“How Do I Choose a Wedding Photographer?” | Tips for the Bride to Be | Wedding Photography

If you want to look like the image on the right: ASK your potential wedding photographers the below questions! If you don’t ask you can’t be upset if you still see that last minute breakout, etc… Remember: “EDIT” to some photographers doesn’t mean “retouched”!

I used to plan weddings way back before I ever picked up a camera professionally, and here’s a list I compiled way back then to help find the photographer you’re looking for when you email prospective photographers.

I urged my Brides to ask these questions to make sure quality expectations are met, and that there were no surprises when they got their finished images back.

Truthfully I’m saddened every time I hear a story where a bad photo experience could’ve been prevented.  All it takes is a few simple questions.  Since different Photographers have different styles, AND since some HIDE their real work behind only a few “best” images on their site….make sure your style and skill level expectations mesh with theirs!

One gal recently told me her friend’s wedding photographer only edited the first 100 images, and had a charge per image after the first 100 to edit more. A fact she was only made aware of AFTER the fact…that was a sad, and unnecessary blind side. So, KNOW before you sign a contract…and by all means…SIGN.A.CONTRACT!!!!

Here are a few popular questions to ask your potential Wedding photographer
(or Senior, Boudoir, Family, newborn, etc…) Because really it’s a once
in a lifetime memory…and you don’t get a “do-over”!

1) What retouching do you do? Do you retouch at all? If I have wrinkles, dark
circles or big under eye bags will you remove or soften them? Whiten
teeth? Soften skin? Remove blemishes or stretch marks?
2) Does the disc of images I get contain Hi, medium, or Low res images?
What size can we print up to?
3) Will the disc have your watermark on the images?
4) Do you know what angles to shoot (or NOT shoot) from if I’m slightly
plump or have larger folks in my pictures?
5) Natural light…Do you know how to shoot indoors with and WITHOUT a
flash? I don’t want shadows or red-eye in the Church or reception!
6) How do you handle “blinkers” or “squinters”?
7) How many images do you retouch?
8) How many images do you actually edit? What are the charges to
edit/retouch?
9) Will you show me an entire gallery from a wedding that you’ve shot?
10) Do you give instruction on how to pose or move?

11) My venue is a Church and they have a restriction on photographer’s not being allowed in the sanctuary during ceremonies (or they’re allowed only behind the last row of pews).  Is this a problem for you?

Optional questions:

12) What kinds of professional products do you offer to help me display my images around our new home?

13) What’s your turnaround time?

14) Do you travel? How far? Have passport, will travel? Travel fees?

15) If I have family and friends who want images are you equipped to handle their orders so I don’t get stuck with the bill, and ordering all of those images?

Once you have these answers review the entire wedding gallery they link you to CAREFULLY!  Do people look professionally posed or awkward?  They may say they edit every image, but do they all look cohesive…do they all look edited the same way?  If not are you OK with that edit/not edit style?  If you’re wanting more “candid” images, and they have mostly “smile and look at the camera” images you may want to keep looking, and vice versa if you want more traditional “poses” or “mom shots”.

NOTE: Some photographers may say they retouch, but look at close-ups of the bride and groom specifically.  Are their pores deep, dark, and harsh? Do they have dark bags under their eyes…I call them “laugh bags”? Yellow teeth? Blemishes? Stretch marks? Red Eyes? Harsh shadows or strong orange or yellow casts in the inside shots? Are the images STRAIGHT or crooked? Glasses glare? And so on. Ask yourself “AM I OK WITH THAT?”

Not every professional photographer is an editing and retouching freak like me…it’s not their style, or maybe they don’t know how yet. And to each their own, but make sure you’re not expecting super smooth, flawless skin, and white teeth when they only do color and b&w editing. Make sure you’re not expecting slimming angles for fluffier frames when the skinny people in their gallery look wide.

Note:  ”EDITING” does NOT = RETOUCHING! DO NOT ASSUME this! Ask!

Why do I urge every Bride to ask these questions  Well….If you don’t ask you have no right to be upset later.  Of course we put our best work out front for the world to see, who doesn’t?  It’s the actual full Monty of a recent wedding that will speak VOLUMES. So, ask and review, and above all have PEACE about your decisions. Weddings are meant to be fun, so make sure you’re going to be able to relive that fun AFTER the fact…through your images!

Happy Wedding Planning & keep on rockin’

-Braska Jennea

BONUS!  Guess what!  There’s MORE great Wedding Planning Freebies within this blog!!!  Check out the links below for more outside the box Wedding Planning Wisdom.

Part 1: Your Best Photos

Part 2: More About Budgets, Locations, and PHOTOS!

Part 3: Maids & Men, Looking Your Best, and TIME Management!

Part 4: The W.E.A.K. Wedding Emergency Aide Kit

My Best Friend’s Wedding | Leah + Tyler | Whitestone Country Inn | Knoxville, TN Photographer

Leah and I have literally grown-up together.  God never gave me a sister by birth, but He gave me one by heart!  She’s younger than me, and since we’ve lived beside each other since she came in to this world I consider her my little sister.  No matter what life has thrown at us we’re always there for the other when needed…somehow knowing without a word being said.

I shot their Engagement session this past early Spring and then her Bridal Portraits in downtown Nashville, TN when I planned her Bachelorette weekend there in the Summer. Check the Bridals out here. Back last November we’d discussed me shooting the wedding AND being the Maid of Honor…a task I was somewhat familiar with as I’d just shot and been a Bridesmaid for another friend’s wedding in October.  But as crunch time came down to it there just simply wasn’t going to be enough time for me to do it all with “just a little help” from a second shooter.  So, she booked a wonderful photographer to shoot in my place!

The wedding was held at a favorite wedding spot of mine, Whitestone Country Inn, in Kingston (near Knoxville) Tennessee.  It’s insanely picturesque even on cloudy days…which we were met with on our Thursday arrival for the Friday ceremony.  You can see some stunning images from their Bridal Fair this past Winter here.  It was pouring, and according to the radar was supposed to continue that pattern for the next 24 hours!  We ALL began to pray…especially me…even though the ceremony and reception were indoors, because it’s just to gorgeous of a location to not be able to grab outdoor pictures…and if there’s one thing that you must have for wedding pictures…it’s outdoor shots!

We woke up Friday morning to a few sprinkles, had a delicious breakfast from their buffet, and had manicures before we headed to our room to get ready. By about lunch time the clouds were parting, and I just knew it was going to be amazing weather.  Hooray!

The photographer, Britt, arrived while we were getting ready, but allowed me to shoot here and there…of course when I wasn’t IN the shots! Lol!  Here are a few of the goodies I got to capture from My Best Friend’s Wedding!  I wish these two wonderful loves the happiest and most wonderful marriage God can grant…Lord knows they deserve it! Love ya’ll!!!

Wade Cousins – Easter 2013 – Athens, TN Child Photographer

I love my family. We’re so spread out though that getting to see each other is literally years apart! So, when I found out my long lost cousin Helen was bringing her, and her Hubby Alex’s, little darling Alexa Claire up from Tampa to visit her mom, my great-aunt Lai, I HAD to see them! I love the power of Facebook for one thing and one thing only….keeping up with my family and friends….I’d seen pictures of her, but I knew I needed my lens on her!

THEN it got better! Helen told me my cousin Billy’s wife, Joanne, was bringing William and Ella up that weekend as well. I’d never met Ella either, and hadn’t seen William since he was a babe!

Now, if you’ve ever been in front of my lens then you know I’m prone to outbursts in either English, Scottish, or other random accent…HEY, it always garners a laugh…and laughter is photographic GOLD! SO…imagine my delight seeing my English Cousin Joanne walk in with their 2 ENGLISH ACCENT children! I DIE! Absolutely adorable faces…and then those accents…of course my southern twang…I’m sure they didn’t know what to think! Ha!

We headed outside on Uncle Bill (“Mac” to the rest of us) and Lai’s land to the barn and field in the back. I remember those fields….the huge brahama bull that followed Uncle Mac around like his pet. Working in the garden with them, my mom, and dad, and always admiring Lai’s flower beds.

Seeing their grandbabies run around that field and sit in front of that barn made me happy. I know He’d have loved to see them out there, but I’m glad Lai got to see it. I’m glad I got to capture them on the same land where their parents grew up, and played. Maybe next time we can grab some images with the big drain under the road

Alexa Claire was skeptical of the bunny, but William, and especially Ella, had no fear. When she stuck the bunny ears on the bunny…well…you’ll see!

I didn’t know it until later that evening, but this weekend was the first time these 3 of the Wade grandbabies had met! It took a bit for Alexa to warm up to allll of us new faces, but once we were back inside the sweetness that is family came roaring out and Alexa Clare was a bundle of laughter and energy!

Then while Ella was showing Alexa something on the iPad they cuddled up next to each other so sweetly… I had to grab my camera. And then came William with his and it was couch time for the cousins…nothing like family!

Aunt Lai fixed her famous fried rice and cabbage salad with some delicious egg rolls a loving friend had brought her. (Hers are by far and beyond the best you’ll ever taste…no seriously! but these were good!)…and the kids had tacos! Ha! Joanne and I will never fully admit to the number of egg rolls we polished off so just don’t ask

I hung around and we talked a little while longer, and I can’t wait for the next mini, or full , Wade reunion! My camera and I are ready!

Love you and miss you all! Thank you for letting me capture your babies…hope you love them all like I do!

A Huntsville Engagement – Laura + Ryan – Big Spring Park, Huntsville, AL

It never ceases to amaze me the wonderful couples that my passion and profession brings into my life…and in front of my lens. Two such people are Laura + Ryan!

I can’t wait for their July Wedding at Burritt on the Mountain in beautiful Huntsville. Watching them behind the camera just for their engagement session tells me it’s going to be sheer magic!  The love they display towards one another just made me grin behind the camera the whole time!

I headed down for the afternoon, and after a week of rather warm temps it, of course, decided the day of our session would be COLD…and windy! Oh well…at least the sun was shining!  I’ll take that!

They led us to a place I’d never heard of, but quickly fell in love with. Big Spring Park which is a KOI POND/STREAM flowing from a rock water fountain in the middle of the city? AWESOME!

The fish were a fascination to their sweet pup, Abby, who seemed to enjoy watching them swim. Her Alabama collar fit perfectly for this ROLL TIDE photographer!

They were serious troppers shedding their coats for some of the images, and as the sun went down it provided the perfect lighting for my favorite images of the day. There’s really nothing quite like the Golden Hour.

Watching Laura and Ryan make each other smile and laugh made me giddy. Happy couples are the easiest to photograph as their smiles are geniune, and the love radiates from the inside out. Makes my job so much easier

We finished the day by having a good laugh at a goose who was hanging out by the fish feeders…seriously…beg much? Ha!

So, cheers to Laura+Ryan, and Abby…the soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Graves! Thank you for allowing me to capture your love and the start of your new life together! Can’t wait for your wedding day!!

Whitestone Country Inn Bridal Fair – Knoxville, TN Wedding Venue

A Vintage Theme Bridal Fair.

I first had the privilege of shooting an elopement at Whitestone Country Inn a few years ago for the elopement of Sarah & Ben.  I fell in LOVE with the place immediately.

I was a vendor at the 2012 Bridal Fair last year, and was excited to be a part of this year’s event.  Every moment I get to shoot anything in this photographer’s dream of a venue is a breathtaking experience.

Last Summer I was in my best friend Leah’s wedding there, but had to, of course, snap a few images myself.  As on her wedding, and Sarah & Ben’s elopement, the sky out there is simply MARVELOUS over the water…the day of the Bridal Fair was no exception.   Truly a wedding wonderland!

Grabbing a few minutes here and there to steal away from my table and shoot was a priority, right there with meeting all of the Brides to be.  It’s always fun getting to “talk shop” with other wedding industry pros…and seeing (and shooting) their goodies is a perk too.

I was saddened I never made it around to visit all of them…but Brides do come first you know! Meeting and talking with Brides is something that I cannot ever get enough of.  There’s a happiness and a spirit they exude that’s a mood boosting force unlike any other.

So, here’s a few of the images I was able to capture in the middle of all the Bridal Fair fun.  The vendor list of those shown is listed at the bottom. Check out their sites, or shoot them an email, and tell them that I sent ya!

The Vintage Themed Décor had me at HELLO!  I still want that bike! Ugh!
Vintage Details….
Again…LOVING that Bike!
Vintage Inspiration is RIGHT! Gorgeous!!
Always in Bloom had some floral beauties!
Another Always in Bloom beauty on the left, and Chandelier for rent from Whitestone!
Mens Warehouse reppin’ the dudes in style, and The Bakery KILLED it on that cake! GORGEOUS! P.S. that table cloth…I want! White Table Rentals can hook you up!
More delectable cakes from Dawn at The Bakery of Athens… Just beautiful!
YUMMMM…Dale’s Fried Pies…so cute I ALMOST didn’t want to eat it…almost
Whitestone Staff had us raid Photobooth props for the Harlem Shake…FLASHBACKS


More beauties from Vintage Creations!  Seriously…I die!




Beautiful Vintage Theme Décor on the left and Sweet Favor Treats from Mandy’s Candys on the right!

Seriously though…You NEED Cinematography too! And these guys ROCK!
Cakes by Gail’s Custom Cakes
Hey what can I say…I’m southern…and I loooove Bow Ties! Just wear em!
Ohhhh Lisa Foster Floral…you had some gorgeous floral eye candy!
More from Lisa Foster Floral on left, and a pretty pretty Cake from Rosa’s Catering right!
PHOTOBOOTH!  Get.One! Memories in A Flash left, and DELICIOUS Mock Champagne from Susan Colvin Bartending!  
I’ve never been soooo tempted to take one of each in my life! For real…aren’t these TO.DIE.FOR!
The folks from All That Glitters have the hook up on Brooch Bouquets and gifts!
Just because Purple is my favorite color….DANG!
Ok, time to get serious party people…Macaroons….RIDIC! The purple ones…well…I wanted a million just for myself! GET.SOME. Your guests will thank you! Sugarbuzz Bakers…I love em’ all! Will work for macaroons!
The Pink Bride was representin’, and so was Brooke for the Whitestone Salon…FYI…Brooke.is.AMAZING!
Townecraft…seriously good cookware…my mom and I use still use hers…she bought in the 70′s! Start your newlywed kitchen off with cookware that will last!
Origami Owl by Tracy Flanagan-Givens…soooo cute…it’s a Hoot!
Make-up, Facial Care, Skin care treats for your body from Arbonne with Heide Litton
Deb’s Special Events…Wine tasting and Bartending!
Gibson Girls had another beautiful, and yummy, display this year.
Oran’s Flower shop nailed it on these, and a lot of other, display arrangements around the show!
I ADORE these bows and the simplicity of the natural vibe these give off!!
PEEP S’mores from the Thirty One gals on left, and some great DJ’s at right…MP Entertainment.
KJ’s Cooies…you kill me! Those owls….and the beach cookies! Yummmmmm!
KJ’s cookies can also do picture cookies as favors…delicious and awesome! Your guests will be torn to eat or not to eat
Annnnnnd MY table!  Big ups to Music in Motion for “Blue-ing” out the room…Brides…now hear this…you NEED cool lighting! Do.IT!
OK. Stop.the.presses.  I’d never heard of this fella here, Samuel Franklin Floral, but I talked with him most of the day, and ya’ll know me…I’m UBER picky about floral décor…this fella is the biz! In love with his work and attitude!  And FYI…those candles…FAKE! Rent.them…forget fire danger…the “flames” move like the real deal! I.DIE….again!
Close up of the candles for rent or sale from Samuel Franklin Floral at left, and at right…one of my all time FAVORITE sites for a wedding! Those clouds! UGH!
More pretties from White Table for the linens on the left, and Vintage Creations with a “SWEET” dessert table setup on the right! LOVE.VINTAGE!
Ok…I must know who arranged this arrangement!  The card must’ve blown off the table, but I love it and want to give credit where credit is due! Centerpiece inspiration.
SIMPLY.STUNNING! Love.
How about this little setup for a gift “table” area? Gorgeous! Vintage Creations…my new crush!

In no particular order here are the links for the vendors I was able to grab images of:

BraskaJennea Photography

Whitestone Country Inn & The Salon at Whitestone

Samuel Franklin Floral & Home Décor

Vintage Creations Rentals

White Table Rentals & Linen

The Pink Bride

Men’s Wearhouse

Nicholas & Keaton Cinematography

Oran’s Flower Shop

Thirty-One Gifts by Tonia Johnson

Origami Owl by Tracy Flanagan-Givens

All That Glitters

Memories in a Flash Photobooth

MP Entertainment

Lisa Foster Floral Designs

Arbonne by Heide Litton

The Bakery

Townecraft Cookware

Dale’s Fried Pies

Sugarbuzz Bakers

KJ’s Cookies

Music in Motion

Gibson Girls Cakes

Susan Colvin Bartending

Mandy’s Candies

Rosa’s Catering and Cakes

Always in Bloom Florals

Deb’s Special Events

Gail’s Custom Cakes

Meet Jones – Hospital Newborn Session – Athens, TN Photographer

Capturing Jones’ first Hospital Newborn images when he was literally just hours old at Athens Regional Medical Center was a special time indeed. To be invited in to people’s lives, at some of the most intimate times, is a priceless gift that everytime I’m bestowed the honor to do so it steals my breath.

I first met this amazing family when Jamen, now the big brother, was only 6 months old. I’ve been photographing these amazing friends and family ever since then, and each session I am a little more blessed getting closer to them and watching their now 2 sons and grand sons grow.

In December Gerri Le gave me one of the thrills of my photography career when she rolled with the punches to capture the redux of my masterpiece, my brainchild and one of my prize images…”Thoughts Aloft…Maternity Dreams”. It truly was a divine appointment…and here’s why!

Fast forward a couple of months, and there’s nothing quite like catching that first glimpse from a newborn as they stare back at you through newly opened eyes trying to figure out this brand new world. Capturing that moment when Jones first opened his eyes to me at only a mere 8hrs old and seeing him looking at “me” through my lens is a moment I will treasure forever. The natural light from the hospital windows lit up these sweet little baby blues so clearly and I was smitten.

He looks a lot like his older brother, and though it’s taken him a little to warm up to him, it’s clear he’ll be one amazing big bro. Watching those first moments when they were introduced, and Jamen studied this new tiny creature that everyone was oo-ing and aah-ing over were priceless as well. You can’t help but wonder what’s going through their little minds….both of them!

The stretches, the faces, the mouth movements… those first moments outside the warm, cramped, safe place they’ve been the past 9 months are amazing to witness. Jones certainly had an abundance of facial expressions to make, and every single one of them were to.die.for.

Jones’ had a cousin be born just a few hours after he was, sweet Willow is his cousin Montana’s little darling, so as she was being rolled to their room by the BEAMING new grandmother, Stephanie, I caught a glimpse of her beautiful face. Before I left I had to grab a few images of these 2 new cousins together for the first time….absolutely adorable!

So, thank you Jeff, Gerri Le, Jamen, Debbie, & Roger for repeatedly asking me in to your lives. You’re a blessing in more ways than you may know!

Believe Workshop – Church for Photographers – Smithview Pavillion Maryville, TN

Occasionally in this insane, amazing, stress filled, glorious, ever changing, booming career field that a lot of us call a passion and a profession we must recharge, reboot, and just all out refill!

That was this past Saturday for me.  I love people. I love photography. I love weddings. and I.LOVE.workshops.  They really are as I said that day “Church for a Photographer’s soul!

I don’t remember how I found @JoPhotos on Instagram a few months ago, but it was a divine appointment that I did. That seemingly simple act led to one of the greatest workshops.  It wasn’t your typical “shoot this way”, “your camera does this”, or “this is how you edit…” it was business focused. And I’m a business lackey! FOR.REALZ!

I may be great at a lot of things, hopefully Photography will be on that list one day, but business is not one of them.  Going this alone, well, let’s just say it’s been a severe hunt and pick situation much like a 3 year old learning to type these days.

When Kristin of KLP Photography started her session on Branding I’ll own it I thought “I’ve got this!” “I have a watermark and a logo!” HA.HA.HA.HAHAHA! False! Branding…rocked my face!  I’m currently working on redoing my website and making it more ME. One of the quotes that stuck was “You go to some photographer’s pages, and it’s nothing but pictures….Yeah…we get it…you’re a photographer. But how am I going to get to know YOU better?”

GUILTY! Aside from my About Me section there’s nothing that tells anyone anything about me. Nothing that will tell them right out of the gate if we’re going to mesh. Ohhhh the things I’d never have known if I’d opted to “save the money”, and chosen sleep more than 2.5 hours that morning. The old saying “You have to spend money to make money” really are words to live by.  You have to invest in yourself, your business, your BRAND in order to “Be the next YOU!”

Next up Kathleen, part of the hubby, Joe, and wife team known as JoPhoto, let it rip on SEO and Social Media…. I am a Twitter junkie, and Facebook hardcore, but the Blog info and SEO kicked it!  Raise your hand if you never knew what.on.earth. SEO meant. *Raises both hands*  For the slackers like me that’s Search Engine Optimization.

I get email offers from SEO companies and I never knew what on earth they did. FAIL!  The glad news though…now I know…and Kathleen dropped a load of solid gold information  right into my little world. THANK YOU!  One of the best quotes from her that hit home was ” Don’t take it personal!  Sometimes it’s just not a good fit.” And I also loved “Talk to the other vendors!  You don’t want to be that uncool photographer!”

That last one hits home because I’m a people person, a team player…especially for weddings…you know…because I’ve planned them and done floral design years ago when I never dreamed I’d be behind the lens.  I’ve encountered SO many uncool photographers at my friend’s, and past planning/floral client’s, weddings who acted like they were above the caterer, the DJ, the florist, etc… Thus I make it my goal to NEVER be “the uncool photographer” purely for that reason!  Can we send that memo to every wedding professional?

Casey of Nicholas and Keaton Videography brought it on home with a rousing 38 point presentation (really 8, or was it 9… anyway it was a lot LOL) on Sales. “We want them to buy US. To buy our personality!”  Ummmm just being honest here…I’d NEVER thought of it that way! “WHAAAAAT??”  True Story though!  If they don’t like my personality then they’re probably not going to like my work.  My work is an extension of my personality…if I know that then why.on.earth. had that BRILLIANT bit of info escaped me? EPIC.FAIL! *High Five* Casey for relaying the memo I missed!

“Number 38: Ask more questions. Number 39: STOP.TALKING. Know when to stop” That’s info you can put in the bank folks.  Good info for life in general really.

We broke before lunch for an outdoor natural posing session out at the GORGEOUS Smithview Pavilion where we listened to Kritisn, Kathleen, and Joe offer up some always useful tips on evoking raw.real.emotion from Brides and Grooms.  Kathleen’s Robot Impersonation was pretty sweet, and a great reminder to never make sure our clients look stiff or robotic, but natural!  Another reason why I love getting them to MOVE. Movement is real. Movement is LIFE!  Below are a few of the shots I was able to grab amid my fellow peers/photographers as we got to take over and direct the couples.

Huge props to the couples, both of which were past wedding couples of JoPhoto and KLP, for redressing in their wedding day best, and being just as smitten as brand new newlyweds in front of our cameras.

We ended the day with a lighting course from Joe out at the Pavilion again, and topped it allll off with a killer Photographer’s Edition of The Harlem Shake. See for yourselves…Nicholas and Keaton…names to remember for your next videography needs!!

Thank you all again for a stellar workshop! I BELIEVE!

Go Kathleen!  Get your robot on!

I.LOVE.LAUGHTER! Favorite image!

My favorite “pose”?  When I simply say “Own Him”

Annnnnnd to top off the day in true Photographer style….The brilliant minds who hosted this awe-fest decided to see what a Photographer’s Harlem Shake video would look like. And I mean I may be biased, but I’m thinking this “Phototbooth Explosion” is pretty.party.rockin!!!