We Found a Photographer We Like....When Should We Book Them?

South Florida Wedding vendors are now feeling the rush of calls and e-mails about wedding services. This is because we are now going into the five month "High Season" cushion. As we know, most bridal magazines recommend booking your vendors 5 to 12 months before you wedding date. South Florida's High Season is from November to May. Because of this, I feel this is the right time for this blog.

There is no one answer to this question because there is no one type of wedding photographer. You have independent photographers, photography studios and you have what I call photography "chop shops". Independent Photographers will often time shoot everything themselves with an assistant. In some cases if they have a very talented assistant who is ready to be a lead photographer they will them shoot a smaller budget wedding while they shoot a higher package wedding on the same date. Studios will often times book two or three weddings for the same date and will then assign photographers contract photographers based on thir experience and the wedding package price. Then there are the photography "chop shops". You have no idea who you are getting here. Often times you will be shown samples from the top five photographers that are signed with that studio but are not told that unless you spend over a certain amount on your package you will receive a junior photographer whose work you have not viewed.

This is a good time to advise you about statements in your Services Overview or Contract:

• Photography by Ivan Apfel Photography"


• "Photography by Ivan Apfel and not a third party photographer"

Note the difference. The first means that the actual photographer than arrives will be myself or anyone one I hire to cover your wedding. The second means that me and me alone will shoot your wedding.

Why is this all important? Because depending on which of the above two you select, it affects when you should make you deposit.

If you want to hire the photographer you met with and want them reserved for your wedding, please keep in mind that it is a first come first serve reservation. Whoever reserves their services first get the photographer.

With larger studios you have more flexibility to work on the package, the price, the details before making your deposit to reserve their services because they have a stable of available photographers for your event.

However, with someone such as myself who shoots all of his weddings himself, I only book one wedding per date. And be aware, if the wedding is on Sunday and they book me for the rehearsal on Saturday, then the Saturday date you wanted is now unavailable. Because of this, when you find a photographer you like for your high season event, book them right away.

I know, many of you are thinking, "This is all true, but how often does this actually happen?" Not sure about other photographers, but personally I have to make around 15 calls a year to brides who are still asking questions about my contract to let them know that another couple just booked me for the same date. It is heartbreaking to do this but as a independent photographer, I have to insure that I have constant booking to insure any business stability.

Please keep in mind, myself and most other photographers use the deposit to reserve the date and the pricing schedule quoted to you. My contract clearly states that it can be amended and modified at anytime up until the day of the event. So do not feel that you have to get every little detail perfected before making your deposit. Because while you do this, another couple could book your wedding date.

Welcome to the beginning of the South Florida Wedding High Season. This year should be fun.