and I loved the personal feeling at both of them. Kristi and Jason (above) got married and held a lovely reception at Kristi’s aunt’s home overlooking the ocean in Garibaldi, Oregon. Getting married at home means you don’t have to follow anyone’s rules for decorations or timelines, plus it’s a place that has history and sentimental value. Shannon and TJ’s backyard wedding (below) featured great details like Hawaiian juices and a whimsical tree strung with colorful ribbons.

Make it 2010: When dealing with an at-home wedding, you run the risk of a high stress level, but bringing in an outside wedding coordinator that can take the details off your plate and make sure the party runs as smoothly as possible, while allowing the homeowners to enjoy the party too, is a great move.

2009 Trend: Keep it classic

I saw some really beautiful classic details at the weddings I attended in 2009. Above left, Stefanie’s bouquet was a gorgeous white and green that lent a sophisticated vibe. On the right is Missy and Fred, with Missy’s classic white rose bouquet alongside her elegant gown. Going with classic, luxurious colors is a great way to create a timeless celebration. Below, Paul and Andrea’s classic golden chairs and crisp white table linens made for a sophisticated palette and Jody’s bridesmaid bouquets, below right, were such a soothing cream ensemble.

Make it 2010: Going classic is always in style. Make it very next year by incorporating clean, modern lines along with classic items like elegant, neutral-colored flowers and sleek chairs and tables. Or incorporate a sense of humor by putting a clever spin on your color scheme — mostly whites and cremes, for instance, with a few punches of color.

2009 Trend: Cupcakes

I saw tons of cupcakes this past year — delicious cupcakes, like Kristi and Jason’s chocolate and vanilla spread (above left) and Shannon and TJ’s collection of different flavors from Trophy Cupcakes in Seattle (above right).

Make it 2010: Cupcakes are delicious and definitely a fun way to incorporate some fun into your celebration. But why stop there? A dessert spread with cupcakes, mini pies, eclairs and more goodies could make for a really bright, exciting display that will give everyone something they love for dessert.

2009 Trend: Handmade Details

Andrea and Paul’s wedding (above) had some great handmade touches, from their Star Wars pins to their Etsy-made cake topper featuring birds modeled after Paul & Andrea themselves. 2009 was most definitely the year of the Etsy wedding, and it’s a trend I totally support — the ingenuity on that site is amazing.

Make it 2010: Team up with different creative people to make your celebration amazing, but don’t just look on Etsy. Here in the Pacific Northwest, there are so many amazing small, locally-owned boutiques and artisans, look right into your own backyard as well. Finding a great piece can be design inspiration for your entire event.

Tune in on Thursday for more real-world inspiration for 2010!

This is a post I wrote last year about how to go about choosing a wedding photographer. I got a lot of response to the post before, so I figured it would be a big help in “engagement season” for those of you who are currently shopping around. These are my thoughts, both from my experience as a wedding photographer an as a bride, on how to find the photographer that’s a great match for you.

There’s a certain kind of person that is my ideal client, based on what I offer and what I value. So here are the things that I think everyone should consider when shopping for a photographer, and a few things I think you should worry less about.

Important: Style

The style of a photographer affects everything. One photographer may pose you as a couple before taking shots and the other may document you interacting with each other from a distance. There are “traditional” wedding photographers, there are wedding photojournalists, there are those who process their photos in a muted-color, very “Martha Stewart” style and there are some who love the edgier look of a high-contrast photo. These styles and many, many more exist out there. There is no right answer. The right answer for you is the photos you like the most. If you see a photo on a photographer’s web site that you think you’d hang on your wall, that’s a good sign they’re a good fit for you.

Important: Personality

It’s true that on your wedding day, you’ll probably spend more time with the photographer than you will with your new spouse. So it’s pretty darn important that you get along.

Pick someone you’d be friends with otherwise, someone who gets you and who you don’t mind spending lots of time with. If you feel uncomfortable around them, head for the hills. This chemistry between photographer and client really is key – key to great pictures (no one looks beautiful when they’re tense!) and to happy, drama-free memories of your wedding day.

Not-so-important: Experience

I am not arguing that experience doesn’t matter. It does matter. But sometimes clients put too much emphasis on this when searching for a photographer.

You absolutely need a photographer who knows their equipment inside and out and has photographed weddings before. But they needn’t have been shooting weddings for years; in fact, I know some really talented photographers who are in their first or second year in wedding photography. Sometimes they have the freshest ideas, and they haven’t gotten too comfortable in their routine.

Not-too-important: Equipment

Sure, you don’t want to pay someone good money, then have them show up with a dinky point-and-shoot camera. But one of the overarching truths of photography is this: a camera does not make a photographer. Many wedding couples think that since their Uncle Bob bought a big honkin’ SLR, that he’d be a good candidate to photograph their wedding. But they’d most often be wrong. A good wedding photographer is someone who can take a stunning picture with a Polaroid camera if they need to. The tools help, but it’s the photographer’s eye you’re paying for.

In the end, it’s going to come down to what’s important to you and what you really want from your wedding photographer. Sit down with your fiance and discuss these factors before you start shopping, and you’ll know what you’re looking for once you get out there. Good luck!

I just wanted to give blog readers a heads-up to an article I wrote for The Wedding Guide of Europe, which is a great site if you live in Europe or are planning your wedding there. Click here to read about what your options are for hiring a destination wedding photographer!

I think that in the course of an average week, I see at least five of these posts all over photographer’s blogs, wedding sites etc. Many of them say the same things, and what I’ve discovered is that many of them are written based on the photographer’s own strengths. I’ll admit, I drafted a post like this where after reading it, you’d think I was the best wedding photographer for everyone. But here’s the real truth: I’m not!

There’s a certain kind of person that is my ideal client, based on what I offer and what I value. So here are the things that I think everyone should consider when shopping for a photographer, and a few things I think you should worry less about.

Important: Style

The style of a photographer affects everything. One photographer may pose you as a couple before taking shots and the other may document you interacting with each other from a distance. There are “traditional” wedding photographers, there are wedding photojournalists, there are those who process their photos in a muted-color, very “Martha Stewart” style and there are some who love the edgier look of a high-contrast photo. These styles and many, many more exist out there. There is no right answer. The right answer for you is the photos you like the most. If you see a photo on a photographer’s web site that you think you’d hang on your wall, that’s a good sign they’re a good fit for you.

Important: Personality

It’s true that on your wedding day, you’ll probably spend more time with the photographer than you will with your new spouse. So it’s pretty darn important that you get along.

Pick someone you’d be friends with otherwise, someone who gets you and who you don’t mind spending lots of time with. If you feel uncomfortable around them, head for the hills. This chemistry between photographer and client really is key – key to great pictures (no one looks beautiful when they’re tense!) and to happy, drama-free memories of your wedding day.

Not-so-important: Experience

I am not arguing that experience doesn’t matter. It does matter. But sometimes clients put too much emphasis on this when searching for a photographer.

You absolutely need a photographer who knows their equipment inside and out and has photographed weddings before. But they needn’t have been shooting weddings for years; in fact, I know some really talented photographers who are in their first or second year in wedding photography. Sometimes they have the freshest ideas, and they haven’t gotten too comfortable in their routine.

Not-too-important: Equipment

Sure, you don’t want to pay someone good money, then have them show up with a dinky point-and-shoot camera. But one of the overarching truths of photography is this: a camera does not make a photographer. Many wedding couples think that since their Uncle Bob bought a big honkin’ SLR, that he’d be a good candidate to photograph their wedding. But they’d most often be wrong. A good wedding photographer is someone who can take a stunning picture with a Polaroid camera if they need to. The tools help, but it’s the photographer’s eye you’re paying for.

In the end, it’s going to come down to what’s important to you and what you really want from your wedding photographer. Sit down with your fiance and discuss these factors before you start shopping, and you’ll know what you’re looking for once you get out there. Good luck!