Choosing the right wedding photographer can be one of the most important decisions you'll make when planning your big day. You want to find someone who not only has a great eye for capturing the perfect moments but also someone who is reliable and trustworthy. You would also want someone who is skilled enough to adapt to the different scenarios of your wedding day. With the influx of self-taught photographers, it's essential to take the time to research and do your due diligence before booking a photographer. To make sure that you choose the right professional, here's the best tip for interviewing a wedding photographer.
Ask to see a full gallery with similar situations!
It's easy for photographers to showcase their best work on their website and social media platforms, but that doesn't necessarily mean you'll get the same results on your wedding day. What you see on social media may not reflect the whole story. It's essential to ask the photographer for a full gallery of photos that have similar scenarios and environments; these can be indoor or outdoor, low light, or a reception venue with no window light. This request is reasonable and will support your decision-making process.
Here are possible responses when making this request:
1. Refusal to offer a gallery.
Suppose the photographer declines to offer a gallery or says they don't have one to share. In that case, this is an immediate red flag that the photographer may not have the experience, skills, or might not have the best interest of your wedding day at heart.
2. Offers a gallery of images that closely match your request.
If the photographer doesn't have a gallery of images that perfectly match your request but offers something similar, that's an excellent sign that they are confident in their work and want to be transparent with you. Keep in mind, wedding venues can have several lighting situations or requirement - so an outdoor event isn't just one thing, ask if they can provide something close to your requests.
3. Gives a full gallery that matches your request.
When the photographer can provide you with a full gallery of images that closely match your situation, you can feel confident in your investment and that they can handle what's expected on your wedding day. You can evaluate the images and determine if you're happy with the technical expertise, the photography style, and the results.
Choosing the right wedding photographer can be challenging, but now that you are empowered with this information interviewing multiple candidates will lead you to the best decision. Asking for a full gallery that matches your wedding-day scenarios is an excellent way of vetting photographers against the conditions you expect on your big day. Following this advice will ensure that you get unforgettable photos that will last a lifetime. If you are interested in seeing a full gallery from Monica Dawn Photography inquire here.
Monica Dawn Photography specializes in timeless wedding photography in the Bay Area, including Napa, Sonoma, Pleasanton, Livermore, San Francisco, San Jose, Monterey and beyond.
Thank you so much for visiting! I would love to hear more about your special day. Each wedding and engagement experience is unique and the images created reflects that individual attention. I hope to ease any nerves you may have about being in front of the camera and create a space to free fall into the moment. I love creating heirloom albums that can tell your love story beautifully for generations to come.
My clients invest $4,500+ on their wedding photography.
If you are interested in scheduling a consultation to get more information regarding your upcoming wedding please click here to contact me or you can reach out directly to [email protected] 209-629-1408. I am looking forward to getting to know you!
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Now What?...
I remember when my husband FINALLY... proposed to me! I say finally because we were together for 7 years before he popped the question. So it was a long running joke. That aside, the moment was perfect! We were literally on the top of a feshley snow covered mountain with Lake Tahoe in all her glory as our back-drop. Our closest friends and family were on the top deck of the cabin watching it all unfold. And then, once they realized what was happening, were eagerly waiting for us to hike back to pop the champagne.
Take it from me, here are the top 10 things you should do once you’re engaged:
Celebrate!
Start by taking some time to marinate in the moment. Celebrate your engagement with family and friends. Throw an engagement party or just have a night out with your closest loved ones. Make sure to remember the little things that made this moment special.
Open a joint bank account
For a lot of newly engaged couples the financial burden of having a wedding falls on their own shoulders. Having a joint bank account not only makes sense for the future but, it's a great tool if you’re paying for the wedding on your own. Start depositing those engagement gifts in a safe place dedicated towards helping you have your dream wedding.
Get inspired
Start looking at wedding websites, magazines, and Pinterest to get inspired for your big day. If you're anything like me you have already saved about 7 different wedding boards on Pinterest. Now it's time to really focus on your wedding aesthetic. Another great place to find inspiration in a bridal show. You will be able to see what is trending and also who is available to help make that happen.
Figure out your budget
This is an important step in the wedding planning process. If you opened a joint bank account that will help in this area tremendously. This is where the two of you really need to prioritize the most important aspects of your wedding day. For me, it was photography, great food, and a beautiful ceremony space. Deciding on a budget will help you make the important decisions and build your perfect day around what means the most to you. Which brings me to my next tip...
Hire a wedding planner!
Hiring a wedding planner is an absolute must! By that I do not mean encourage a friend to take on that responsibility, NO! I mean hire a professional that's sole responsibility is making your dream wedding come true. I promise this will be the best decision you make. They can deal with the intricate details while you just get to be drunk in love and enjoying every moment.
Set a Date
Believe it or not there are a lot of factors that can effect your wedding date. Luckily, in California we have about 9 great months out of the year so weather isn't too big of an issue. Take time to really research the venues, make sure you are in love with it. Most venues book out about 12-18 months in advance so take that into consideration when settling on your wedding date.
Hire your wedding photographer and schedule engagement photos
If you've had your eye on a specific photographer for a while, now is the time to make sure they are available. Photography is one of the most important parts of the wedding day and because of that can book out 12-18 months in advance. Don't settle on a photographer who's work you aren't in love with. Photos will be the only thing that last well beyond the wedding day. When you look back on these moments you should still be able to feel the emotions you felt on that day. To inquire about availability for Monica Dawn Photography click here.
Take engagement pictures
This is a great way to capture this special moment and have some fun with your fiancé. Another reason an engagement photoshoot is a must is you'll be able to knock off all the nerves of being in front of the camera well before your wedding day. This experience is even more valuable for your photographer. Every couple is unique and expresses their affection for one another differently. You're photographer will be able to decode if you two love showing PDA or if your feelings should be displayed in a more subtle way. Whichever is right for you this experience is a win all around. To see samples from some of my engagement photoshoots click here.
Book other vendors
Once your venue is booked, the date is set, and your photographer is secured it's time to fill in the blanks. This is where a wedding planner can really shine! They know your budget and your priorities so they can certainly help you find the best team to create your wedding aesthetic. To see a few of my recommended professionals click here.
Sit back and relax!
Once you’ve done all the hard work, it’s time to sit back and relax! Go on a date night. Talk about what the future holds and just be in love!
Monica Dawn Photography specializes in timeless wedding photography in the Bay Area, including Napa, Sonoma, Pleasanton, Livermore, San Francisco, San Jose, Monterey and beyond.
Thank you so much for visiting! I would love to hear more about your special day. Each wedding and engagement experience is unique and the images created reflects that individual attention. I hope to ease any nerves you may have about being in front of the camera and create a space to free fall into the moment. I love creating heirloom albums that can tell your love story beautifully for generations to come.
My clients invest $4,500+ on their wedding photography.
If you are interested in scheduling a consultation to get more information regarding your upcoming wedding please click here to contact me or you can reach out directly to [email protected] 209-629-1408. I am looking forward to getting to know you!
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I want to introduce you to a company called Basic Invite. Basic Invite is where a new bride should start her wedding journey. After she gets her engagement photos back from Monica Dawn Photography of course ;) ! Basic Invite blew my mind with all of the custom features. Everything from the text, color splashes and envelopes can be tweaked to reflect her personal vision of her wedding story. As a wedding photographer I have to admire the attention to detail Basic Invite has invested in.
Our relationship came at the perfect time. I had recently photographed my brother and future sister in law and was excited to gift them with their save the dates. It was super fun scrolling through all the design options. I ended up deciding on something simple that highlighted my favorite photo of them from their engagement session with me. I think it reflected their personalities and wedding inspiration perfectly. My favorite part of this simple design is the pop of the foil accents.
Since I ordered the save the dates from Basic Invite I was informed of all the other wonderful uses this company has for the new bride. They now have all of their addresses saved for easier ordering of their wedding invitations. With FREE address printing!!! They are also going to be able to create a wedding website. Which *spoiler alert* is completely customizable!
I just can't say enough nice things about Basic Invite. Please check them out! I promise you won't be disappointed. Please check out their Wedding Invitations!
This Maternity Session was such a treat, and a huge self esteem booster for me! Melissa is a self proclaimed biggest fan of my work. I have had the privilege of photographing both of her sister's families and close family friends. Now it was finally her turn! However, it was a surprise! Melissa's sister reached out to me to schedule a surprise Maternity Session. At the same time, Melissa contacted me to schedule her own Session. What to do, what to do!!!! So I scheduled a "fake" date with Melissa to keep her sister's surprise a secret. Looking back now I should have just told her I wasn't available until after her due date to really make the surprise amazing! But none the less Melissa was elated to find out about the surprise Maternity Session. The surprises kept coming when she realized I would also be photographing her baby shower that afternoon. It was such a humbling experience to see first hand how happy my gift of photography can make someone. I cherish every single one of my clients and I hope you enjoy the photos below.
Heather and Steven have such a sweet love story. They went to Chico together but did not date until fate brought them together again years later! I had the privilege of photographing their Fall Engagement Session and saw first hand that these two were destined to be.
I can't wait to photograph their wedding later this year!
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I had the pleasure of photographing Cameron and Andrea against the industrial background of San Francisco. I loved getting to hear a little bit about their love story. Drea stated with excitement that they were inseparable from the moment they met! Shortly after they tie the knot later this year they will be whisked away to an unknown location to start their married life. Cam joined the military and Drea is very excited to become a military wife. Cam and Drea selected San Francisco for their engagement session because alot of their dates and time together took place in the city. They wanted to remember how their love story started, and some amazing pictures to show their new friends.
Drea's adorable son got in on some of the action too!
I cannot wait to photograph their wedding!
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I have been a Photographer for a long time now. I am always envious of my clients when delivering their photos. Especially when the photos are of their sweet new babies. I have always dreamed of having a baby and getting to document my own precious milestones. At 30 years old one of my dreams finally came true! I was blessed with a beautiful happy baby girl named Phoebe Jaquelene. What they say is true... I never thought I could love something as much as I love my baby. What's even more amazing is that love grows even more everyday.
I have always wanted to blog about my photoshoots and have always made excuses on why I never got around to it. So I thought is was very fitting to write my first blog about my newborn session with Phoebe. I felt a lot of pressure doing this shoot! All the comments from friends, family and clients kept running through my mind... "You're daughter is going to have the best photos!" PRESSURE IS ON! It was much more difficult taking my own newborn photos than I anticipated. Not only do I have the normal pressures (Don't drop the baby) but I was also recovering from major surgery. Add that to being sleep deprived and shooting in the summer without air conditioning! These photos HAD TO BE PERFECT! People were counting on that!
After a few emotional moments and with the help of my AMAZING boyfriend, I was able to forget about being perfect and just enjoy the moment. I was photographing my newborn! I'm the only one that had to be happy with these images :) That being said I would like to share with you my beautiful baby girl. xoxo
I hope you enjoyed these pictures. I am positive their will be more to come!
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