Meet photographer?

I wasn't able to meet our photographer because of the distance. But I spoke with her on the phone and scoured her Facebook page, website, and reviews to make sure she was a good fit for us. I would say, if you have the ability to meet them in person do it, otherwise at least have a couple phone conversations.

I would recommend meeting with all of your vendors prior to booking. That way you can get a feel for them and make sure they are going to live up to your expectations of them and your personalities work well together. You can also see their work and go over contract details. Your photographer will also want to ask you a lot of questions and go over details that will be much easier to go through if you meet up. So many people have photographers fall through and sometimes it is because they're not legit.

I didn't, but my FH is a PITA and I knew he wouldn't like anyone who has a photography background anyhow, so I just booked him. No, FH isn't big on him, but he knows he's a phenomenal photographer, and he's working with me great!

But yeah, I risked it.

Thanks, everyone! I just sent him an email.

My original plan, prior to the actual proposal, was to get married in my hometown. Now that I'm actually planning, I'm so glad we decided on where we live now instead because planning from a distance would make everything so much harder. This photographer has great reviews here on WW as well as on facebook so hopefully he'll be willing to meet.

I would absolutely meet them before booking. This is the one person who will be with you for a solid 6-8 (maybe even 10) hours on the most important day of you life. You want to make sure that you LOVE that person's personality as much as you love their work. I had phone calls with three photographers, met with two in person, and after meeting them knew instantly which was the one for us. She also happened to be the lease expensive of the three I spoke with, but I didn't tell FH prices until after we booked. All were within my budget but I didn't want price to cloud his decision.

Wow, I sent him an email when I typed that reply 9 minutes ago and he already answered me saying that we can absolutely meet, and asked where I'm located. Thanks for the advice!

Unless its a DW I would never hire a vendor without meeting them! I met one videographer who did not seem real interested in my wedding, he does it as a side job. I kept looking and found a pro who is young, energetic and award winning for a few hundred more. Would you hire a babysitter for you kid without meeting them? Probably not.

I met with them only because WW told me I should lol. I met with two. I don't know if it's absolutely necessary, but definitely doesn't hurt.

Please meet them. I had been conversing with a girl via email, and I was certain she would be our photographer. Great photos, professional, etc. We went to bridal show she was going to be at to specifically meet her, and OMG was she not at all the right fit for us. She operated at 300% energy at all times and we are extremely mellow, so it was completely jarring and I couldn't fathom being around that our ENTIRE wedding day.

If nothing else at least make sure you do a phone call, not just email

Thanks so much everyone for the advice! The photographer I've been speaking to eagerly agreed and we have a meeting set up at a Starbucks in between his office and mine tomorrow night. He's also going to bring me some more of his work to review.

Provided the venue visit with FH goes well (I've seen it, he hasn't), we may have have the venue, food, bar, photographer and rentals confirmed by the end of the week!

We did not meet our photographer until a month before the wedding. I booked them after emailing back and forth for a while. She was featured in several bridal magazines and on Style Me Pretty, Intimate Weddings, etc. so I didn't feel the need. Plus, we wanted to book her as soon as possible. Actually, I booked all our vendors without meeting them first. Guess what - they were all amazing.

I had one skype meeting with my photographer before I hired her. I knew I wanted her going in to it, but our conversation relieved any anxieties about making such a huge decision without meeting her in person beforehand. We really clicked.

Please also ask him to bring prints and photo books with him. Everyone can edit photos to look good online, you want to make sure they look fabulous blown up to hang on the wall.

Part of the reason you should be hiring a photographer is getting a feel for their personality. You will be working with them more than any other vendor, it has to be a fit....also you need to look at sample albums / print goods so you can get a feel for how they tell a story, not just capture a few great photos per wedding. Unless geographically impossible, yes, meet them!!

I'd say the question is more rather, why wouldn't you?

I recommend meeting with the photographer before sealing the deal. You want to be be sure you're comfortable with him and most of the time, the photographer wants to be comfortable with you, too. Our photographer insisted on meeting us first. Met him and his wife (they work as a team) at a coffee shop and probably spent close to 3 hours just getting to know each other and also looking at some of his work (he had brought several bound wedding books). The photographer is the only vendor who will be working with you on a more intimate level than any other vendor. Meeting first is really important, in my opinion.

As a wedding photographer it's important for me to meet the couple before to see if our personalities match.As a ex cruise ship photographer I did most of my weddings with out meeting the couple. This mean I had to adjust my style and personality on the fly and that meant it take away from my creative side.

I need to know if I'm shooting at high energy ,more conventional where I need to spend more time on posing or if my main focus is to shoot journalistic.

Hope this was helpful

We didn't meet our photographer beforehand because of distance(Canada-Mexico) however, we talked a few times on Skype, and through emails a lot. He also came hugely recommended because he's one of the top ranked where we got married, so we really weren't concerned.

We pretty much decided our photographer before we even set a date at the venue. Loved her style of photography & she had amazing reviews. I could see how it's important to meet them first, but to me it's about their photo-style & if it's what you envisioned. She also works at out venue a lot so she knows how & where to capture the perfect images. Has the photographer you want worked at your venue before?

I highly recommend Skype and recommendations from your other vendors. I used to have 10ish meetings a week in person, now I hardly meet anyone except on Skype or Face Time. No one seems to have any time to do anything, let alone drive somewhere to meet with me. Since a large part of what I do is my personal presentation, I have to assume that it works.