I recently got the best question in a wedding inquiry and it was this:
What sets you apart from other photographers in the area?
Y’all! I have been shooting weddings for seven years and I have never been asked this in an initial inquiry. It was such an awesome question to start a conversation on and I love that the bride thought to ask this so much! I ended up writing the longest response ever (surprise, right?) and I thought I’d share it here, too! This question really made me think and, more importantly, it was so much fun to write.
I’ll post my response after the photo!
Here it is! I love this question! There are so many awesome photographers in Northwest Arkansas! There’s lots of things that set me apart from other photographers but, at first glance, I’d definitely say that the color in my images really stands out. I love color so much and use it in my photographs to convey the happiness and emotions that take place on the wedding day. I really want my images to feel unique to every single wedding – when my couples look back at them, I want them to feel them and not just see them! – and, at every wedding, I really strive to capture the personalities of my couples, their guests, and the overall feel of the day. By using color and light, I’ve been able to create a style that captures weddings in a really unique, memorable way and it’s just so much fun. Photographing weddings is the best!
On top of this, I also have a ton of experience and I can shoot anywhere in any lighting situation. I’m not afraid of shooting in the dark or in crazy bright light and, through experience, I’ve learned how to embrace shooting in any kind of situation – rain, shine, indoor, outdoor – and it’s just such a blast! I’m also the pickiest photographer ever – I take a lot of care with every single photograph in both shooting and post processing so that every single photograph is frameable. It doesn’t matter to me whether it’s a photograph of a cake or a photograph of the bride hugging her grandmother or a gorgeous sunset portrait of the bride and groom – I hand edit every single photograph that I deliver. I want them to shine!
I’ve also had a lot of teaching opportunities and, because of this, I’ve really learned a lot about myself and my shooting process in teaching others. I’ve written two different ebooks for photographers, have mentored so many aspiring photographers, and occasionally teach at nationwide conferences. Since I’ve been able to explain so many different photography techniques and approaches to so many different photographers, I’ve been able to learn so much about photography and I’m very confident in the reasons that I shoot the way that I shoot. I’ve been really lucky to have these experiences!
One more thought! My husband has shot my weddings with me from the very beginning and, since I taught him how to shoot and we have shot together for so long, our work is very seamless. He’s basically a mind reader at this point – ha! – and matches me so well when we shoot. He’s also the most helpful second shooter ever and he’s always doing little things like tying ties or transporting bouquets from one spot to the other (he’s even driven wedding dresses from one location to the other!) and he’s just the best. It’s so fun shooting with him and having him there makes the day extra fun!
Whew!! That was the longest answer ever but so fun to write!
Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you send inquiries to wedding photographers, y’all! I love photography so, so much and getting to answer this question was such a highlight because it was so out of the norm. The more I photograph weddings, the more I believe that every couple has a right photographer for them so, if you’re feeling apathetic or waffling back and forth between different photographers, take a breath and find a photographer you LOVE! Love their work, love hanging out with them, and love their perspective. Find someone who’s confident in a style of wedding photography that you love and don’t even think about letting them go.
Your wedding day is one of the most exciting days of your life – own it!!
Weddings | Engagements | Seniors | Families | Personal
Lissa Chandler is a Southern wedding photographer based in Fayetteville, Arkansas who loves photographing awesome weddings with happy, wildly in love couples. And right before she opened her email the day she responded to this question? She downed a whole lotta coffee.
