How far ahead in advance did everyone book their photographer/videograper?

We booked our photographer 18 months out because she books out 1-2 years in advance. We booked our videographer 1 year out.

If you have a particular photographer and videographer in mind, I would definitely reach out to them ASAP to see if A. They have your date available, and B. How far out they are booking

We booked ours about a year out. Most photographers only require a deposit to secure your date (ours was 25% down), and the full balance is due a few weeks before your event. If you can, I’d highly recommend booking now, as your options may already be limited.

I'm doing the same thing paying on our venue first then invites then find them next. Attire is good groom will do his we had set back but we are getting back on track. So hoping to have them booked with the next few months.

Our photographer was the first thing we booked after our venue and out of the 4 we reached out to, 2 were already booked and the third had someone soft holding our date. I definitely wouldn’t wait until July for an October wedding unless you’re okay with using whoever is left.

If you can, I would definitely start looking now for a photographer and/or videographer. Many book up a year or even two years in advance. If you financially aren't ready to make the deposit until July, you could always ask the photographer/videographer if they can put a soft hold on your date until then.

We booked ours 15 months out (before postponing). If your wedding is October this year, I would get on it ASAP.

Definitely need to book ASAP! 10 months out isn't much time.


We booked ours 2 years out but we're doing an international elopement and booked a photographer that will have to travel to the country so a little different.

Yikes! I would begin finding the rest of your vendorsASAP!

We booked our photographer immediately after our date and venue were picked.

Strong suggest on finding your major vendors now (photography, DJ, Florist etc) as they book up quick! Especially with so many weddings having been postponed these last two years, 2022 is filling up extremely fast. I'm getting married in December of 2022 and I've already gotten my venue, dj, photographer, florist, caterer and am in the process of deciding on hair and make up teams, ceremony music and trying to find the perfect invitations.

Things are booking up really quickly (I had several venues and vendors tell me last year that they were completely booked through 2022) and I always err on the side of caution. I fully expect to have months where I have very little to do. Which I'd rather have then a scramble the last few months to find something that works in my budget and is still available.

My photographers were the first vendor we booked after the venue…2 years out from the date. If you value your photos (they were the most important aspect for me), I would be booking them ASAP.

You should have been booked that. Hurry

Yes, as the other posters have mentioned you should be booking your other vendors ASAP. I'm getting married August of 2023 and I already have my venue/photographer/videographer/decorator/florist/makeup artist booked.

I know that it depends on what the market is like in your area regarding certain vendors but for me, there isn't a whole lot to choose from so people get booked fast. I had a hard time finding someone to do makeup as well as a videographer for my date which is nuts because my wedding is a year and a half away. However, COVID has caused a lot of weddings to become postponed.

You should book ASAP. We ended up booking ours 10 months out because when we were contacting photographers a few of them were already booked for our date.

Alot of photographers I researched only needed a small amount as a deposit. So if you booked before July while you're still making payments on the venue, you'd probably not have to put down a large amount. I would at least start researching and choose one sometime this spring. If you start to see them booking up ( they will advertise this on their social media) then you can go ahead and book. This year is going to be a really busy year for the wedding industry.

I would book a photographer ASAP. If you think about it, photographs really capture moments that can't be recreated. I know some websites or blogs have "ways you can save" by hiring an amateur photographer without much experience.

This will bite you in the rear.

It is fine if the photographer has an apprentice or assistant- everyone needs to learn. But cheaping out on a photographer will mean that if they mess up, it won't matter how you look on your wedding day- you will still have wonky photographs.

-Do research as to what kinds of photograph styles you like: Color, Black and White, Sepia Tone, etc.
-Find whose photography portfolio you gravitate Towards.
-Find what is included, and not included in the pricing.
-Find how long they have been a photographer.
-See if you can hold a conversation with them.
-Ask several questions including how they like to pose their subject, what they need and how long they take to set up, etc.
-See if they make you AND your fiancé feel happy, confident, and at ease- If you can get along well with this person, the more they will be able to photograph moments that are organic rather that have to resort to posing everything or you feeling uncomfortable and self-conscious. If you think about it, you will be taking several photos kissing or being romantic with your FH. It is a bit awkward when there is a third party looking at you both.

Personally, I told my fiancé that I would pay for a top notch photographer even if it meant I had to financially compromise everywhere else for our wedding.

We booked our photographer 14 months out. And we didn't even get our top choice photographer because they were already booked for our date, so we went for our second choice photographer. And this was in pre-Covid times. I'd get on booking a photographer (and the rest of your vendors) ASAP!

Our wedding is March 2023 and I booked our photographer in October 2021, as soon as we nailed down the date with the venue. If you want a good quality photographer I would look now and book asap. 2022 is the busiest year for weddings since 1984 and most likely a majority of available photographers are already completely booked out.

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Yes, I went $1500 over budget for our photographer and I've never once regretted it. Every time I look at his posts on instagram or facebook of his new galleries I get so excited for our engagement shoot and wedding. I can cut from other places that I care less about like flowers, decorations, paper, etc. Im gonna have these photos for the rest of our lives. They'll be what we hang on our mantle and what our future children will look through.