Blog Post Collaboration with Beyond the Pines Photography
Authored by Emily Herdine and Kimberly Harber
Speaking as a 2024 bride myself, finding the right photographer was one of the very first items on my wedding to-do list, and it should be yours, too! Why? Your wedding photographer is one of the most critical vendors on your big day. They will freeze time and capture the memories and love you will cherish and hold on to for decades after the wedding. You will show your children these photos, as well as your grandchildren and their grandchildren.
Choosing the right photographer for you and your fiancé can be daunting, but we are here to help! We have teamed up with Beyond the Pines Photography + Video to ask questions and learn more about them! Megan and Alec are the fantastic duo behind Beyond the Pines Photography and Videography. Megan has been a professional photographer since 2009, and Alec joined her in 2016. They have been shooting weddings all around the U.S. ever since.
Their business is full-time, and this gives their couples relief in knowing this is the only thing they do outside of home life. They love working with couples who truly value and trust their work. To Megan and Alec, no matter where they are and whose wedding it is, the couple's day is just as important to them as if it were their own wedding day. Because of that passion and level of trust, every wedding is unique.
Here’s what our Minnesota-based photographer and videographer team has to say about what couples should ask their photographer/videographer before booking…
What essential questions should a couple ask their photographer before hiring them for their wedding?
Beyond the Pines answered:
“We think there are so many important questions to ask, and that alone can seem overwhelming to couples searching for the right Photo & Video team. We usually let our couples know the one question they need to ask any Photographer or Videographer is who will shoot their day? We see it so often in the industry where Vendors are seeking out up to a year in advance someone random from a photo/video group on Facebook to cover the date for them as an “Associate.” Let us first say we are all for having a team. We personally have a team of Associate Photographers and Videographers. The difference is we do not hide that info and then just throw someone we do not know at our couples' day. Every couple should know when they first jump on a call with any Photographer/Videographer if they are going to be hiring who they are talking to and if not, who will it be. They should also ask to see galleries shot by that associate. If they cannot produce that for the couple, we suggest they look elsewhere.
Other questions that piggyback off of that are: “What’s the backup plan if you cannot make it to our wedding?” “How many weddings have you captured as a lead?” “Are the photos on your Instagram and website actual weddings or styled shoots where you controlled the lighting and timeline?”
Are there any questions that impress you or tell you the couple has done their research before reaching out?
Beyond the Pines answered:
“Usually, when they ask to see a full gallery, this means that they love the work they see, but they want to know what a full day feels like. This also shows us they care more about the memories and not just the showstopper images for social media sharing.”
On average, how much are couples in Minnesota spending on photography and/or videography for their wedding?
Beyond the Pines answered:
“I don’t think there is a true average, as everyone’s idea of expensive or budget differs. Our couples spend $5,000+ on Photography or Videography alone. However, there are different ranges for Photographers and Videographers in the Twin Cities.”
Are there any red flags to watch out for from the couple's perspective or the vendor?
Beyond the Pines answered:
“As a couple, a red flag would be BIG COMPANIES with insane offers for full-day coverage of photo and video starting at $1,800, and that have no information about who will be shooting your day on their website or in their pricing guides. Let alone no information on the about tab. These companies will hire out any Photographer and Videographer that will take the job and pay them hourly. We are always telling couples on our calls to vet their Photographer and Videographer, and any vendor really to be sure that if they do have a team, that they have transparency with who is on the team. Most of those large companies are not even local to the state & have never even stepped foot in the locations and places they claim to serve. Do not get us wrong, we think it perfectly okay to take on a wedding in a new place. But when you hire someone personally they should be doing the research and location scouting in advance. Have a sense of belonging to that area and know the locations that they can photograph in.
Additionally, as a vendor, a couple that puts zero trust in you is a red flag. You are the professional; your couple should trust that your experience and professionalism will give them the best results for their day with the services you offer. If they micromanage your expertise from the inquiry call, run.
Do you require couples to meet you before booking?
Beyond the Pines answered:
“Yes, we require every single couple to meet in person or hop on a zoom call. We feel it is critical to our experience with each couple and truly helps in connecting with them. We interview them just as much as they interview us. Also, you should always try to meet your photographer/videographer prior to booking initially. They will be an important part of your wedding day and you should want them to feel like a friend and not just a vendor.”
As a wedding planner/coordinator, the photographer is an essential vendor team member. If the couple has done their due diligence before booking, things will be much smoother on the wedding day. Thank you to Beyond the Pines for answering our questions!
Photos by Beyond the Pines Photography
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