expectations are a big deal to me
here is a timeline of what to expect when planning your wedding with me!
Your wedding day is a big deal and you are entrusting me with a huge job!
The whole purpose of this “What to Expect Guide” is to share with you what to expect with me as your photographer the entire time before, during, and after your wedding.
I hope you find this as useful and as important as I do!
what to expect :
now
book your wedding
Are you ready to book your wedding photography with Ella Johnson Photography? Yay! I am so excited and honored to be a part of your big day. Please email me when you are ready to book. Include which package you are thinking you want to book as of now (this can change in the future as you plan your wedding day more) and any other information you’d like me to know! If you are still unsure of how many hours you are wanting to book, this is totally okay (and normal - often times people book me as their photographer before they have planned the majority of their wedding day) and we can discuss this in the future as more details of your day are finalized.
After hearing that you are ready to book, I will send you a contract to sign online and an invoice for you to pay the non-refundable booking fee. This can be paid online through the Honeybook invoice, via cash or check (mailed or brought to me), or via Venmo. This will secure me for your specific wedding date. I cannot guarantee photographing you your wedding date until the contract has been signed and the booking fee has been paid. This booking fee is applied to your total investment.
next up…
plan your complimentary engagement session
Your complimentary engagement session can happen whenever after booking! At your time of booking, I would also love for you to send me an email with some preferred times you would like to have your engagement session! This could include seasons or months, and also what days and time of day work great for you and your love for your engagement session. I will then compare this with my availability and send you some possible dates! Your engagement session is a great time for us to get to know each other and create beautiful images of you and your love in a natural and relaxed setting. It is also a great time to think about things that make you two special or different, and if you’d like to capture that in a creative way! I typically call or FaceTime my couples 2-4 weeks before the engagement session to discuss locations, outfits, and any inspiration or ideas you may have.
what to expect : between now and your wedding date
continue planning your lovely day!
Planning your wedding is such an exciting, memorable, and personal time for you and your love! My biggest advice is to remember what this day is all about - you two and celebrating your love! Try your hardest to not get too caught up in the stress and crazy details of it all, even though I know this is so easy to do!
There are some AMAZING wedding planners in Lincoln and Omaha. I would highly recommend using a resource like this if your budget allows. The investment is well worth it.
During this planning time, I love it when my couples keep me in the loop! Whether it be your dress you are so excited about, a moment in your day you are crazy pumped about… anything! I can guarantee you I am just as excited as you and would love to be updated about anything and everything in your process of planning! In addition to this, if there are any major changes in your plans, such as location, timing, etc., please please please let me know!
As you are planning out all of the timing of your wedding, this would be a good time to decide (if you haven’t yet) if you are wanting your final investment to be in the 8, 10, or 12 hour coverage options.
When thinking through some “photo moments” timing, I would always recommend …
however much coverage you want of you/your partner getting ready (typically I’ll start that coverage approx. 45 minutes - 1.5 hours before everyone gets dressed)
allowing 30+ minutes with each (or sometimes just bride) separately to capture “getting dressed” portraits
approx. 20 minutes for each of your first look(s) (if applicable)
45-60 minutes for family photos (depending on size)
45 minutes for wedding party photos
45 minutes - 1+ hours for special portraits of you and your love together
I also always recommend all photos be done about 45 minutes - 1 hour before ceremony time. This allows us a little extra buffer time if anything runs behind, and also time to chill, do any touchups, and cool off if necessary!
one other important thing to think about as you create your timeline is travel time to and from locations, and if we want to go to a different location (i.e. downtown, a park, etc.) for some of the photos.
** With any questions you have during your planning process, please email me or we can schedule a time to call or FaceTime! **
what to expect :
3 months before
planning meeting
I will reach out to you to schedule a time to chat about some wedding details. This meeting will typically be over call/FaceTime/Zoom.
During this meeting time we will :
create a cohesive timeline for your day
answer any questions/concerns you may have
I will share some questionnaires with you
discuss/decide the coverage you are booking
update your invoice
review questionnaires
I will send you a few questionnaires online at this meeting time. The first will include space for you to think through your “shot list” for your family photos and wedding party photos. This is super important to review and fill out, as it will make the formal photos portion of your day go incredibly smooth. More details are explained on the individual questionnaire. Another questionnaire is about family dynamics and any requested photos. I ask that all of these are completed and sent back to me by two weeks before your wedding date - or as soon as you wish prior to that. This helps me plan accordingly and also allows you time to not stress about those details a few days before and on your big day.
what to expect :
1 month before
review meeting
I will reach out to you to schedule a time to chat about some more final wedding details. This meeting will typically be over call/FaceTime/Zoom. At this time, we should have the layout of your day pretty solid.
During this meeting time we will :
go over the timeline we have made for your day and add in any more details or changes
confirm exact locations we will be at
review the questionnaires I have sent
clarify any other questions you or I have
what to expect :
2 weeks before
pay remaining investment
The rest of your investment is due two weeks before your wedding date. Review late payment fees in your contract. You will have been sent an up to date invoice and contract prior this time. Payment may be made online, via cash or check mailed to me, or Venmo. Payment can also be completed at any time before to this two weeks prior due date.
make sure all questionnaires have been completed
Please have the questionnaires sent completed and sent back to me. This helps me plan accordingly and also allows you time to not stress about those small details a few days before your big day. I will send reminders at this time if I have yet to recieve them from you, as one week before I print these and the timeline for me to have with me on the wedding day.
what to expect :
1 week before
final review
I’ll reach out to you one week before your wedding day via text! This is a time for us to review all of our plans, answer any questions you may have, and reassure any worries that may still be present. Once I know we are set to go I will print off your completed questionnaires and timeline for me to have during your wedding day. (Yay for organization!)
take some time to relax
I mean it! You have spent so long planning for this amazing day. Whether it be a bubble bath, a date night, a massage, or whatever your favorite things are - do something fun and relaxing for yourself or together. You deserve it.
what to expect :
your wedding day
celebrate the best day ever!
THE DAY HAS COME! YAY! I am just as excited and pumped as you.
This day is all for you two and your love. Embrace it! I will be here to capture every special moment.
Now, it’s a wedding day. Weather happens. Changes happen. Things don’t go as planned. I have never photographed a wedding that has gone exactly as planned and that is the beauty of it all. We will be flexible and make everything the best it can be! I am so honored to be here.
If you hired a second photographer, they will be with us for 8 hours of the wedding day. If a second photographer was not hired, I may bring an assistant with me if I feel like I need it. I will of course run this by you prior to your wedding day.
what to expect :
after your wedding
sneak peek photos
Within a few days after your wedding, I will share some sneak peek photos with you. These photos you are welcome to share, love, and cherish until your full gallery has been sent.
your online gallery
Within approximately 2 months of wedding date, I will share an online gallery with you of all of your professionally edited wedding photos to view and download at high-resolution! You will also be sent an email guide on how to download, share, make purchases, print, and more. I encourage you sharing your gallery and those instructions with family and friends!
testimonial
I love to hear what clients think after working with me, and also to share this on my website and information/investment guides! At some point after your gallery has been delivered, I will send a testimonial questionnaire with you if you wish to fill that out to help me know how you felt about our time together and also to help me grow as a wedding photographer!
thank you for reading!
It means so much to me that you took the time out of your day to review this guide in addition to the investment and information guide. I hope that this cleared up some questions you may have had, and made you excited to book your wedding photography with Ella Johnson Photography. Communication is key to me! If you have any further questions prior to booking, please feel free to email me at ellajohnsonphotography@gmail.com or I would be more than happy to set up a time with you to call or FaceTime to answer any questions and talk things over.
When you are ready to book, follow the instructions under “What to Expect : Now”.
I look forward to hearing from you!
All the love,
Ella Johnson Photography