Probably the most frequent question I am asked besides “Are you available for my wedding date?” is “Have you worked at my venue before?”
I understand the reasoning behind the inquiry, and you will get a lot of opinions on the subject. The real answer is that it doesn’t really matter if you have an experienced photographer.
I have photographed nearly 450 weddings at this point in my career, and I have worked at hundreds of venues. Every wedding is unique – different couples, different decor, different vibe – which means whether or not I have worked at the venue a half a dozen times or if I have never worked there before, the photos will have their own unique quality. I enjoy that feeling of discovery that comes with each wedding.
Also, any experienced professional photographer who has not previously worked at a venue will fully research a new venue. This means scouting the location and working with the venue staff and your planner to determine ideal locations for photos. Of course, something might change on the day of the wedding and that’s where having an experienced professional comes in handy. They will be prepared for different types of lighting situations or if an outdoor ceremony suddenly gets moved indoors because of changing weather. They can roll with the flow of the day and overcome any obstacles.
Do you have thoughts on this subject? Feel free to leave them in the comments section below.
