There are not many occasions in your life that demand that level of planning as a wedding does. With all the tough decisions to make in such a short amount of time, it’s a wonder how some soon-to-be-weds even have the time to have second thoughts.
One of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is who to hire as your wedding photographer. As a person in charge of preserving the memory of your most wonderful day forever, the pressure is enormous.
Wedding photography is not an easy trade. It demands a lot of careful planning, time and equipment. Worse off, plans tend to change so a wedding photographer has to be flexible. That is why not everyone who calls themselves a photographer dares to try their luck shooting weddings.
In order to be successful, a wedding photographer needs to have a particular set of skills, qualities, and traits specific to this field of photography. In this article, we are going to list what those traits are in order to make it easier for you to determine whether the wedding photographer you’ve had in mind is the right person to capture your wedding on film forever.

​This is probably the most important aspect. If you don’t like a wedding photographer’s portfolio than all their other traits cannot help repair that first impression. Make sure to ask for a complete portfolio, not just a best-of compilation of several wedding photo shoots. Make sure the impressive pictures they have shown you are not a stroke of luck, but experience. A lot of wedding photographers nowadays tend to have a website with a portfolio or a blog documenting different wedding they’ve shot. For example, take a look at this website: http://sandiegoartweddingphotography.com/. The portfolio section includes detailed examples for different types of photography, so you can be sure that when you’re hiring a photographer, you’re not just hiring someone who’s good at shooting close-ups.

​Often neglected or seen irrelevant by many other photographers, wedding photographers need to have this aspect of their business sorted out. They need to have a good practice of invoicing, management, transparent prices and good communication, otherwise, many wedding planners are not going to want to deal with them. Planning all the other expenses is a tiresome task on its own, but if your wedding photographer can’t deliver an invoice or doesn’t return your calls, it can really make or break the deal. Getting the business side of things in order can be difficult, but it will make doing business much easier for both parties later on.

​We did briefly mention communication in the previous entry, but this aspect of the trade is so important we feel it needs to be covered in more detail. Working as a wedding photographer meaning you will have to coordinate large groups of people. It also means that the wedding photographer knows how to listen. There’s nothing more annoying than an in-your-face photographer who doesn’t listen to their client’s input. After all, it is your wedding he is shooting.

​It’s not unheard of for an amateur photographer to take up the title of wedding photographer simply because he has a professional camera and sort of knows how to use it. A real wedding photographer has so much more in their inventory, starting from the spare camera, a set of lenses for every occasion, flashes, light diffusers, tripods and a backpack worth of other gear. A good photographer knows not to take too much equipment and lose mobility, but strikes a balance and is prepared for anything.

Similarly, with wedding photography simply knowing how to take pictures is not enough. The photographer needs to be a storyteller, needs to have a unique style and edge, something that will make your photos stand out. A good wedding photographer knows how to shoot portraits, landscapes, and even the food to make everything look perfect, just as you will want to remember it. Finally, a wedding photographer will know how to make you look your best in the wedding photos

Photographing conferences are always quite an experience. Planners put a lot of work into getting the best vendors and attracting the best attendees! If you’re looking to find a conference, Eventbrite is a great place to search for events, since many planners register their events on their site.
 
Once you find the conference you’d like to attend, you should keep a few things in mind to make the most out of your experience. Here are four tips that you don’t want to overlook.
 
1. Network, network, network! This may be the most beneficial part of conference attendance. When else will you have the chance to be in a place where everyone shares your same interests and passions? Connecting with other photographers is definitely easy at conventions, and you should take advantage of that. Go out for lunch with other conference attendees, ask questions about their recent works and their future projects. Don’t forget to ask for their business cards and add them on LinkedIn. If you see a strong connection with some of your new conference friends, consider attending future conferences together!
 
2. Bring a snack and a drink. Be prepared for long sessions and workshops. If you’re the kind of person that can’t handle a long speech or a panel, make sure to have some bars or snack with you. Snacks are usually provided by the venue that hosts the conference, but you know if that specific snack that refuels your energy, so make sure to buy some in advance. Also, don’t forget to bring some water with you (especially with all the networking you’ll be doing!).
 
3. Bring a recording device. Some workshops or panels will interest you more than others. Rather than writing notes for the entire time, just bring a recording device with you. You can download an app on your smartphone, or use one recorder like in the good old days. If you’re using your phone, make sure to bring a phone charger with you!
 
4. Talk to speakers. Depending on the size of the convention, it may be harder to get to them than your peers. However, you want to go home after at least having a chat with the most interesting speaker you heard from. If possible, learn in advance what their schedule looks like after the conference. If they plan to spend the night at the convention, try to meet with that person even for a few minutes, or if you see the opportunity, grab a drink at the hotel bars. Face to face talk is the most genuine way to make a connection and learn more about what you love.
 
5. Take awesome photos. Always think of the planner point of view, what they can use when promoting future events. Shoot general images that can be used for promotion material as well as high-quality portrait of each speaker!
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What’s the best conference you’ve ever attended? What advice do you have for attendees?

I love it when a family I worked with wants to do a new photo session with their latest addition. But what I love even more is when they say that their parents would like a session as well. Working with this amazing couple was a blast! They are married for over 40 years!
​What a privilege it was to work with the McDonald's. 

It was so much fun working with Amanda on her senior photos at the Dallas Arboretum! Here are few of my favorites from the session. 

Sara and Michael had an awesome intimate wedding at Rick's Chophouse and the Grand Hotel McKinney. 

Stephanie & Max love their dogs, so we went to Arbor Hills Nature Preserve to do a fun engagement session. Check out these awesome photos... 

I had a blast working with Ashley, Kaitlyn and Haley! Check out some of my favorites...