When Should You Book a Wedding Photographer? (Advice From An Augusta Wedding Photographer)
One of the most common questions I get from newly engaged couples is, “When should we book our wedding photographer?”
My answer is simple: as soon as possible after you book your venue.
This year alone, I have photographed 19 weddings across South Carolina and Georgia as an Augusta wedding photographer, and if there is one thing I have learned, it is that couples almost always think they have more time than they actually do.
The biggest misconception couples have is thinking they can wait a few more months before booking vendors. In reality, waiting can make the entire wedding planning process much harder than it needs to be.
The Short Answer: Book Your Photographer Right After You Book Your Venue
Once you have secured your wedding venue and chosen your wedding date, your photographer should be one of the next vendors you book.
The earlier you book, the less likely you are to settle for a venue, photographer, or wedding date that was not your first choice.
Booking early also takes a lot of stress and anxiety out of wedding planning. Instead of worrying about who is available, you can focus on enjoying your engagement and planning the fun parts of your wedding.
Many couples start researching wedding photography pricing before they are ready to book. If you’re wondering what is included and what coverage may be right for your day, you can view my wedding photography packages and pricing here.
How Far In Advance Do Most Couples Book Their Wedding Photographer?
In my experience, most couples book their wedding photographer anywhere from 6-12 months before their wedding date.
Spring and Fall are by far the busiest wedding seasons. Saturday weddings during those seasons tend to book the fastest.
If you are planning a Fall wedding, I would recommend booking your photographer 12-18 months in advance if possible.
For Spring weddings, I recommend at least 9-12 months in advance.
While some dates may still be available closer to the wedding day, waiting can significantly reduce your options.
What Happens If You Wait Too Long?
Unfortunately, I have had to turn away quite a few couples because their wedding date was already booked, especially during Fall wedding season.
I have also seen couples run into problems with venues already being booked.
The longer you wait, the more likely you are to find yourself comparing venues, photographers, and vendors based on what is left instead of what you truly wanted.
Some couples even end up changing their wedding date just to get the venue they originally wanted.
The earlier you book, the less you have to compromise.
A Real Example From One Of My Couples
One of my couples booked me a full year in advance for their wedding at The Outlook at the Vista in Columbia, South Carolina.
Because they booked early, they had plenty of time to plan their engagement session.
They were able to choose a season with cooler weather, carefully plan their outfits, and pick a location that fit the vision they wanted for their photos.
They also had their engagement photos completed in time to use them for save-the-dates and wedding planning.
Compare that to another couple who booked only about a month before their wedding. They did not have time for engagement photos or bridal portraits, and many photographers and venues they originally wanted were already unavailable.
Most Couples Forget About These Things
Many couples think booking a photographer is only about securing someone for the wedding day.
What they do not realize is that waiting can affect everything leading up to the wedding as well.
Engagement Photos
Photographers are often booked on weekends with weddings, so engagement sessions need to be scheduled in advance.
Booking early gives you more flexibility with locations, seasons, outfits, and dates.
Bridal Portraits
Many brides want bridal portraits before the wedding day. Waiting too long can make it difficult to schedule both the session and the vendors needed to make it happen.
Hair And Makeup Trials
Bridal portraits are often the perfect opportunity to do a trial run with your hair and makeup artist.
However, if you wait too long, your preferred hair and makeup artist may already be booked.
Wedding Timeline Assistance
One of the biggest benefits of booking your photographer early is getting help long before the wedding day arrives.
I help my couples with timeline planning, venue recommendations, engagement session planning, bridal portraits, and more.
The earlier we start working together, the more helpful I can be throughout the planning process.
When Should You Book Your Wedding Photographer In Augusta, Aiken, Or Columbia?
If you are planning a wedding in Augusta, Aiken, Columbia, or the surrounding areas, here is my recommendation:
- Fall Weddings: 12-18 months in advance
- Spring Weddings: 9-12 months in advance
- Summer Weddings: 6-9 months in advance
- Winter Weddings: 6-9 months in advance
Popular venues and photographers often book quickly, especially for Saturday weddings.
My Honest Advice As A Wedding Photographer
If you are newly engaged and wondering when to book your wedding photographer, my advice is simple:
Book your photographer as soon as you have secured your venue.
Waiting does not make wedding planning easier. In fact, it usually makes it harder.
The earlier you book, the more choices you have, the less stress you experience, and the more time you have to enjoy engagement photos, bridal portraits, timeline planning, and all the exciting moments leading up to your wedding day.
If you are planning a wedding in Augusta, Aiken, Columbia, or the surrounding areas in Georgia or South Carolina and are looking for a photographer who will help guide you through the entire process, I’d love to hear more about your wedding plans. You can reach out through my contact page here.
