When should you hire your wedding photographer?

When clients ask, "How soon should we book you?” we always say when you know, let us know! This is one of those cases where the sooner the better really applies, especially if you want to do an engagement shoot and use the photos for engagement announcements, save the dates, guest books, and more!

Samples of products printed from engagement sessions
Samples of products we can order using photos from your engagement session.

According to WeddingWire, you should book your wedding photographer 12+ months before your wedding date (or basically as soon as possible). We find our couples tend to book 9+ months out and consider photography an investment and a priority. However, if you plan on getting married on a holiday, you should book at least a year out, because those dates fill up fast. Especially if those holidays are New Year’s Eve, Memorial Day weekend, July 4th, or Labor Day weekend. Also take into consideration the popularity of the season you plan to marry. In New England, September and fall in general is an extremely popular time for weddings. Year after year, those weekends usually book up first! Some wedding photographers (like us!) guarantee their couples undivided attention and only photograph one wedding per day - so once they are booked, they are booked!

collage of photographers in action during an engagement session
Collage of Paul and I in action during engagement sessions.

Do not worry if you have got a short engagement, either. Love stops for no man or woman, right!? It is not unusual for couples not to have long engagements, especially if they have been cohabitating for years. So long as there is availability on your wedding date, we will be there, whether it is two years out or two days out. If you are struggling to find a venue or vendors with a quick turnaround time, we can even suggest fellow professionals we work with regularly and know to have availability on your date.

Collage of photos of a wedding photographer with her clients
Some photos of us with the clients we have photographed over the years.

So, when planning your wedding, regardless of how long your engagement is, keep in mind hiring a wedding photographer should be among the first things on your wedding planning to-do list, right up there with finding your venue! Your photographer and venue both provide you with clearer timelines for your wedding day, which will help you when hiring florists, caterers, and rental companies later in the process. If you ever have any questions, or you are unsure what to do, do not be afraid to ask! Wedding photographers are professionals and do this all the time, we are here to help you!

Interested in discussing your wedding plans with us? Shoot us a message, we'd love to hear from you!

Photo of an engagement photographer taking a clients photo
Nicole is action during Matt and Kristen's engagement session.