Top Questions to Ask Before Booking a Wedding Photographer

Welcome to Flower Child Photography, today's post is all about questions to ask before booking a wedding photographer. If you have any other questions to add, don't be afraid to leave a comment!

Let's get right into the questions!

What do your package prices start at?

When planning a wedding, one of the most important aspects is setting your budget. Sit down with your partner and figure out what your overall budget will be for the wedding and break it down into sections. About 12% of your overall budget should be spent on a photographer to make your budget stretch! Having this number pre-calculated before speaking with photographers will give you the ability to tell them your budget and see what they offer within that price. Most photographers will send you a base price for weddings a long with more hours and other add-ons offered. Some may have different packages to choose from depending on hours of coverage. The most important thing when contacting a photographer for your wedding day is to check their availability, as well as pricing, in your first message. That way you won't be let down later on if the photographer fits in your budget but can't attend your day!

What is your maximum amount of coverage?

This will vary greatly from photographer to photographer. When reaching out to businesses, have a rough estimate of how long you may need the photographer for. That way when this question is answered you can decide if they will cover enough time for your event.

Do you have a website?

This one is pretty self explanatory but I'll explain a little anyway. Asking for a photographer's official website will give you a better look into how they photograph in many different situations and times of day. It will also allow you to see what you love in their photography as well as explore more of their portfolio. If a photographer is found on social media and you love their work, I would always recommend looking at their website for a more extensive portfolio.

Can I see an entire wedding gallery?

This question may not be essential to ask. Some photographers may have an extensive wedding portfolio on their website. However, some may also have a full wedding gallery that you can take a look at. Having a look at an "official" wedding gallery will give you a better understanding of the amount and quality of the images you will receive.

When will I receive the images?

Very important to ask for those of you who don't want long wait times! Every photographer will have a different time frame on how long the editing process will take. Some may offer next day sneak peeks with a longer editing time or a shorter delivery time and no photos until the entire gallery is finished. Knowing this upfront will allow you to decide if you can wait longer for a photographers work or hire someone else. REMINDER most photographers will offer a faster delivery fee if requested. Please ask about a faster delivery before moving on to the next photographer you love. (extra fees may apply for fast delivery)

Do you offer a discount, if an engagement session and wedding package is booked with you?

When inquiring about a wedding package, if you haven't gotten an engagement session done, ask about a discount. Quite a few businesses will offer a discount of some kind off of a wedding package if you book both sessions with them. Not every photographer may have this option, but it never hurts to ask. ;)

Can we meet or FaceTime before hand?

Personally, I like to have a short meeting with my brides, grooms, or non-binary clients before their big day! I like to have time to get acquainted with each other and connect before the wedding. Getting the first meeting out of the way can make the morning intros of the wedding to your photographer a lot less stressful and awkward. If you're like me and want to get to know your photographer before hand, I recommend asking this question!

Do your packages include travel fees?

Some packages will and some won't, it all depends on the distance of travel or photographers policy. This is a good question to ask upfront to make sure that with travel fees included photography is still within your budget.

How many edited images will I receive?

How many photos do you expect? Have a rough estimate of how many photos you believe you should receive from a wedding. Amount will of course depend on time hired and how many are included within the package you paid for. If your package says unlimited, ask for an estimate of how many you will receive. The average photographer will send 500-2,500 images depending on the package and time paid for.

Can I read a contract?

For as boring as this one may sound, it is extremely important. Within a photographers contract it should disclose exactly how their policies work. Included will be refund policies as well as safety policies for all parties involved. Please read your entire contract with your photographer before signing. Know what is and isn't included in your package as well before signing the contract too!

Are you LGBTQIA+ friendly?

If you are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, this question could make or break your decision to hire a photographer. Even though we all deserve equality as human beings, some businesses may not okay will capturing a LGBTQIA+ event. You deserve to know this immediately before hiring a photographer as well. This is not for the photographers sake but for your own. I would hate to see anyone heartbroken by a photographer days before their wedding or event and have them cancel because of their prejudices. If this has happened to anyone reading this, please know that you are accepted and loved by so many. Flower Child Photography is a LQBTQIA+ friendly and accepting business. All events will be captured with dignity, respect and absolutely no judgement. Everyone deserves love, no matter who they love. #loveislove

Your wedding is an incredibly special day. Photos should be capture with as much love and care during your event as you have for each other. When hiring a photographer don't settle for anything less than what you are looking for. We will always be happy to answer as many questions as you have before booking our services. We all know how important this day is to you and everyone surrounding you.

When looking for your photographer, consider these questions and how important each of these things may be for you! Ask as many questions as you need and contact as many photographers as you love to compare prices and packages. Reminder, do not leave any photographers hanging. If you decide to not hire a photographer, please email them to let them know you no longer need their services!

Good luck on your hunt for your perfect wedding photographer!

How to take Boudoir Photos at Home!

With Valentine's Day very soon and COVID-19 cancelling all professional boudoir shoot, I've decided to show you how to take some sexy photos at home. Whether you're celebrating Valentine's Day together as a couple or apart, some diy boudoir photos might be the perfect way to spice up your night. For those of you who may be spending the day solo, take this time to appreciate who you are and how beautiful your body is. Don't be afraid to pull out that camera and snap photos that are for your eyes only.

When it comes to preparing for a boudoir session alone or with a photographer, here are 4 tips to help you achieve stunning images.

Tips and Tricks

Tip #1: Get in the Mood

In order to take sexy images your mind has to be in the right place. Don't force yourself to take photos when you aren't feeling yourself. Find some time during a day that you feel good, put on your favorite song and move your body. Getting your body moving might encourage you to feel a little more motivated to find a space and snap a few photos.

For some woman getting in the mood for a photoshoot may mean doing their hair and makeup or putting on the outfit they've been waiting to wear. Do whatever makes you feel the most comfortable and ready for the photoshoot ahead. Remember, the most important part is that you are having fun. So put on some music and don't take things too seriously!

Tip #2: Set the Scene

Setting the scene for a boudoir shoot may seem a little complicated, but trust me, it's super easy! Find a place in your home where you feel the most comfortable to take photos. If that spot happens to be your bedroom that is perfect. Use your bed to your advantage, there are a ton of different poses and angles that can be achieve in just that location. However, if you are stuck on finding a backdrop you can use a chair or a bed sheet. If using a chair, move to a location where the background is fairly empty and clean looking. Set up you phone with a timer and pose using the chair as your prop. Another simple backdrop is to use a flat bedsheet to create a hanging background. Use thumb tacks to hang the sheet from the wall and voila, a new photo background!

Tip #3: Dress for yourself

The most important part of this photoshoot will be making sure you are feeling sexy and confident. Which is why you should choose outfits that you feel sexy in to model. Don't worry about what your partner may be looking for and instead focus on if the outfit make you feel confident. Make the first part of the shoot about yourself, find what makes you feel the most confident and go with it. After that if you feel confident to try and wear something new, go for it! You are the only person who will be seeing these photos and you get to decide if anyone else sees them. Have fun, play around, and maybe try something new.

Tip #4: Relax

The most important part about this photoshoot is that you can relax and have fun. So, take some time before the shoot to take a bath, play some music, meditate. Do whatever will make you happy and relaxed before the session but also during the session. Make sure that no matter what you are having fun the entire time. If the session isn't going as planned, don't worry. Take a break and reset or try again on a different day. Just make sure that no matter what, having fun is your top priority!

5 Poses for All Body Types!

Does posing yourself intimidate you? No need to worry, here I have compiled a small list of poses that will make any body type look sexy. Make sure that when you are trying poses that you find the ones that make you feel the most empowered. Use only the poses that make you feel great and work that sexy body!

Pose #1: From behind

To execute this pose and make your butt look fantastic, pose yourself with your hand or elbows lower than the bottom half of your body. To achieve a more round looking bottom, arch your back in a downward motion.

An alternative to this is a standing pose. Position yourself looking away from the camera and turn the top half of your body to one side to look at the camera. Experiment with putting your right and left leg forward to find the best position for you. (for reference of this pose, look at drawing below)

Camera Direction: Prop the camera or phone onto a flat surface where you whole body will be in frame. Make sure to position the camera from a behind angle from your body. Do not place the camera directly behind yourself but rather slightly angled to the right or left so you can get your entire body in frame but the focus is still on your bum!

Pose #2: Lying down

This pose will be the easiest of them all! Simply find a comfortable place to lie down and position the camera over yourself either by taking a selfie with a phone or using a camera and tripod. Try taking photos with one hand while using the other hand as a way to frame your face. Your hair can also play a huge roll in this pose, so don't be afraid to play around with it.

Camera Direction: If using a camera on a tripod, try placing the camera on a downward angle and slightly overtop of yourself. Don't be afraid to play around with direct and non direct angles.

Pose #3: Stomach Posing

These poses are another few easy and flattering poses! For the first pose simply position yourself onto your stomach and tilt to one side, lift your top leg into a bent position and raise your bottom arm to support you head. Simply place your top arm in front of your body and smile at the camera.

Another easy stomach pose can be used to play peek-a-boo with nudity. While on your stomach, cross your arms in front of yourself and lift your head and upper body into a comfortable position facing the camera. If posing shirtless use your arms to cover your chest to add some more to be desired to these images.

Pose #4: Standing Poses

Some of the most basic poses can make for some fantastic shots. For the first standing pose, face the camera with your hips slightly turned to the left. Place your left foot in front of your right foot and pop your hip to the side. You can place your arms on your hips or hanging lightly down by your sides. To add extra flare, use one hand to hold your bra strap slightly off your shoulder.

For those of you who want a photo to make your butt look fantastic, this is the pose for you! Turn your body to the right facing away from the camera. Pop your front leg forward and bend your knee. Use your other leg to stabilize yourself and to push your front hip and butt forward. Use your hands to play with your hair or place a hand on your hip for a more dramatic effect. A chair can also be used in this pose to hold your front left in position. For the best result of this pose, place the camera on a slightly lower angle to accentuate your assets.

And finally an over the shoulder standing pose. To achieve this photo, turn your body a little past one of your sides so your behind can be the focus of the photo. Use your hands to play with your hair and turn your face to be in view of the camera!

Link

Pose #5: Blanket Posing

Blanket posing is something that is easier to just view in a video and recreate. I found a Tik Tok by @bcoralboudoir, that includes some of my very favorite blanket poses. Have fun with these ones and be creative!

bcoralboudoir's page

Photo Set Inspiration

If you are like me, you're a very visual person. So for those of you who may struggle with set ideas for your photoshoot, I have attached some ideas of cute and sexy backgrounds that you can recreate in your home!

The Chair Session

Grab a chair some props and start posing! Not much else is needed in this set, just you.

Link

The Blanket Session

To recreate a simple background like this, gather a sheet as a backdrop, some comfy pillows and a blanket. Have fun playing around with poses and objects with this simple background.

The Mirror Session

If you have a large mirror, use it girlfriend! Position the camera behind the mirror and yourself but make sure it is off to the left or right. Simply sit in front of the mirror with a timer setting on your camera ready and pose!

Link

With these tips and posing ideas you'll be able to recreate some beautiful images on your own! I hope that everyone readying this has a loving valentine's day whether with a partner or not. And, for all the people who try out these tips or poses, remember to have fun!

Nicole Gray

Flower Child Photography

www.flowerchildphotography.com