HOW TO BOOK A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER WITH CONFIDENCE AND EASE | DETROIT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Have you ever made a decision that you didn’t feel comfortable with or confident about? Well, I sure have and it feels awful. I’ve made big decisions in the past that didn’t sit right and made me feel sick. They were decisions that were large investments, yet I wasn’t fully educated on all of my options, I didn’t fully know the experience I was investing in, and I was rushed in my decision. Let me tell you, it didn’t feel good. Maybe you’ve had a similar experience at a car dealership, when purchasing a quality piece of furniture, or even investing in a home. Those are big decisions and you absolutely want to be fully confident and comfortable making those.

Well, planning a wedding is exactly the same thing. It’s a series of investments and big decisions and it can be overwhelming. I never want my couples to feel that way. I never want to “sell” them on anything. I want to educate them, guide them, and help them make the best decisions for themselves, and their day. I promise that my couples will be comfortable and confident in booking me as their wedding photographer and beyond. If you’re interested in booking me as your photographer or not, here’s how you can book your wedding photographer with confidence and ease!

UNDERSTAND VALUES

Before you jump into the investment, make sure you understand what the photographer values and what they believe in at their core. Sure, photographers want to take beautiful photographs, but it should be deeper than that.

My promise.

I promise to be fully transparent and honest with my couples and educate them on all the aspects of wedding photography, including wedding planning and timelines that impact their day. I promise to guide them without ever making them feel pressure and ensure they are comfortable with their decision, whatever it may be.

I promise to provide support and resources, like tips for planning engagement sessions, including location suggestions, and educate them on how to prepare to be photographed.

I promise my couples that they are going to feel comfortable and at ease while being present in the moment with the one they love.

I promise to capture that authenticity with creative spirit and sincerity so that they have photographs that tell the story of them in a timeless way to leave a lasting legacy.

I believe.

I believe in integrity over popularity and am dedicated to providing an exceptional experience that goes beyond documenting the wedding. I provide support and guidance throughout the entire process while prioritizing what’s important to them on the wedding day. Especially with wedding reschedules, I offer support and flexibility. I serve with enthusiasm, generosity, and dependability.

I believe that to the best wedding photographer I can be, I need to be fully present and prioritize weddings above everything else. I only book 20 weddings per year so that I have enough time to dedicate to each couple, giving them all of my attention, fully. I don’t just offer an experience on their wedding day, but I’m there to support them throughout the process.

I believe that all the moments, especially those in-between are valuable and should be documented timelessly. I have experience with the intimacy of elopements and the excitement of big weddings. I can document confidently outdoors in any situation (rain, sunshine, wind), and can capture moments indoors that are timeless and natural.

I believe that my job is not only to document but curate moments that display authenticity and love. I am uniquely gifted at blending into the background from center stage to not distract from what’s most important, the couple. Yet, I don’t expect the couple to know how to “pose.” I guide them through the day with ease and authenticity so that they are comfortable and confident.

KNOW THE EXPERIENCE

Almost every professional wedding photographer with years of experience, an artful eye, and a burning passion can capture amazing wedding photographs that are absolutely stunning. But it’s not just the pretty photographs that matter. Make sure you know what your wedding photographer offers, what the experience will be like, and what their couples are saying about them. Testimonials from other couples are a valuable insight into the experience you’ll receive and the quality of photography.

What I offer.

To ensure my couples are confident and comfortable with their photography decision and wedding photography experience, I offer collections that clearly outline what they’ll receive while offering custom collections to meet the needs of their day perfectly. Every collection includes:

• Unlimited planning consultations and custom timeline creation

• Artfully edited photographs with a sneak peek gallery within after a few days

• A beautifully curated wedding gallery within 6 weeks that tells the full story

• An online gallery with high-resolution downloads and print services

• Printing and downloading rights of the wedding photographs

• A gifted USB with a wooden archival box and hand-selected prints

• In-home or virtual album and print consultation

For intimate weddings and elopements, I offer specific collections that suit their celebrations and tell the story of their wedding day, from micro weddings and minimonies to adventurous elopements. I know and understand the differences between an intimate wedding versus a larger celebration and I offer photography services that cater to those unique qualities. I help guide my couples who are eloping or planning intimate gatherings and ensure that they receive the best experience possible.

I also understand that following the wedding, printing wedding photographs, and creating their heirloom wedding album can be overwhelming. It’s not uncommon for couples to wait years to hang up their wedding photographs and never get a physical album of their wedding day. To best serve my couples, I offer consultations in the comfort of their home for albums and prints. I bring samples of albums, cover options, and their entire wedding album created digitally for them to review. I help them tell the story of their day and I allow them to make as many changes as necessary so they are confident in their album. If they desire, I also help my couples design the print collection in their home. We evaluate their space, what photographs they’d love displayed, and I help them curate their own print gallery in their space that will remind them daily of their love.

It may seem outdated, but printed photographs are the best record you can have. They are physical, tangible, beautiful reminders of love. In 10-20 years, who knows if a USB will even work, and those digital downloads, where did you save them? But that beautiful heirloom wedding album on your bookshelf, or coffee table and those prints hanging in your home, those will be there for good. My wedding photographs hang in my bedroom and when I crawl into bed, if I am annoyed at my husband after a long day, when I look at those photographs I’m brought right back to those emotions I felt that day of complete infatuation and my annoyance fades. While memories fade, those photographs don’t. Especially since they’re printed on high-quality archival paper, but that’s a different story for another day.

From my couples.

My couples choose Nicole Leanne Photography because they trust me. They know that I will be by their side through the entire process, guiding them, supporting them, encouraging them. Their fears are eliminated through open communication, timely responses, and defining their desires for their wedding photographs.

“There were lots of changes in plans and back and forth as we tried to navigate. Nicole helped us through it all and was so flexible. Nicole is heartfelt, funny and genuinely cares about you.”

- Dara + Griffin

“She really listens and cares about making you feel comfortable in front of the camera. Her responsiveness and turnaround time for pictures has been incredibly fast, communication is definitely one of her many strengths.”

- Hope + Lee

My couples know when their day comes, they don’t need to worry about their photographs or the timeline of their day because comfort and confidence have been established before they even step in front of the camera. They are confidently assured that I will document their day authentically with a creative spirit. They know that I will navigate each situation with preparedness and ease.

“She seamlessly navigates all situations with professionalism and poise! We absolutely love Nicole, she is extremely gifted and caring.”

- Anne + Joe

My couples understand the value of wedding photography, the heart, and soul that goes into each aspect, and the legacy of photographs they will receive in return. When their wedding is over and they have their photographs in their hand, they realize that their investment was worth every image that portrays their true emotions and personalities in a timeless manner.

“Nicole is creative and expressive, and she leads you and guides you throughout the experience without it being awkward. She somehow manages to merge timeless, natural, edgy, and modern all in one."

- Melissa + Daniel

“Every time I look at the pictures from our wedding I love them more. Nicole was amazing and our pictures are beautiful! I can’t wait to have them displayed in our home.”

- Anne + Sean

By understanding my values and what I believe, my couples are comfortable with allowing me to step into the intimacy of their relationship and document that authenticity. Being fully educated on what I offer while receiving proof from past couples, my couples are able to confidently trust me to capture one of the most significant days in their lives thus far.

BE CONFIDENT

As you're searching for your wedding photographer, ensure that you fully know the experience you're investing in and are not rushed into a big decision, and investment that will impact the photographs that you will have for a lifetime and beyond. If you feel confident that I could document your wedding and provide an exceptional experience, simply reach out to inquire if I’m available for your wedding day! If you’re still unsure and want to know more, that’s okay! Remember, I want you to be fully comfortable in this decision, so reach out and let’s talk through your uncertainties. I’d love to guide you through this experience!

Regardless of whether or not you’ve booked a photographer or interested in booking me, I’d love to offer you something to help you plan your wedding with assurance! You can check out my wedding planning checklist or my favorite wedding planning apps guide!

Alright friends, I hope that this information has given you insight into what I value and offer. I hope that you feel confident in selecting your wedding photographer, even if it’s not me! But it would be pretty cool, right?

All my love,

Do you want to know more about the experience you desire and deserve? Head here to learn about the full experience.

There are always frequently asked questions, so I made a list just for you! If you’re interested in booking, check out my FAQ to get more information!

Curious about the investment? I get it! Reach out and let’s talk about your unique day and all the moments you want beautifully documented.