As a seasoned photographer and cinematographer I get asked a lot of questions. I love it because it let's me know that people really care about their wedding experience. It also let's me know that they trust me as a professional to ask questions. One of the most frequent questions I get asked by couple’s booking wedding photography or videography services is how far in advance should they booked their wedding vendors.
Most reputable vendors and venues book six-months to one year in advance, here’s a guide that works for most weddings when it comes to Wedding Photography & Videography:
Wedding Photography
Depending on the popularity of your wedding date and the wedding photographer you desire to hire available date may be limited. Most photographers and videographers recommend hiring them at least 12 months before the wedding if you're working with a professional wedding planner.
If you're planning your wedding yourself it's best to book your wedding photographer or videographer at least 16 months in advance.
Wedding Videography
Wedding Videography is still new and not as booked, but don't sleep on the booking timeframe. Videos isn't going anywhere and as more qualified companies come around that produce quality they are getting booked rapidly. Some companies are being booked at least 12-months in advance.
What NOT To Do
It is not a good practice to book any of your vendors last minute. Professional vendors get booked pretty fast and also don't have the flexibility to meet your wedding date if it's last minute. They may also charge an additional fee if adding you to their schedule is an double-booking them. It all depends on the companies practices.
UI Couples
My couples book me at least 6 months to one year in advance. This is the recommended timeframe that I highly all couple's follow. There are several reason why this timeframe works very well. Within 6 months to a year, your venue is booked and you have most of your wedding details in order. This helps your wedding photographer or videographer assist you with your timeline. This is very important to couple's because the timeline often guides the day and all of your vendors will follow it. Not only is it important to all of your vendors, but your wedding photographer or videographers doesn't want to miss important details. Help you with the timeline allows them to see what time other vendors arrive and it also allows them to give you a realistic plan for helping your vendors work together.
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