A question I’m regularly asked is, “Have you previously worked at my wedding venue?” Sometimes we have and sometimes we haven’t. The real question is – is this the best question to ask a prospective photographer? My answer is no. Here’s why.

I googled “wedding venues in eastern Massachusetts” and it quickly took me to The Knot website for the Boston area where I was greeted by the headline, “Wedding Venues near Boston, MA – 400 total vendors.”

I’m a wedding professional and I’m overwhelmed.

And that’s just the Boston area.

And that’s just a list on ONE website.

I don’t think I’ve ever met a photographer who has worked at every single venue on this list. Even with close to 250 weddings under our belts, we haven’t worked at them all and probably never will. Does that mean we’re incapable of excellence the first time we work at a venue? My answer again is no.

From a photographer’s perspective, a venue is a venue. Some have high ceilings; some don’t. Some have walls of windows; others don’t. Some have significant physical restrictions on where photographs can be taken. Others allow you to roam freely.  Because the basic principle of photography is the understanding of light and how it behaves, a professional photographer will be able to apply that knowledge wherever your wedding is. I promise.

There are definitely some benefits to being familiar with a venue. For example:

• You can be confident the photographer knows where he/she is going the day of your wedding.
• A photographer who has a positive relationship with your venue staff is usually given more freedom/flexibility for photography.

What is most important is that your photographer knows you, not just a building.

We recently booked a wedding for someone who actually works at a wedding venue. When I met with the bride, she told me that she specifically booked us over a photographer she sees at her venue constantly because she wanted something different. She said that the photographer who works at that venue has a ROUTINE for each photo taken at each wedding and she could tell me the exact shot this photographer would take at each location. That sounds exciting, doesn’t it?

Success in wedding planning has so much to do with asking the right questions.

What should you be asking instead? Ask your photographer things like:

• How many weddings have you photographed?
• How do you prepare to photograph a wedding?
• Have you ever photographed multiple weddings for one family?
• Tell me about your experience with off camera lighting.
• What kinds of relationships do you have with staff at venues where you’ve previously worked?
• Do you pay to be on a preferred vendor list at my venue?
• Do you have back up gear?
• What happens if you’re physically unable to photograph my wedding?

Beyond just asking questions, I highly recommend that you have an engagement session with your wedding photographer. This is yet another opportunity for your photographer to get to know you and for you to become more comfortable in front of the camera. Second, if your photographer offers, take the time to meet at your venue before your wedding to come up with a complete game plan for the big day or at least have a detailed conversation about it.

I get excited about working with couples who want to have fun. I get excited about creating something new. I get excited about cake. Work with a photographer who is excited to work with you and wants you to have the most awesome day of your life.

And now, here are photos taken the FIRST time we worked at these venues. Enjoy!

From Sundara in Boones Mill, Virginia:

 

From the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, MA:

 

From the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston, MA:

 

From the Liberty Hotel in Boston, MA (this one took some patience and timing to get the wedding party at the right spots on the opposite moving escalators):

 

From the Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center in Boston, MA:

 

From the State Room in Boston, MA:

 

From Now Jade Riviera Resort in Cancun, Mexico:

 

Also from Now Jade Riviera Resort in Cancun, Mexico:

 

From the Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, CT:

 

From the Blair Hill Inn in Greenville, ME:

 

Also from the Blair Hill Inn in Greenville, ME:

 

Also from the Blair Hill Inn in Greenville, ME:

 

From Wychmere Beach Club in Harwich Port, MA:

 

Also from Wychmere Beach Club in Harwich Port, MA:

 

From Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven, CT:

 

Also from Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven, CT:

 

From Sebasco Harbor Resort in Sebasco Resorts, ME:

 

From Zorvino Vineyards in Sandown, NH:

 

Also from Zorvino Vineyards in Sandown, NH:

 

Finally from The Riverview in Simsbury, CT: