Vancouver Wedding Photography

How far in advance should you book a wedding photographer in Vancouver?

Your photographer should be one of the first services you book in a standard 12-month wedding planning timeline after your venue. Popular wedding dates are often booked 9 to 18 months in advance by many professional Vancouver wedding photographers.

During each wedding season, there are a few weekends that are extremely jam-packed with weddings. It's not unusual for a Vancouver wedding photographer to shoot three weddings on a single weekend. (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) These wedding weekends, as well as any one-of-a-kind dates that fall on a weekend, like 08/08 and 10/10, will begin to fill up closer to 18 months in advance.

If you're planning a wedding during the peak season in Vancouver, between June and September, you should book your wedding photography at least 12 months in advance. If your wedding is on a Friday or Sunday, waiting until 9 months before the big day to book your photographer is a very reasonable choice. However, if it is peak season in your location, we would not recommend waiting much longer. You may have a hard time finding the best Vancouver wedding photographers who are still available on your chosen date.

Which wedding photography styles do photographers use in Vancouver?

Your wedding photographer will, without a doubt, capture all of the heartfelt moments of your special day and tell your unique story through a sequence of gorgeous photographs. But have you considered which kind of photography will best express your aesthetic and personality as a couple? Here are the most popular Vancouver wedding photography styles to know when choosing your photographer:

• Candid Wedding Photography: Candid wedding photography, also called reportage or photojournalism, will include all sorts of 'behind-the-scenes' images and captures of the lovely moments unfolding spontaneously, all the heartfelt moments, true feelings, and joyful celebrations that come with a wedding. This technique, which has its roots in journalism, captures your wedding day like a fantastic news story by rarely stopping your guests for wedding photos and only providing light direction when the couple requests it.

• Fine Art Wedding Photography: Fine art wedding photography is generally inspired by artistic directors and works of art rather than reportage. It is often shot on real film or in a way that resembles film-like framing. Most Vancouver wedding photographers who work in this approach include a strong storytelling element and a feeling of creative vision in their work. They may take you to specific settings, ask for several poses, and use post-production techniques to enhance the emotional effect of an image in the pursuit of the ultimate shot.

• Traditional Wedding Photography: For decades, these formal wedding photos have been regarded as wedding album standards since they are both functional and ageless. You're familiar with the look: posed wedding party photos and traditional moments like post-ceremony family shots, the first dance, and, of course, cake cutting. For many of these must-have images, you can anticipate your wedding photographer to clearly guide or direct you, making it an ideal option for couples who aren't used to being in front of a camera.

• Contemporary Wedding Photography: When most people think of wedding photography, they generally think of contemporary style. A photographer uses a combination of portraits and photojournalism in this approach, but it still relies on a wedding shot-list and the photographer's editing style to make it apart. This is perhaps the most popular type of wedding photography.

How much does a wedding photographer cost in Vancouver?

One of the questions we get asked the most is, "how much should a wedding photographer cost in Vancouver?”. Wedding photography prices vary greatly in this beautiful city, and many factors affect it. The average cost of wedding photography is $3800 for 8 hours of coverage, with around half of wedding photographers including an engagement photography session and pre-wedding photos in that price.

During the summer, most Vancouver and Vancouver Island wedding photographers have a minimum of 6 or 8 hours of coverage (May-October). Most couples request ten hours of coverage for their big day, which allows the photographer to capture a portion of the couple getting ready in the morning as well as the first dance in the evening. Weddings with various cultural traditions (Chinese, Indian wedding photography) or long travel times (destination wedding photography) will almost always require 12 hours of coverage. While there are rare exceptions, coverage is usually consecutive hours.

To find more affordable wedding photography options and relatively cheap wedding photographers in Vancouver, consider having a mid-week celebration in the off-peak season, late fall and winter. Start researching as soon as possible and read many photographer reviews to find the best match for you.

What is included in a wedding photography package in Vancouver?

If you're on the market for a Vancouver wedding photographer, I'm sure you'll need some assistance figuring out wedding photography packages and pricing. What exactly are you paying for? Various photographers will offer different packages that may include everything from prints to extra hours, multiple photographers, wedding albums, and even photo props. Whatever you choose, you can find the following information in almost every package:

• Your wedding photographer's experience and expertise
• Coverage hours
• Editing
• Delivery method
• Wedding albums or prints
• Transportation and accommodation costs if needed
• 2nd shooter or assistant

What questions should you ask a Vancouver-based wedding photographer?

Booking a Vancouver wedding photography vendor is no easy feat. It might be challenging to compare alternatives when there are so many to pick from and so many talents available. When meeting with a photographer, you may want to ask them these 15 questions to help you decide which one is ideal for you.

• Is my date available?
• What is your primary style?
• Do you have liability insurance?
• What kind of equipment do you use?
• Do you have backup equipment?
• What happens when you have an emergency or get sick?
• How would you describe your working style?
• Do you work alone, or do you give the option of a second shooter?
• Have you ever shot at our venue(s) before? Would you visit beforehand?
• Have you ever shot a wedding similar to ours?
• Would you mind adhering to our dress code?
• What information do you need about the day?
• How long will we need to wait before we can see the pictures?
• How will we receive my images, and how many are included in your package?
• How much is a downpayment, and what are the payment methods?

What are the best wedding photo locations in Vancouver?

One of the most popular questions we get asked by couples is, "where to take wedding photos in Vancouver?” Most couples love to make use of the breathtaking nature of this beautiful city. You’ll surely find many amazing engagement and wedding photo locations in Vancouver, and here are the most popular ones:

• Vancouver Aquarium
• Stanley Park
• Vancouver Art Gallery
• Deep Cove
• Jericho Beach and Spanish Banks
• Rice Lake
• Garry Point Park
• Belcarra Regional Park
• Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve
• Porteau Cove