My 6 most frequently asked questions as a New England wedding photographer

bride and bridesmaids laughing together at new hampshire wedding - by Vivid Instincts Photography, a New England wedding photographer

Welcome to the wonderful world of wedding planning! Since this is probably a new experience for you, it’s totally normal to have lots of questions. The good news is, your vendors are here to help! We’re all here working in this industry because we’re super passionate about turning your dream wedding day into a reality and making you happier than you ever thought possible. And as a New England wedding photographer, my job is to preserve that happiness so that you can relive it for decades to come! So, of course, you want to make sure the person you’ve chosen to capture your special day can put all your worries to rest. That’s always my goal—and that’s why I’ve put together this convenient list of my 6 most frequently asked questions. Go ahead and dive in!

How many hours of coverage do we need?

This depends on your unique wedding day structure and the events you’re planning to incorporate! Typically, my couples hire me for 8 hours, beginning with getting ready/pre-ceremony shenanigan photos early in the day, all the way up until the DJ or band plays the last song of the night. This allows me to tell the full story of your amazing day. The getting ready period is always full of fun, exciting, silly, emotional, raw, real moments that make for amazing photos, and I highly recommend including it in your photography coverage! Typically, with this portion included, 8 hours allows for plenty of time to spread the day’s events out a little (so you don’t have to stress about jumping from one thing to the next). But don’t worry too much about the number of hours when you first begin your search for a New England wedding photographer—most will allow you to add more time later on. (This is always an option I offer.)

Should we hire a planner/day-of coordinator?

The short answer: Yes.

The longer/more detailed answer: Planning a wedding should be exciting and fun, not stressful. But it can be a lot to tackle on your own, and that’s where having a planner or coordinator comes in. Working with the right wedding planner takes the stress out of the experience and leaves you with just the fun stuff!

When it comes right down to it, wedding planners have the tools and knowledge to show you how your vision is coming together along the way, and honestly, nothing is more exciting than that. You know that feeling you got when you arrived for your long-awaited tattoo appointment and saw the gorgeous design that was about to become part of you forever? Think of your wedding planner as the tattoo artist of your big day.

Another great thing about having a planner/coordinator is that they will help the day run more smoothly. And as your photographer, I’ll be in near-constant communication with your day-of coordinator to make sure I’m capturing all the big moments (and, of course, all the little ones in between).

colorful flower bouquet at New England wedding

Are you LGBTQ-friendly?

Absolutely. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community myself, I feel extremely lucky to live and work in a place and time where LGBTQ+ wedding celebrations are becoming much more visible. No matter how you identify, I want to capture your special day authentically and artistically.

lesbian couple taking engagement photos with smoke bomb in Massachusetts

How long have you been a photographer?

I fell in love with photography when I was 12 years old and have been honing my craft ever since. I have a bachelor’s degree in photography and have now been working as a professional photographer for five years. I absolutely adore my job and have never once taken it for granted!

You can read more about me & my photography background here!

I’m feeling a bit lost in this whole wedding planning thing! Can you recommend any other vendors?

For sure! I have connections with lots of other amazing Boston wedding vendors who share my strong belief that you deserve a totally unique, awesome, unforgettable day. Check out this blog post for a list of my favorite (and highly recommended) vendors, including florists, planners, stationery designers, and more.

blurred vision wedding band playing at the cape club of sharon - by a New England wedding photographer

Do you have any tips to make us feel less awkward in front of the camera?

If this is a worry you’ve had when thinking about hiring a wedding photographer and videographer, know that you are not alone. But, you might be surprised by how comfortable you actually end up feeling if you’re not focusing so much on posing perfectly as you are simply having fun with your partner and loved ones! That’s what my style of photography is all about. I’ll direct and guide you in a very laid-back way, getting you both loosened up and laughing for very authentic, true-to-you portraits.

couple walking on wedding day at outdoor farm wedding in Massachusetts