Disappointed with pictures

Hire a better photographer. Give the photographer a shot list of pictures you want.

^what LB said. Also, if something is really important to you for pictures, like being outside, reiterate it to the photographer the day of the wedding.

View Quoted Comment They hired a professional. I think he was worried about quantity... they were nice... but he took a lot of the same pictures closer and further away.... the DJ...
The bartender..
Just dumb shots...

View Quoted Comment Thanks Sarah and LB

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Unfortunately professional doesn't always mean good

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Those do seem like bizarre shots...like why would a bride want pictures of the DJ and bartender unless they just happened to be in the shot of other stuff going on like guests doing the electric slide on the dance floor or a group doing a shot at the bar? Sounds like perhaps inexperience? Did his other weddings in his portfolio look like that? That totally stinks they are unhappy with their photos : (

1) Choose a good photographer! Doesn't have to be most expensive but read WW reviews and check out their gallery to see past work/style. Most important vendor--photos are forever.

2) Highly recommend 2nd shooter. I'd rather have 2 photographers for four hours vs 1 for eight hours because the most important stuff happens in a short time frame. Ours did this: 1st shooter = getting ready/first look shots while 2nd shooter = decor & guests pre-ceremony. 1st/2nd shooter took different angles of ceremony (and reception entrance). 1st shooter = family pics/license signing while 2nd shooter = guest candid & posed shots.

3) Put together a list of key shots. For us, our DIY decor was important so we wanted a ton of reception shots. We also asked for some property shots to remember our day/resort and have non-wedding art for our house. I prepped a list of potential outdoor locations for couple shots but due to rain, we improvised and venue coordinator helped so much by driving us around in a golf cart.

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This sounds like the couple didn't prep a "photo list" for the photographer. I loved getting vendor shots because they were important to our day! But we received 1K+ photos. We spent 90 minutes with our 1st shooter during our "first look" photos all around the resort grounds so we had plenty of "couple photos" in addition to other pics.

Maybe they also didn't allow for enough time??? Or skipped first look photos (great time to get plenty of couple photos outside)?

Good communication with photographer, including a list of “must-have shots” and don’t be afraid to speak up in the moment if you notice that’s not happening. I know the day is a blur, but at some point someone has to notice that they haven’t gone outside for pics— don’t be shy, mention it to the photographer!
Our photographer impressed upon us that we won’t end up with any pictures that we don’t take. I know that’s kind of silly advice, but it struck a chord with me.

That is awful!! I'm so sorry they are dealing with that. My main thing with all my vendors is look at as many reviews as I can, and make sure basically all are positive!

View Quoted Comment Sooo true LB

View Quoted Comment THANKS... GREAT ADVICE...

I honestly think that the wedding planner forgot so many major... not minor... details that they were bummed out and as one disappointment happened after the other... they just lost track of what pics to take.

View Quoted Comment I think that having 26 ppl in your wedding party is overkill and it was just too much... in this case jus bigger was not better.....I learned a lot from their mistakes.

Good communication. And make sure you click with your photographer so you do feel comfortable speaking up. Don't be afraid to have a couple of meetings with your photographer, get coffee, have lunch, just get comfortable with each other. So if you're not getting what you expect day of, you can say something.

Look not just at the portfolio on their website, but ask to see a full wedding, or at least what they've sent to a client. So you're seeing not just the best shots, but all of the shots.

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Wha???? Why would they do that? Yikes.

I spoke, text messages, FB my photographs off and on for about 6 weeks before the wedding. Meet in person once and on the day of the wedding, when they arrived, I took some time to sit down with them, go thru my list of who what and where PLUS shown them a file on my phone or idea shots I found online. They were so thankful I did my homework too. I have only received my sneak peak photosbut we could not be happier!!