Last weekend, I made the trip to Nashville to see Alex and take our engagement photos. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the portrait session since I’ve never taken photos with another person before (i.e., couple photos). Leading up to the photo shoot, I had a million questions about what to wear, how it would work, where we should take the photos, etc. But, I knew I could trust the judgement of our amazing photographers, Erin and Mike Lesnick from Lesnick Photo.
Finding a photographer who brings a vast amount of experience to the table and a fun personality is essential to 1) getting good photos and 2) having fun while you’re taking the photos. Looking back on the past two months, I realize now I knew nothing about wedding photography when we first got engaged, and I wish someone had given me guidance on the right questions to ask and what to look for in a wedding photographer. (Side note: We’re extremely lucky to have such helpful photographers who’ve helped us figure this out!)
Whether you’re a newly engaged couple or a family looking to do a portrait session, this blog is for you. Read below as Erin Lesnick shares her insights and guidance on what to look for in a photographer, tips for feeling and looking your best during a photo session, and how to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck!
How did you get into the photography business and how would you describe your style? Photography has been a lifelong hobby and passion for both of us. My father was a wedding, event and portrait photographer growing up and Mike developed an interest in photography when he was a teen. In 2002, Mike photographed his first wedding and began developing his career in photography.
We have been photographing weddings and portraits together since we met in 2011. Coming from different backgrounds, we independently developed our own unique perspectives and photography techniques. A clear example of this is the fact that I am a Canon shooter and Mike is a Nikon shooter.
Alex, me, Erin, and Mike at the Lebanon Airport (Tennessee) where we took some of our engagement pictures.
While growing up in the Manassas, VA area, Mike spent a lot of time with his dad who was Fire Chief of the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company. At the age of 15, he ran a call with him; they got to a home that was on fire and the Chief tossed Mike his camera, asking him to take pictures. Mike started clicking away and immediately felt the enjoyment he still feels today when capturing a photo. He started to take pictures of friends and family and in high school began working as an assistant to a local wedding photographer to gain experience. As he perfected his skills and style, he really started to see how much he loved the art of photography and wanted to make a career out of it, capturing and sharing his art with others.
I have been around photography my whole life. My father was a wedding and portrait photographer growing up, and I picked up a lot of my technique from him. When I started dating Mike (who was already a full-time wedding and portrait photographer) I started assisting him with his weddings. I soon replaced Mike’s assistants and now work side by side with Mike as a lead photographer.
Having such strong backgrounds in photography, when we come together we make an amazing team. Over the years, we have developed a system for photographing weddings, portraits and events. This system ensures that we never miss a moment and deliver images that will be an everlasting reminder of the special moments in your life through a journalistic style of photography. Having a journalistic style of photography means that we strive to cover everything, all of the moments as well as details to bring your gallery together in a way that makes it so you can relive everything that happened that day.
What’s your favorite part about photographing weddings and engagements? We really enjoy the challenge that comes with every session, event, or wedding. Each thing we photograph is new. Whether it be the location, décor, or just the people, it’s ever changing, and that makes it so much fun for us.
What are the top three questions a bride-to-be should ask when choosing a photographer? First and most important is to find a photographer that has a style that appeals to you. Every photographer photographs weddings differently, and it’s important to find one with a style that you like. Keep in mind that portfolio images can be deceptive so be sure to browse full wedding galleries to ensure that you consistently like the style of images delivered. The other key factor when selecting a photographer is personality. Always meet in person (or at least phone conference) with your prospective photographers and select one that you like. The photographer is going to be by your side almost the entire day of your wedding, so having a person that fits your personality is a must. The third would be image delivery: A lot of photographers/photography companies will come in at a low price point to grab your attention but then charge you on the back end for receiving your images. We’ve dealt with quite a few people who have hired someone at a low price but then ended up paying more than double at the end of the day so that they had all of the images. That’s absolutely something that we despise and because of that we deliver all of our images in full resolution through an online gallery where you can download the images for free as well as share them with your family and friends. It’s also very important to ask your photographer what type of editing they do. Some photographers will take the photos and then deliver everything they took with minimal, if any, editing. Make sure you’re getting what you pay for, and your photographer is taking the time to cull out the images they aren’t delivering and touch up the images that they are delivering. It seems silly now but later when you look at that beautiful photo of you walking down the aisle I don’t think you’re going to want to see a giant Exit sign above your head.
Are there any hidden fees or contract agreements someone should ask about before booking a photographer? I mentioned in the previous about checking for how you would receive your images – that’s definitely something that you should make sure to do before hiring anyone, specifically checking to make sure that you aren’t receiving “proofs” or images with watermarks. The only other big things that you need to check for are how many hours your photographer will be with you, if there’s a second shooter (and if so, are they a lead shooter or an assistant?), and if there are any travel fees. Always check for usage rights for the images as well to make sure that you’re allowed to share the images on social media and print as needed.
What can a bride or groom do to ensure they’re prepared for their photo shoot? (e.g., outfits, location prep, pose ideas, etc.) Definitely book early and be sure to give yourself at least a month before you need to send out your save the dates in order to ensure there’s enough time for your photographer to edit and deliver your whole engagement gallery. We recommend bringing a blanket to sit on if you’ll be in a wooded area or park. We love working with clients that have dogs, but make sure to check with your photographer first if you want to include your furry friend. If you do bring them, make sure to have a friend come along as well so that they can watch your pup while you get some photos of just the two of you. Always feel free to bring props – I’ve never met a photographer that hasn’t enjoyed having a client show up with something fun to work with! If it’s really hot out and you’re afraid you’re going to be sweating and it’ll show up on your clothes, wear simple solid colors, they’re much easier to edit and it shouldn’t be a problem for a trained photographer to remove those sweat marks.
If a couple is on a tight budget, what are some ways they can compromise yet still receive quality photos? (e.g., no engagement photos, no full-day coverage, etc.) Most photographers are willing to work with brides and grooms. They understand that weddings are expensive and that you probably have a budget you need to stick to. Sometimes pricing can only go to a certain point and you might not come to an agreement, but always take the time to talk to your photographer and lay out your budget for them. They might be able to make it work for you or at least recommend someone else that would be within your range. We typically don’t recommend avoiding the engagement session if possible as it’s a great way to work with your photographer before your big day, and a great way to see how they are behind the camera as well as for them to see how you are in front of the camera. If your budget is a bit tighter I would definitely recommend getting married in the winter. Most venues and vendors will give discounts during the winter months (ours is November – February) and if you still would like winter wedding prices but during the summer, weekday weddings are usually discounted around winter wedding prices.
Are there any couple poses that always look good? Are there any couple poses that look awkward on camera? There’s the old standard of “sit, stand, lean” which always works well to create unique poses in different settings. Every couple photographs differently, and a good photographer will be able to mold their style and poses into a great fit for the couple. Some poses even depend on your comfort level. For example, we don’t want you to kiss if you’re really uncomfortable with kissing in front of the camera, we don’t take offense to that at all. The more comfortable you are in front of the camera, the better the photos are going to turn out. Typically our favorite shots are the ones where we tell the couple to look at each other and just talk and be themselves. Also, try to remember to close your eyes when you kiss, that can be a bit awkward looking.
For businesses like yours that let couples print their own photos, what printing service do you recommend for high-quality prints? It’s going to sound silly, but we definitely recommend Costco. They generally use top of the line printers at extremely reasonable prices, although you do need a membership.
Mack of All Trades 