10 Wedding Photography Myths REVEALED!

I wanted to share 10 wedding photography misconceptions and myths I hear consistently mentioned as a concern or question from some couples; chances are you’ve heard some of them and maybe even thought they were true!

I hope this helps debunk some of the common misconceptions surrounding wedding photos and the best way to achieve genuine, candid and fun photos of you and your person, on your best day ever (so far)!

MYTH #1: You need to have your venue booked and the exact date before reaching out for your wedding photography.

Absolutely not! It’s always super helpful if you have a date so I can confirm availability on my calendar, but about 10% of my couples (and even more now that so many weddings have moved to 2021/2022) will reach out super early on in their process while they are still searching for the perfect venue and we will work concurrently. Booking your favorite vendors early is never a bad idea, especially vendors that can only take on 1 wedding per day.

MYTH #2: You need to have the same number of attendants on each side of your wedding party.

Nope, I guarantee the only person who will notice and be stressed over this is you. Please don’t worry about it from a symmetry perspective in the photos… asymmetry is always more fun and interesting compositionally!

MYTH #3: Your photographer needs to have photographed at your venue previously.

Some of my best images are those that I have photographed at a venue I was at for the first time and had the ability to flex my creativity. Just because I haven’t photographed a wedding there yet, doesn’t mean your wedding will be the first time I am there… hey, hello, hi: site visits are my fave thing. Also, just because I may have photographed at a venue previously doesn’t mean your wedding will be exactly the same… weather, personalities and season all play into how the photos end up!

MYTH #4: We don’t need engagement photos because my dad/uncle/mom’s best friend is a photographer in their free time and took a few photos for us already.

Unless they will be taking your wedding photos, I personally believe (and know from experience!) that there is a tremendous amount of value found in having your actual wedding photographer take photos of you prior to the wedding day… trust and confidence really only come from spending time together. And unless you’re models, having more focused time rehearsing in front of the camera prior to your wedding is only going to make that day more fun and relaxed!

MYTH #5: We don’t need engagement photos because we’re awkward around the camera.

You’re not awkward, you just need a confidence boost and the right amount of guided direction… that’s where I come in. PRO TIP: working out any insecurities and anxiety about being in front of the camera is best done months in advance of your wedding day. 😉

MYTH #6: We’ve been to friends’ weddings where the newlyweds will go off and be gone for hours taking photos. We’re concerned we will be away from our guests for that long and miss the party.

Totally get it and fully support this! The best way to ensure that you’re fully present for all of the fun is to plan a first look, seeing each other before the ceremony… it’s the best way to get 95% of all of your photos (you + your partner’s portraits, the wedding party and family!) done early.

MYTH #7: I should share a shot list with my photographer.

After documenting weddings for close to 10 years, I can assure you that I know all of the moments you are going to want to have captured. If there is a special dance or speech/toast/detail that is unique to you and your family, please definitely let me know about it… but I don’t need a shot list of all the basics. For family portraits, I will ask you to provide me with a list of names based on the standard list I’ll share with you as a starting point for the combinations of family members I usually take.

MYTH #8: The photos I see on a photographer’s social media and website are a good indication of the photos I’ll receive on my wedding day.

Not necessarily! If you’re researching wedding photographers, you should absolutely make sure to ask to see at least one full gallery (2-3 are even better!) to see the complete story of a wedding day as told by that photographer; this includes cocktail hour photos, family portraits and all the dancing shots… those are the types of photos that don’t usually make it onto social media or a website, since they’re not always in ideal lighting conditions like a first look or golden hour would be. But, that doesn’t mean they are any less important and don’t need to be documented well! Seeing a full gallery also gives you the opportunity to ensure that the editing and documentation style is consistent throughout the day.

MYTH #9: We don’t need a wedding planner / coordinator because my venue has one.

FALSE! Don’t be fooled by this… and don’t get me wrong. Venue coordinators are wonderful and valuable but they are not there to help you in any way, they are there to make sure everything at the venue functions the way it’s supposed to. They won’t setup your candles or table centerpieces, they won’t coordinate your timeline with all of your vendor team in advance and they won’t make sure your guests stay out of the reception space during cocktail hour so that your photographers can get a beautiful photo of the space while it’s freshly setup and untouched. And this is just a start to the list of all the benefits to having a devoted wedding planner whose job it is to make sure YOU have your best day ever… if everything goes well… but more importantly, when things go wrong.

Trust me on this! I’ve seen DJ’s and caterers get lost or stuck in traffic and arrive hours late… I’ve seen groomsmen with mismatched pants who didn’t realize it until they were literally putting their pants on that day… I’ve seen hair/makeup timelines fall way behind… and all of these issues were quickly resolved by the planner rather than the couple or a family member.

MYTH #10: We don’t need or want that many photos of us getting ready… can you arrive right before our first look or ceremony?

I could, but I truly believe that my job is to tell the full story of your day and not just the big, expected moments. I live for documenting the unique and unexpected moments! The getting ready moments and all the details you’ve worked hard to curate together are equally part of your story and help to set the tone and create context for the rest of the day. The additional benefit to having me there while you’re getting ready, is that it allows your immediate family and wedding party to meet me before the day officially is underway. There is a trust and comfort level that quickly develops once we’ve spent some time together and I think that is extremely valuable!

I hope this was helpful and give you a bit of insight into some of the lesser known but very important things to consider when it comes to achieving candid and natural wedding photographs with a photojournalistic feel!

Any questions, comment below or send me an email – I’m always happy to help if I can!

xo,
Naomi