Vancouver BC Wedding and Portrait Photography Articles

Choosing a Wedding Photographer in Vancouver

When deciding on a wedding photographer for your Vancouver wedding – there are a lot of things to take into consideration. Thankfully, with the help of the internet, doing your due diligence has become much easier.

A quick Google search for "Vancouver Wedding Photographers" will bring you an endless list of photographers so all that is needed is time and patience to go through the websites and make a shortlist of the ones that speak to you.

Like art and food, there will be certain types of wedding photography that speak to you. Go through as many portfolios as you can and find the ones that you like and that have images that you can see yourself in. Once you have your short list it's time to make some phone calls.

When talking to Vancouver wedding photographers – have a list of questions written out that you want answered so that you save yourself time and energy. Some things to ask are:

- how long have you been doing photography?
- what is your philosophy?
- what are your packages like, what is included?
- do you shoot digital or film (for many this isn't important as both mediums are great – however it does determine how quickly you see your images as those who shoot digital can blog quickly and create slideshows for clients to see within days.)
- do you have an entire wedding for me to see? (this is important as anyone can show you a few great shots from a number of weddings.)
- how would you define your style?

Vancouver's wedding industry has a lot to offer so don't be too quick to choose. Your wedding photographs are all you have at the end of the day so be sure of your choice and don't compromise!

How to be a successful wedding photographer in Vancouver.

People comment to me all the time about the fact that I must just love what I do. The truth is – absolutely I do. Wedding photography has changed drastically over the last 10 years and I am excited and grateful to be part of such an exciting industry.

Of course being successful in this industry takes a lot more than just knowing how to take great shots. Vancouver has become one of Canada's must competitive markets and staying on top takes constant effort and dedication.

The thing about wedding photography is that pretty much anyone can get a camera, put out an ad in the local wedding directory and get a few phone calls. That's the beauty of this industry. It's ready made. It's assumed by most that you need a photographer at a wedding. Budgets automatically include photography services so all that is needed is to ensure your visibility to an ever changing audience. Only once in my career have I had a repeat bride.

This is where the real effort comes in. Aside from producing great work – which actually comes naturally to most photographers I know – marketing is the most challenging work. It's important to define your ideal client and approach it with that in mind. Knowing your audience will determine pricing, which product to carry and which avenues are best suited to advertise your service and reach the brides you want to attract.

What are some ‘must haves'? A well designed and easy to use website is first. Everyone knows the internet is the best tool for both supplier and consumers. Use it. Once your site is designed and looks hot – hire the right people to get that site placed where people will see it when searching for Vancouver wedding photographers.

Offer a unique product that will separate yourself from the rest. Figure out what it is that you are offering that is different and exciting and market that. If you don't stand out you will simply blend into an ever growing mass of average wedding photographers.

Under promise and over deliver. We've all heard this a million times but giving great service is what makes people talk. I hear so many stories from my brides about vendors who seem to care very little about them. It's as though these vendors have taken their brides for granted. A wedding is one of the most important events in a woman's life and they want to feel special. Help them feel that way by giving them 110%. Your clients will be excited and grateful and will rave about you to their friends and family.

Vancouver brides are very wise and informed shoppers. With the resources Vancouver's wedding industry has provided – brides learn what to look for and where to find the best photographers this city has to offer. That's why it takes more than just a phone number, website and a couple of ads to ensure a long and successful career in Vancouver's wedding industry.

Photographing Weddings in Vancouver

Mountains, beaches, lush greenery and great city skyline – what else does a wedding photographer need to make great shots? Vancouver is well known as one of Canada's most beautiful cities and anyone working here as a wedding photographer knows it.

Working in Vancouver does make my job easier – but even the most obvious locations – as beautiful as they are can become a bit boring and well over used. Although it's not a bad thing to include a mountain or ocean here and there – diversity is what keeps it interesting.

It's our jobs as wedding photographers to always be creative and to offer our clients something new and unique. It's what will separate us from everyone else in Vancouver and keep the work fresh and fun.

When deciding on a great location I look for vibrant colour, unique architecture (a great way to subtly suggest your location), interesting elements like reflective glass and unique light sources, graphic lines (curved walls, interesting shadows) and texture. An old rusty metal shed with paint pealing is ugly to most but can be a photographer's dream.

Wedding photography has changed drastically in the last few years and Vancouver's photographers have played a big part in that. There is a lot of great talent here and a lot of great photographers in which to take inspiration when creating amazing wedding images.

You can never go wrong when you look to do something different. It not only makes your daily job more interesting it makes brides take notice of your work.

Photographing Portraits in Vancouver - babies & bellies

I love to photograph growing bellies and newborn babies and that is why I offer my clients a package that includes both sessions.

Prenatal photography is a growing trend for new moms and an event well worth photographing. This time goes by so quickly and speaking from experience – it is something that is hard to remember without images to bring you back. Babies grow so quickly and the newborn stage is so precious. After only a month or two parent's are shocked by how much they grow and the newborn stage, unless photographed is hard to recall.

It's these reasons that I explain to my clients why it's so important to have me there as soon after the baby arrives as possible.

When I am doing prenatal photography I recommend doing it within the 8th calendar month of the pregnancy. I find that it's during this time that mom is still feeling good and her belly is still at a size where posing for shots is comfortable. Always on location – I look for natural light and interesting compositions. It's important that both compliment my subject and make them look as great as possible.

Baby photography is always a bit more challenging as I always go by the baby's schedule which can be very unpredictable! I never schedule less than 2 hours for the shoot and work hard to get a big variety of shots. I include details of the baby's room, baby awake, baby sleeping, baby eating, family groupings, siblings, toys, and anything I can find in the home that represents a new born baby.

I always look for new and interesting elements when doing prenatal and baby photography so that my work is always fresh and inspiring.

What To Look For in a Portrait Photographer in Vancouver

Children grow and change so quickly and as a parent you want to remember each and every stage. That's why most families get portraits done at least once a year. The question is – who do you choose as a photographer?

There are lots of things to consider when deciding on a professional portrait photographer…

     1. What is your budget? For everyone this is personal but important when finding out what costs are and what you get for what you pay. Some photographers draw people in with very low sitting fees and then charge high amounts for reprints. Some charge one flat fee and include everything – even the original negatives or digital files. Do your homework and know what you are getting.

     2. Style – What is the style of the portrait photographer you are considering? Are they very traditional or do they do things that are modern and innovative? Do these images speak to you? Can you see yourself in their photographs?

     3. Creative – does the portrait photographer you are considering have a lot of images for you to see in their portfolio or website? Do the images vary and are they interesting? Do the subjects look like they are having fun?

Whether you are looking for photography for your children, a family group, or a single headshot – it's important to be thorough before you choose. Vancouver has a lot of photographers to pick from and all offer their own unique style.