What to expect when choosing a Charlotte luxury wedding photographer
A stress free, elevated wedding day starts with high quality vendors who put client experience and customer service first. When you’re searching for Charlotte wedding photographers who offer a bespoke and luxury experience, there are certain industry standards to look for.
Here’s what to expect from a high end wedding photographer before, during and after your wedding day.
Charlotte Luxury wedding photographers: what to expect before booking
Ask all the photographers you interview what their booking and payment process is like and look out for any red flags. It is also helpful to view a full wedding gallery. Any photographer can pull together a highlight reel — but does the full day look consistent? Do the images still look cohesive and artistic when the lighting is not perfect?
A free consultation call
Before booking, a high quality wedding photographer should offer multiple opportunities to book a call. It’s important to get on a face to face call before booking so you both can feel the fit. Your wedding photographer is one of the most central vendors to your day and this allows you to feel confident about how their presence will make you feel the day of your wedding. Remember, you are inviting this person to bear witness to one of the most intimate days of your life. It’s important you feel comfortable with them and relaxed about their presence. A face to face call also gives you a chance to ask questions directly, and inquire about customizations.
2. A custom proposal
On the call, make sure to ask about available add ons. You might need or want additional coverage hours, a bridal portrait session, rehearsal dinner coverage or a post wedding package. A luxury wedding photographer will have add-on options that cover all your needs, and will include them in your final proposal to review.
3. A smooth booking and payment process
All Charlotte luxury wedding photographers will have a smooth booking and payment process. You should both be able to review and sign your contract and proposal, as well as transfer payment digitally.
Leading up to the wedding day: what to expect after booking and before your day
Building rapport through the entire booked to wedding day process should be your photographer’s primary goal. Clear touch points and evident planning should be obvious early in the process. When you’re interviewing photographers, look for these things in their process:
Multiple touch points
Before your wedding day, a high quality wedding photographer will have multiple touch points with you and/or your wedding planner. It should be clear that your photographer has a system where everything is organized and kept.
2. Vetted preferred vendor list
Experienced luxury wedding photographers will likely have a list of quality vendors they can refer you to. Ask each photographer what their local network is like, and the list of other vendors they know and trust.
3. Planning meetings
Luxury wedding photography has a lot to do with how prepared your photographer is for your day, and how calm and relaxed they are in a situation with multiple variables, such as your wedding day. This leads to a seamless experience where nothing is missed. It should never feel like they plan to show up on your wedding day and wing it.
4. Timeline suggestions based on light
Your photographer should be able to communicate with your wedding planner, and work together to build out a timeline that optimizes the best light of the day for your most important portraits. A photographer can also assist in choosing your ceremony spot based on where the sun will be if you are having an outdoor ceremony.
5. Engagement or other pre-wedding session
A great experience with your photographer comes down to how comfortable you all feel together. When you’re interviewing luxury wedding photographers, look out for pre-wedding sessions as add-ons or built into their packages. These sessions are a great way to get a feel for working together long before your wedding day. It helps break the ice and make sure you don’t feel like strangers the day of!
The wedding day: what to expect
Make sure to read photographer reviews. Luxury wedding photographers should have glowing, 5-star testimonials that emphasize service, personality and quality.
Look for things that indicate the photographer works smoothly with the rest of your vendor team. It should be obvious they are always there at every step to make sure you’re relaxed and in the moment.
On the wedding day, their emotional intelligence should lead the way. They should be able to adapt seamlessly to every environment. They should take control when appropriate, and fade to fly on the wall status when needed.
After the wedding day: what to expect
Your experience doesn’t end after the dance floor clears! A good luxury wedding photographer should have a clear post wedding day process. There should be clear deadlines for gallery delivery and helpful consultations for prints and other keepsakes.
Sneak Peeks
Luxury service means quality AND speed. Ask photographers what their sneak peek preview is like - if they offer one. You should receive a handful of photos covering key moments throughout the day to share while the energy is still high. The rest of your images you’ll receive at a later date.
2.Print & Album Consultations
Your photographer should know how to help with prints and album designs. It’s industry standard now that you are provided a private online gallery with digital copies and integrated options for printed keepsakes.
3. A lasting relationship for all the life moments to come
When reading through past client reviews, look for repeat clients. It says a lot about a photographer when clients come back long after their wedding day for maternity, family and other life milestone sessions.
Hi, I’m Kelsey!
I’m a Charlotte wedding photographer. I wrote this blog so I could share what a great luxury wedding photography should look and feel like.
It’s my number one goal that every one of my clients receive the most stress free and helpful experience possible.
While you’re searching for a photographer, keep these points in mind as the standard for quality service.