As a wedding photographer, you have the wonderful opportunity of capturing a bride and groom’s love story. Its a hard task if you haven’t built a positive relationship with the couple before the wedding day. Without this relationship, your photographs will be missing personality. They will be standard and sterile – void of the unique voices from the wedding party. That’s definitely not good. So here are a few tips for building that essential relationship:
1. Be yourself – Instead of treating couples like clients, treat them like your friends. This is one of the most special times of their lives, and they want to share it with friends – not professional strangers. The best way to do this is to be yourself.
2. Find out about them - Don’t worry so much about yourself, but find out as much as you can about the couple. How did they meet? When did they know they were in love? How did he propose? Find out the important details to their love story. Take a real interest in who they are and what they like. Often, a photographer asking these questions will initially surprise the couple, but they usually enjoy opening up. It goes a long way to see that you care. A lot of my brides become friends who stay in contact after the wedding.
3. Use your blog. Before you meet a new couple, they might already feel like they know and relate to you from your blog. This has happened several times for me. Most recently with Meghan. After her photoshoot, she gave me her bouquet for my daughter, after reading about how I was supermom for giving her flowers a couple months ago. Its just one more way to help you find people to work for who click with your personality.
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