The Truth About Booking Your Wedding Photographerr
Are you recently engaged and wondering about the ideal time to book your wedding photographer in Colorado? One of my biggest beefs with some of the more popular wedding planning websites out there is when they tell you that you should hire your wedding photographer. It’s horrible advice.
Here it is:
“One year out from your wedding date.”
So, when should you really hire your Coloradowedding photographer? Ideally, 16 months to 18 months, or longer, before your wedding date, especially in a competitive market like Colorado.
Here’s why.
When to Book Your Wedding Photographer in a Competitive Market
The Colorado wedding scene is highly competitive, particularly for those picturesque mountain venues that are perfect for stunning photography.
The Post-Holiday Engagement Rush
Did you know approximately 75% ofcouples get engaged between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day? The entire wedding industry anticipates this seasonal surge. Once the holidays end, wedding planning kicks into high gear:
- Wedding expos dominate January and February
- Venues schedule their open houses
- Your social media fills with wedding vendor advertisements
During this period, you're competing with countless other couples for the perfect date, venue, and vendors—especially your Colorado wedding photographer.
1. The Truth is in Your Planning Timeline
If you’re planning a wedding withinthe same year as your engagement, your timeline is already compressed. Finding your dream venue and photographer may become stressful as prime dates get booked quickly. By starting your wedding photographer search earlier — 16 months or more in advance— you’ll have better options and a more relaxed planning process.
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2. Finding the Perfect Timing for Engagement Photos in Colorado
Booking your photographer early allows you to schedule an engagement session that aligns with your ideal season. Many couples request engagement photos in the same season of the year their wedding will happen, but in the previous year. For example, if your wedding is scheduled for fall 2026, you might want engagement photos in fall 2025.
I even have a lot of my spring and summer wedding couples who want engagement sessions in the fall because let’s face it: Colorado, while gorgeous all year, is even more so in the fall colors. These photos can then become beautiful décor elements at the wedding reception.
By hiring your wedding photographer only a year in advance, you risk missing the opportunity to schedule your engagement session in your preferred season in Colorado.
3. Your Second Most Important Wedding Planning Priority
We all know that your first step in planning your wedding should be booking the date you want with the venue you want, right? Because most venues can only host one wedding a day, and if the date you want is a weekend date, you have to beat everyone else to that date (see above--competition in the Colorado market is real).
Once you have a solid date, your next priority should be your photographer. Just like venues, they can only take on one wedding per day. They might have associates they can refer you to, or who can shoot another wedding that day in their place, but if you want that particular photographer, with that style you like and with whom you really connected when you met, you had better grab them while they are available too.
In my experience as a wedding photographer, I'm typically booked 16 months in advance. I've even been booked two years in advance in some cases.
4. Finding Your Perfect Colorado Wedding Photographer Takes Time
Finding the right Colorado wedding photographer who you mesh with, who has the style you love, and fits your budget can take some time. Just narrowing your list to half a dozen or so to talk to out of the thousands out there is a time-consuming process itself.
But doing the research based on style and price, and finding out if they are available is only a part of that process. If you’re doing it right, you are also taking the time to either meet with them in person or on a Zoom call where necessary. And meetings are sometimes challenging to arrange with your schedule and theirs.
By the way: Zoom meetings are kind of a thing here for first meetings, given we have mountains all over the place to travel around.
Starting your search early ensures you have time for this thorough process.
Keeping Your Options Open in Colorado's Competitive Market
The earlier you begin searching for your Colorado wedding photographer, the more options you'll have. Waiting too long restricts your choices and might force you to:
- Settle for your second or third choice
- Pay more than budgeted because preferred photographers are booked
- Compromise on style or experience
You Want a Relationship, Not Just a Camera
Yes, what I do is art, but, more importantly, I am in the service business. My job is to serve the couple on one of the most important days of their lives and add to it wherever possible. And to be honest, it’s one of the things I enjoy most about my job. I’ve made a lot of lifelong friends doing this.
Booking well in advance allows time to:
- Get to know your photographer and share your wedding vision
- Become comfortable with their presence and approach
- Develop trust in their skills and expertise
- Reduce stress on your wedding day
As a wedding photographer, I stay connected with couples through regular check-ins, offer full-day engagement sessions, remain accessible (except when shooting other weddings), and provide wedding planning insights based on my experience with over 450 weddings.
Colorado Wedding Photographer Booking Timeline: Key Takeaways
- Start your search: 16-24 months before your wedding
- Book your venue first: Then immediately secure your photographer
- Plan for engagement photos: Book early to capture your preferred season in Colorado
- Allow time for relationship building: The best photography happens when there's trust and comfort
Don't wait until it's too late to secure your ideal Colorado wedding photographer. Begin your search today to ensure your special day is captured exactly as you envision.
Ready to chat about your wedding? Send me a message here, and let's start the conversation!
