do photographers already know the good photography opportunities at your venue?

Once I know the address of the venue I like to go out  and take a look around then make notes of the best places I think  that would create great wedding photos I like to look at venues with an artistic eye also keeping the formal shots in mind , making sure that everybodys  safety  is priority.

Hi there! I def like to be super organized and know where to go for photos on the day. I dont necessarily need to check out the venue before

hand as a good photographer should be able to spot the good backdrops immediatly. It is def something that is the photographers responsibility!

Hope that helps!

Hello Brides & Grooms to  be,

For us, we are familiar with most wedding venues in Brisbane, Gold Coast and surrounding areas having photographed over 500 weddings.  However if we're booked for a wedding at a venue that we haven't been to before, we would do lots of online research plus talk to the wedding coordinator of the venue to see if there are any rules they have at that venue and also to see what time is their usual time for the commencement of the reception.  We would then visit the venue a month or so before the wedding so we're well perpared.  However if for instance we're booked for a destination wedding, e.g. next year we're flying to Samoa to photograph a wedding and there's no time to be able to do a location search beforehand, we would do lots of online research of the area and talk to the wedding coordinator on the phone plus on the wedding day we would arrive earlier than planned to quickly check out the location.  We've been photographing for over 15 years so it doesn't take long for us to work out exactly what we'll be doing on the day.   

What I would do and as should most professional photographers would is, if we haven't already been to that venue before, we sould first google the place, look for any previous wedding photos, any spots near that location for cheeky portrait.
We would also pay a visit to check out the actual spots and the lighting and so on, before your wedidng day.
If the place is too far to visit, we would go there earlier on your wedding day to take empty shots of the venue, and figure out good spots & lighting, so we are well prepared and ready to go.

Research research research! :)

What I tend to do when I have been booked for a wedding where I have not been to the venue before, is I make a time to go to the venue before the wedding day.  Around the time the wedding will be held and bridal portraits.  As then I will know what the venue will look like come that time of day.

I do that for that exact reason, so to have my game plan in my head.  Especially if we have only been given 30 mins for bridal portraits.  I want to be ready (and if the bride and groom want another place to have photos I am prepared).  It may be more work for me but I want to do as much research as I can for my bride and groom so they know I am prepared and ready for them when their day has arrived.

Most professional Photographers will know great places for photos even if they have never been there before. They do this through researching the location or by meeting the couple at the venue.  Best if you are unshore request to meet your chosen Photographer at the venue and see what they come up with on the spot.