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Professional

A professional wedding photographer has much experience and has worked with various lighting and other conditions. As a result, they are far more likely to capture your wedding day in its best light than an amateur. If you don’t hire a professional for your wedding photography, you won’t know what kind of photos you will get until after the fact. And even then, there’s no guarantee that they’ll turn out well because no one wants to come away from their big day with photos that aren’t good enough for Instagram.

Equipment

The most important thing to consider when hiring a professional wedding photographer is equipment. An experienced wedding photographer should have the proper equipment to capture every moment of your wedding day, no matter what may happen. The equipment you should be sure to ask about should include:

• Professional cameras
• Professional lenses
• Backup equipment

Experience

A professional wedding photographer knows the ins and outs of how to take amazing pictures, how to pose people in flattering ways, how to work with a wedding party, how to work with lighting conditions, and where to get the best shots on your special day.

We all know that weddings are expensive. If you’re trying to cut corners wherever possible, opting for an amateur photographer may seem tempting. I highly recommend you reconsider this decision. As the old saying goes: you get what you pay for. A professional wedding photographer will have the experience needed to capture your day to allow you and your spouse-to-be to look relaxed and beautiful while navigating all of those complexities mentioned above. Your friends or family members might be able to snap some decent photos here and there on their smartphones—but they won’t have the technical knowledge required for gorgeous portraits that’ll last a lifetime.

flattering ways, how to work with a wedding party, how to work with lighting conditions, and where to get the best shots on your special day.

We all know that weddings are expensive. Opting for an amateur photographer may seem tempting if you’re trying to cut corners wherever possible. I highly recommend you reconsider this decision. As the old saying goes: you get what you pay for. A professional wedding photographer will have the experience needed to capture your day to allow you and your spouse-to-be to look relaxed and beautiful while navigating all of those complexities mentioned above. Your friends or family members might be able to snap some decent photos here and there on their smartphones—but they won’t have the technical knowledge required for gorgeous portraits that’ll last a lifetime.

Quality

The most significant benefit to hiring a professional wedding photographer is the guaranteed quality of work. The quality of your images, prints, and even customer service will be held to a much higher standard when you hire someone from a reputable photography business.

As far as image quality goes, most pro-level digital cameras (the devices used to take the photos) can render more accurate colors and details and have more excellent dynamic range than point-and-shoot or cell phone cameras. Professional photographers also have special software that they use on all their photos, which allows them to perform high-quality editing. This final touch transforms your images into priceless masterpieces that will look perfect no matter where they are printed or displayed.

When you hire a professional photographer who works for a business, you know exactly what kind of prints you will get: beautiful ones! Many photographers have relationships with professional photo labs worldwide, which provide consistent results time and time again. They guarantee your prints will not only look good—but will last for generations! In addition, if something happens like fading or damage from being stored in an album, these photographers offer replacement guarantees if anything happens down the road in the future. Amateur photographers do not offer these types of services as they do not have access to these resources.

Memories.

What if you’re one of those couples who’s not sure about having a wedding photographer or not, but the thought of missing that momentous occasion makes you cringe? Would it be a disaster to have no pictures to remember your big day by? If so, don’t worry—having a professional photographer on hand for your wedding is worth every penny. The photos they take can keep you and your guests busy with memories and emotions long after the party is over.

It’s also important to think of how valuable these memories will be. There’s nothing quite like being able to look back at photos from four years ago and relive them all over again. And while we all want the best year, year after year, it may not always be possible to reproduce such moments. For example, there was a time when my sister and I were trying to recreate our childhoods by dressing up as two different princesses for Halloween, but due to scheduling conflicts, we couldn’t make it work. However, at least now I remember fondly watching “The Little Mermaid” in my room when I was little for the first time!

Hiring a professional photographer for your wedding is a wise investment that will pay off in memories, quality, and ease of experience.

Hiring a professional photographer is an investment that will pay off in memories, quality, and ease of experience. Why leave your most important day up to chance?

A professional wedding photographer will take photos that stand the test of time and look great. As opposed to the work of an amateur, a professional’s photos are clear and crisp, with vibrant colors and excellent composition. Plus, they’ll make sure to get shots of all the important moments so you can relive them later!

A pro will also be able to help you enjoy your big day. When you hire someone who has been there before—and many times over—they can make sure everything runs smoothly, so you don’t have to worry about it. That means more fun for everyone involved!

Professional equipment and experience are other benefits: it takes years of practice to become truly skilled at this work. Having access to a top-of-the-line camera with the right lenses makes all the difference; it’s hard for someone without these essentials (or without enough training) to produce beautiful wedding photography that lasts forever.

Stephanie April Photography is a DFW Wedding Photography Bouqiue that believes in {Capture} Raw Emotions between Soulmates! Are you recently engaged? Congratulations! If you are looking for a bold and moody engagement + wedding photographer for your upcoming wedding, inquiry today! To arrange for a complimentary consultation to go over pricing and products.

For every first wedding booked for each month, they will get their collection wedding album upgraded.

Without Breaking the Bank

In this digital age, it’s easy to get carried away looking at Pinterest, Instagram, or wedding blogs and think your wedding has to be unique and picture-perfect.

The good news is, you’re allowed to make it your own, and it doesn’t have to be expensive to do so.

For venues, check out local libraries and parks. For caterers, use a food truck instead of a traditional sit-down dinner. For a DJ, use a playlist from Spotify. Forget the programs, guest favors, and open bar.

The best advice we can give is to talk with family members and friends who have been through this before. Be open to their suggestions and opinions — you might be surprised at how many great ideas they have that will save you money!

Most importantly, remember this is just one day of one year in the rest of your life together. Have fun with it!

Is that even possible? The easy answer is yes. The long answer is that it is definitely possible. You just have to know where to look. We’ve found there are three places you should start your search for a unique, affordable wedding venue:

• Local churches and religious institutions: Sometimes, these locations have community centers or small halls attached that are incredibly affordable. These places can be a great way to celebrate your religion and the place you call home. Plus, if you’re planning on getting married in a church, it may be natural to use the same space for the ceremony and reception. Just make sure you ask about any restrictions they might have before committing to this route!
• Parks and conservation areas: Outdoor weddings can be great for casual couples who want an intimate setting with unique photo opportunities and lots of room for mingling between guests (if anyone in your party likes making weird dance moves). You’ll need a backup plan in case of rain, though—and depending on how far away from civilization your park or conservation area is, you’ll need a plan B that doesn’t involve hiking miles through a foot of snow (for example). However, if the weather’s nice, outdoor weddings can be perfect spring or summer memories!
• Fabulous restaurants: Finally, we come to our least original suggestion—but don’t let that dissuade you! Not every couple wants their big day held at some stuffy country club ballroom or convention center banquet hall—many prefer cozier spaces with more warmth and color than institutionalized settings offer. While renting out an entire restaurant might be expensive when looking locally, if you expand your search beyond local venues, there could be some excellent online options at more attractive prices!

from DFW Wedding Photographer

Let’s start with the basics – venues. Do you know how many unique places in North Texas where can host a wedding reception? There are so many great little spots that aren’t going to charge an arm and a leg.

These venues tend to run on the small side in terms of capacity, so look into some of the big ballrooms at hotels or other significant event centers if you’re looking for something larger. But for those of you bringing family together from all over the country (and world) and want an intimate gathering, I think these smaller wedding venues will do just fine!

The Rose Garden – Farmers Branch, TX | Seats up to 150 guests | $100/hour with a 2 hour minimum

Blue Heron Landing – Wylie, TX | Seats up to 350 guests | $250/hour for less than 75 guests

Little Wren Weddings – Rockwall, TX | Seats up to 60 guests | $1,000 – $3,750 venue fee | Ceremony Only for $250-$350 an hour

Here are a few local gems I found on a couple of Google searches, but there are many more hidden gems. 

In downtown Hillsboro, the Eagle Historic Warehouse is within walking distance from the Court House. Offer a wide variety of rental items, two exposed brick walls, and a spacious getting-ready suite. It can hold 200 guests seated. It costs $1,850 to rent from 8 am to midnight. 

1906, a hidden gem in Whitesboro, is a renovated church building originally constructed in 1906, and renovations were done in 2013. Restored stained glass windows, tin ceiling tiles, pine hardwood floors, and expansive and airy space with white-washed and grey pews for up to 180 guests. The basement, The Union Lounge, is two rooms where the soulmates and entourages to relax and get ready. For 10 hours of venue access for $4,900, or 5 hours of access for $3,200. They even have an elopement package for $1,750 for 40 Guests and 3 hours of venue access. 

The Schoolhouse, a Dallas Historic Landmark, is different from the traditional ballrooms and rustic barns; it offers a unique and flexible venue with indoor and outdoor options. After being restored in 2019, with clean white walls, vintage details, architectural features, and plenty of natural light. It can hold 125 for a seated dinner or 175 for a cocktail reception, $ 6,250 for 10 hours of exclusive access, and an open vendor policy.

Stephanie April Photography is a DFW Wedding Photographer that believes in {Capture} Raw Emotions between Soulmates! Are you recently engaged? Congratulations! If you are looking for a bold and moody engagement + wedding photographer for your upcoming wedding, inquiry today! To arrange for a complimentary consultation to go over pricing and products. 

For every first wedding booked for each month, they will get their collection wedding album upgraded. 

10. The Freedom to do exactly what you want to do and where

When you elope, the pressure of pleasing everyone but yourselves is gone. Instead, you get to do exactly what’s right for you!

Maybe your idea of an unforgettable wedding is exchanging vows at sunset on a secluded cliff in Hawaii while your closest friends and family are waiting below. Perhaps it’s having a mini-ceremony at your local courthouse followed by breakfast. Or maybe it’s getting married on a snowy mountaintop in the middle of nowhere with just your photographer as a witness.

Whatever that place or celebration looks like to you, eloping allows you to have it at a fraction of the cost (or sometimes even for free).

9. You can set your budget and save money by eloping.

There are no parents, siblings, or distant relatives to please when you elope. There’s no budget to adhere to. It’s just you and your partner decide on what precisely this special day will look like for the two of you.

There are costs associated with getting married—even when you elope—but it can be a fraction of the cost of a full-blown wedding. Don’t be afraid that eloping means settling for some dingy courthouse ceremony with a stranger officiating (unless that’s precisely what you want). An elopement can cost as much as getting married at home or as little as $200 if your goal is to tie the knot legally.

While there’s no shame in having an expensive wedding (or being financially comfortable enough), some people don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on a single day. It can feel frivolous and unnecessary when they could save money for things like their honeymoon, buying their first house together, or starting their lives as newlyweds without worrying about how much debt they’re accumulating before they’ve even been married 24 hours.

8. Cut out the stress and anxiety that comes with planning a wedding.

The excitement and romanticism of eloping far outweigh any downsides to many people. If you are planning a micro-wedding or even eloping alone, consider these benefits to deciding to elope:

• You’ll save time and money. Eloping cuts out all the hassles of planning a wedding—finding vendors, making appointments, paying deposits—and can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in the long run.
• You can start your married life together sooner. Saying “I do” sooner is not just great for starting your marriage off on the right foot—it’s also essential for couples who want to start working on their family plans sooner rather than later.
• You won’t have stress or anxiety over your big day. No pressure means no second-guessing yourself or fighting with family members about seating arrangements! This is a perfect reason to elope if you’re already anxious about getting married in front of an audience or don’t feel comfortable having close friends and family involved in such an intimate moment.

7. It’s just about you two.

You can choose to elope because you want to focus on the two of you. You don’t have to worry about pleasing anyone else; it’s about what you and your partner want. This is your special day and should be all about the two of you. Plus, if you’re not close with either your family or your partner, an elopement allows you to avoid spending time with people who will make you uncomfortable. And no one wants that!

6. You can dress any way you like!

The dress code at an elopement is whatever you want it to be. You can wear a white dress, but no one will judge you if you don’t. You can wear a corset and a ball gown, or jeans and a t-shirt—it doesn’t matter, so long as you’re comfortable. (Though keep in mind that some locations have strict rules about footwear.)

With the stress of other people’s expectations out of the way, you might find that choosing your outfit for eloping is more manageable than for a conventional ceremony. The most important thing is to remember why you’re doing this—because it’s what both of you want—and go from there! It’ll be fun!

5. Your wedding day can be just as individual as your marriage will be.

There is a common misconception that elopements are only for couples who don’t care about having a wedding. This is far from the truth! Elopements are smaller, more intimate ceremonies. They can be planned exactly as you want them to be, whether running off to Vegas or taking your time and planning something extraordinary.

Many couples choose to elope because they want their wedding day to reflect their life together. The beauty of an elopement is that you can incorporate meaningful and important elements to you, whether they are unique hobbies, personal interests, or traditions of your family heritage.

Here’s some inspiration for making your elopement feel as unique as your marriage will be:

• Choose an offbeat location like a vineyard, park, or even an art gallery.
• Invite guests over after the fact with a personal invitation card, so they know how much it meant for them to attend your big day–and if they missed out on the fun!
• Send photos in a photo album afterward so that guests feel included in your wedding day and see the details firsthand.
• Check out our All-Day Elopement Blog Post HERE

4. You don’t have to deal with the expectations of others.

You get to choose the wedding that works for you and your partner, not your parents or anyone else. It’s your wedding day, and it should be about what works best for you. You don’t have to invite people who either make you feel uncomfortable or are so high-maintenance that they’ll take away from the overall experience of your day—and that means anyone from an old college buddy who loves to get too drunk at parties, all the way up to an estranged aunt who can’t stop arguing politics. The perfect party is one where everyone feels comfortable and welcomed—and if someone doesn’t fit in with that vision, then it’s for the best not to invite them.

3. No commitment to invite people you don’t want there.

A strange phenomenon happens when you announce your wedding: people come out of the woodwork who want to be there to “share your special day.” Everyone thinks that if you have a wedding, it’s an open invitation for them to attend. And, many times, people expect that they will be inviting them because they think they should be. This can put you in a difficult position because you don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings by not asking them, but you also don’t want them there. When you elope, however, it’s suddenly much easier and much less stressful to decide not to invite certain people without having to provide any explanation at all.

You shouldn’t feel obligated or pressured into inviting anyone and everyone who wants to be included in your ceremony. You’re allowed—and encouraged—to limit the guest list (or leave it completely blank). Maybe that means just the two of you and no one else, or it means just a few nearest and dearest friends and family members who are especially important in your lives. Many couples worry about offending friends or family members by not inviting them, but once they’re married, most find that no one was as offended as they expected… if anyone at all!

2. You have more time to celebrate your elopement before or after the actual ceremony.

After your elopement, you’ll have more time to celebrate! Eloping is an excellent opportunity to take an extra-long honeymoon or plan a post-wedding reception with family and friends. If you want to take advantage of this perfect excuse to spend some quality time together, make sure you book that extra week off work and deposit some money in the savings account now, so there’s no stress when it comes time to decide where to go.

There are no rules for celebrating your elopement, which means you can do whatever feels right for you. If it’s essential for you and your new spouse to enjoy a couple of weeks alone immediately after becoming a husband and wife, go for it! And if you’re dying for an excuse to throw a massive party afterward, that’s even better: now everyone who couldn’t make the ceremony has another chance to show up dressed friendly and bring gifts!

1. You get to go on an adventure!

The only people you have to worry about pleasing are yourselves, which means being able to marry in whatever location is special for you. Maybe it’s the spot you first kissed. Perhaps it’s a city where you’ve always wanted to go but haven’t had the chance yet. Or maybe it’s somewhere random that someone recommended while they were on their travels—for us, it was an alpine village in Gmunden, Austria, called Hallstatt.

Eloping doesn’t mean having to sacrifice all wedding traditions either — rather than feeling like we were somehow missing out on anything, we incorporated personal wedding touches that fit our style, budget, and adventurous desires:

• Our friend officiated our ceremony with a custom-written script written just for us.
• We composed vows together (some serious and some funny) that we both read aloud during our ceremony at sunset.
• We had a playlist of songs created just for us by another friend…and danced into the night!
• All of our closest friends and family attended via live video chat from their homes worldwide so we could share our special moment with them immediately after exchanging rings.

Wylie Elopement Photographer

Elopements are more accessible and cheaper than traditional weddings, and you get more freedom with them!

If you elope, you can celebrate all you want before or after the ceremony. You’re not limited to a single day of celebrating; it could last an entire weekend, week, or even month! If you have a traditional wedding and reception, they typically take up the whole day and night. You don’t get much time to spend with friends and family because your wedding is the main event of your day.

If you opt for an elopement instead of a traditional wedding, it gives you more freedom to go on an adventure! You can go wherever your heart desires, whether staying at home in your living room or taking off on a mountain trekking trip in the Himalayas (or flying across the world). This flexibility allows everyone involved—including guests—to plan their trips accordingly and be excited about coming next!

Stephanie April Photography, LLC is a Wylie Elopement Photographer that believes in {Capture} Raw Emotions between Soulmates! Are you recently engaged? Congratulations! If you are looking for a bold and moody engagement + wedding photographer for your upcoming wedding, inquiry today! To arrange for a complimentary consultation to go over pricing and products.

For every first wedding booked for each month, they will get their collection wedding album upgraded.

Boudoir photography

Boudoir photography is a sexy, classy photoshoot for yourself or your significant other. Boudoir shoots are also an excellent way to boost your confidence, relax, and be pampered, and an inexpensive gift for your partner. Boudoir can be provocative but doesn’t have to be; it’s about feeling beautiful and capturing. 

Bridal

• The bride’s friends and family will be active in wedding planning and the ceremony.
• The bridal party hosts a pre-wedding party, often featuring games or other surprises for the bride.
• All of the people involved in a wedding besides the officiant, including both the bride’s and groom’s sides; may also be called a wedding party.
• The dress worn by a bride may be referred to as a “gown” or “dress” as well.
• A thin piece of fabric that attaches to hair accessories like headbands or veils and flows down over the face before hanging at different lengths behind it; it can also refer to headpieces worn on their own without a veil.
• It May also be called “bridal makeup”; makeup applied for weddings, usually professionally done, so it looks good in photos.
• A set of jewelry coordinated with either a bride’s dress or her entire look; can include earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings.

Catering

Catering: The food and beverage costs of your wedding. Are your guests being served a sit-down meal, buffet, or stations? Some events have passed hors d’oeuvres followed by a sit-down dinner, while others have just passed hors d’oeuvres or just desserts. These are things to consider when creating your budget and choosing the right caterer for you.

Digital Wedding Albums

Personalized digital wedding albums are the best way to display your professional photos. They come in various formats, including lookbooks, coffee table books, and signature albums. You can also order parent albums and bridal albums to share your wedding album with friends and family. Engagement books are a great option to use as a guest book at your wedding—sometimes they’re called engagement sessions, but they don’t have anything to do with photography sessions. Family portrait albums are another great way to preserve memories of your special day for future generations.

Engagement sessions

An engagement session is a photoshoot with the couple in casual clothes. Usually, they’re photographed outdoors—often in a park—about six months before their wedding date. Their idea is to let the couple get comfortable being photographed together before their wedding day. For help planning an engagement session, check out this item in our blog.

Family Portraits

Family portraits are among the most important photos you will take on your wedding day. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure you have a list of all the people who should be in these photos and their contact information so that you can let them know when and where the photoshoot will be.

You will also want to find a special location for both of you and your families and make sure everyone has dressed appropriately for it. The last thing you would want is for your grandmother to show up wearing stilettos in a field of tall grass!

Remember to set aside enough time for pictures (20-30 minutes), and give yourself extra time if anyone is running late. It’s also helpful to have someone let guests know they need to arrive early or they may not be able to participate in certain shots, like family portraits.

Formals/Group Pictures

Formals (also known as group photos) are the most important shots you’ll take at a wedding. 

First and foremost: Smile. No one wants to see their photographer looking tired or unhappy. So, put on a happy face and enjoy being around people celebrating something extraordinary!

Next, it’s time for some equipment recommendations! I recommend using a wide aperture lens to blur out any distracting background elements behind the subjects’ heads—often this can happen when shooting indoors where there may be cluttered walls or busy wallpaper patterns. 

Getting Ready Pictures

Get ready to have your hair and makeup done while a photographer captures the process, capturing candids of you and any others that are getting ready with you. It’s always nice to have these memories later!

Makeup and Hair Stylists

Makeup and hair stylists make all the difference in the world. So don’t skimp on these services, even if you have to re-allocate the money from something less important. You know how much time you spend every day taking care of your skin and maintaining your look, so why shouldn’t this day be any different?

Makeup and hairstyles are a fashion statement. They tell people who you are—and they may very well be the most important thing that anyone notices when they see how beautiful you look, not just on your wedding day but for years to come.

Photobooths

Elaborating on the above, photo booths are a modern way of capturing memories. They can be set up practically anywhere and don’t take much to operate. The best part is that everyone can make goofy faces and have fun! Photo booth pictures are typically printed out immediately for guests to take home. In addition, guests will have access to an online gallery of photos where they can download their images for free and share them on social media (in which you’ll hopefully be tagged in).

Photojournalism or Up-close-and-Personal? Which is better?

We’ve all seen the photos of weddings and other events where the photographer is standing out in the hot sun or somehow captured everything at an angle that you can’t see anything. What these pictures lack is something called “up-close-and-personal.”

It’s an intense way to view a wedding, and it shows a lot about their personalities. You can tell whether they’re enjoying themselves or if they’re stressed (because they have too much makeup on).

Receptions/Dances/Parties Photos

When it comes to taking photos at the reception, there’s a lot of ground to cover. Of course, you want to show guests getting things started on the dance floor, but it’s also essential to document any special activities that might be planned—like a champagne toast or first dance. Most couples ask their photographers to take candid portraits of them and their guests throughout the night while they’re dancing and carrying on. But don’t forget about including some posed photos too! Even if posing isn’t your thing, I promise that these shots will turn out great when captured by your photographer!

Signature Albums or Coffee Table Books or Lookbooks? What do I get?

You’ve seen these different terms, but what is the difference between them all?

• A signature album is a hand-crafted, custom-made album that your wedding photographer designs according to your style. This can include the type of paper you want (linen, leather, or silk), the color, and even the size. They’re also known as Fine Art Albums.
• Coffee table books are 20+ pages in length and come with a hardcover featuring one photo that wraps around it. Inside they can feature pictures of your choice but are not entirely customized. They typically come with a flush mount or lay flat binding style and are not meant for heavy use.
• Lookbooks have glossy pages similar to those found in magazines and have no cover page. They’re often produced by third-party companies like Blurb and Apple’s iBooks Author program, which offers users templates to create their albums using their photos. These aren’t usually as high quality as other options because they’re printed on standard paper instead of photographic paper like other options.

When you choose an option for your wedding photography package, make sure it reflects what you value most about your wedding day: love, family, tradition, or something else entirely!

Stephanie April Photography is a DFW Wedding Fine Art Photographer that believes in {Capture} Raw Emotions between Soulmates! Are you recently engaged? Congratulations! If you are looking for a bold and moody engagement + wedding photographer for your upcoming wedding, inquiry today! To arrange for a complimentary consultation to go over pricing and products. 

For every first wedding booked for each month, they will get their collection wedding album upgraded.