Q: What is the biggest mistake couples make?
answers:
4 Videos
VIDEO SUMMARY
I would highly, highly recommend not doing this.
One of the biggest mistakes that I see a bridesmaid that breaks my heart is that they don’t try on their wedding gown when they pick it up from their seamstress.
So, hands down, the biggest mistake that I see couples making with wedding photography is hiring a friend to do it.
Something that happens over and over and over that I’ve seen over the last 20 years. We hire a stylist for a job interview or for going on that podcast or TV show or what have you. But are you hiring a professional virtual stylist for your wedding day?
VIDEO SUMMARY
Here’s why this is so important and so overlooked. At the end of the day, weddings over all the memories are there. What’s left? The portrait hanging on the wall. And what is that portrait? That portrait is about not only the emotions that you feel through that picture, but what the style is. Bridesmaids, Moms, tuxes… that style needs to be translated onto your photography.
And I’ve seen it time and time again where brides afterwards like, Oh, I made a mistake. I wish I would have seen this in a photo differently or I wish I would have picked something else different for my girls.
Hire a pro. Hire someone like myself to help you through the bridal imagery. How to save money on those things and how to not get hooked by all of the information that does happen. It’s natural.
So hire a pro to help you with your style.
ABOUT THIS WEDDING PRO
Emmily Bonura
Stylist
It all started in a hotel room in LA, there I was, watching a video of my best friend officiat a micro wedding. I was bawling with such overwhelming joy and love and in that moment my entire life flashed before my eyes and I realized everything God had been preparing me for was very clear.
Welcome to my dream, my purpose, my passion…
Weddings have been in my DNA since the beginning, my very first job at 16 was a bridal stylist and I have dabbled in almost every category in the wedding industry possible including gown design, floral design, tablescape design, interior design, landscape/architecture as a hobby, and even photography, ohhh and coffee (wait, I guess coffee is not related to weddings, ops!)
CHECK OUT MORE FROM Emmily Bonura
VIDEO SUMMARY
I know everyone has a friend that’s a photographer, says they’re a photographer, but I think even if you’re hiring a friend who might be an incredible photographer, I would highly, highly recommend not doing this.
I had a couple of friends. They hired their friend. She said she could give them a good deal, but when they got the photos, they were actually displeased with them and added a lot of tension in the friendship. You trusted your friend to photographed your wedding day, and then your friend kind of screwed it up or didn’t deliver what you were hoping for.
Honestly, it’s just better to hire a professional and it’s going to leave you a lot happier at the end of the experience and they don’t do a good job.
You can leave them a nasty review on Yelp. You can’t do that with a friend.
ABOUT THIS WEDDING PRO
CHARLES MOLL
Photographer
Hi, I’m Charles, but my friends call me CJ or Chuck and I am not your typical wedding photographer. I am a true storyteller. I love the beauty of simple moments and the joy of the every day. I am a husband, musician, fly-fisherman, aspiring chef, and weight lifter. I am a Montana wedding Photographer. I’ve won some awards, (Bozemans choice, best of weddings, couples choice, wpja diamond award to name a few). I have the best job in the world and would be honored to be part of your wedding day.
CHECK OUT MORE FROM CHARLES MOLL
VIDEO SUMMARY
If any work was done at your previous fitting or even if it wasn’t, try that gown on before you take it.
You never know if perhaps some of the work wasn’t done correctly or if you’ve gained a little weight or lost a little bit of weight. You don’t want surprises on your wedding day. And one of the only ways to ensure that is to make sure that you’re trying it on at your final stay.
And another pro tip, you never want to have your final fitting more than two weeks prior to your wedding.
ABOUT THIS WEDDING PRO
BETH CHAPMAN
Stylist
Beth Chapman has adored fashion and weddings from a young age and always knew she wanted to build a fulfilling career that combined them both. Originally dreaming she’d become a gown designer, her lack of sketching skills led her to another reality: translating inspiration into curated wedding looks as an expert in the bridal fashion industry.
After graduating from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Business and Fashion Merchandising, Beth joined the corporate team at Ann Taylor. There, she worked her way up and became the Vice President of Merchandising. In this role, she honed her eye and developed a deep understanding of garment fit and construction. She decided to bring her expertise to the wedding space by opening a bridal boutique, The White Dress by the Shore.
Beth met countless brides in the store who were confused about where to shop, the silhouettes that best highlighted their body type, and fabric styles that were most appropriate for their venue. Her brides also expressed great anxiety around day-of fashion emergencies. Beth recognized the need for styling assistance before shopping began, as well as a skillful dresser to be present on the wedding day. With her compassionate attitude, expert knowledge, and years of experience, she is the perfect fashion fairy godmother to fill that need.
An avid admirer of stripes, bows, and all things Carolina Herrera, Beth is known for her exquisite personal and professional style. Her love of travel provides endless inspiration, as she is enamored by fashion around the globe. Closer to home, she is influenced by historical costumes in period pieces.
Beth is a frequent contributor on CT LIVE and WTNH NEWS, and has also been featured on the TODAY SHOW. She has co-authored two books, The White Dress in Color and The White Dress Destinations. As well, Beth is an educator and honored speaker within her industry, supporting fellow independent bridal salon owners through The White Dress Society, an organization that she founded.
When she’s not working, Beth can be found taking a Peloton class or enjoying time with her husband, two children, and fur baby, Koda.
CHECK OUT MORE FROM BETH CHAPMAN
2 comments
I have been asked this so many times... does the wedding industry inflate prices when they hear it's a wedding?
Here is my honest answer (as a former wedding photographer)... NO. Did I charge more for a wedding than a 50th birthday party or a family portrait session? Yes, absolutely. I charged A LOT more for a wedding.
Was I taking advantage of the emotional sell? Absolutely not.
The main reasons I charged more for a wedding were: the unseen amount of work involved in the 12+ months leading up to the wedding, the skill level needed on the day, the INTENSE pressure to create perfect "portfolio level work" no matter what the reality of the situation- but mostly it is to compensate for the time AFTER the wedding in post production.
Little known fact about wedding photography - the real job is sitting at a computer editing photos. Photographers spend many hours behind the computer carefully selecting and editing photos. They make adjustments, crop, and adjust colors to ensure each image it's best. Don't forget the time it takes for batching, renaming, importing, exporting and uploading the photos and preparing them for delivery.
Do you think this justifies why photographers charge more for weddings than for other types of shoots?
Couldn’t agree more! And on the videography side its an absolute ton of data + editing discipline.
Its a double sided coin- weddings are extremely high pressure but also high reward when we nail it.
Our products (photo video) in particular are the only thing that genuinely will last forever . Having fun and ALSO nailing the product is worth the price of entry and frankly more.