When should you hire a wedding photographer?

# When should you hire a wedding photographer?

Hire your wedding photographer 12 to 18 months before your wedding. Popular dates book up that far ahead, especially in peak season, so reach out as soon as you have your date and venue.

That's the window I give my own couples, and it's when most of my dates fill. If your wedding is closer than that, please reach out anyway! I always try to make a last-minute date work.

A signed contract and a 30% retainer reserve your date with me. Once I have both, the day is yours and I don't book anything else on it. The rest is due two weeks before your wedding, and payment plans are available if spreading it out helps.

Once you've booked, here's how the rest usually goes. If your collection includes an engagement session, we'll plan it about eight months before the wedding, which leaves time to use the photos on save-the-dates or your wedding website. On the day itself, coverage runs from seven hours up to a full day, depending on your collection. You'll see a sneak peek of 20 or more images within 3 business days, and your full gallery arrives in a private online gallery 6 to 8 weeks after the wedding.

Booking early also gives you room to compare. Ask each photographer for whole weddings, not just their favorite shots, so you can see how they handle a full day from getting ready to the dance floor. Ask who edits the photos, too. I edit every image myself and never outsource it or leave it to AI. You'll get 75 to 100 edited images for each hour of coverage.

I don't post prices on my site, because I build each collection around your day. Tell me your date and venue and I'll send you my wedding collections guide.

I've been photographing weddings since 2008, and I'd love to hear about yours. Email me at info@dejoyphotography.com with your date and venue, and let's chat!