Nov 12

Vendor Spotlight: Photographer Tips

Choosing the right photographer for your wedding is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your big day. Long after the flowers have wilted and the cake is gone, your wedding photos are what will keep those memories alive. A talented photographer doesn’t just capture moments—they capture emotions, personalities, and all the beautiful details you’ve worked so hard to create. Investing in a skilled photographer means you’ll have stunning, timeless images that tell the story of your love and let you relive the magic of your day for years to come. We interviewed one of our favorite photographers to work with to get to know them a little better, and get the inside scoop on how to set yourself up for success on your big day!

Tell us a little bit about Revel Photography & Films

We are a husband and wife wedding photography and videography team, based in Calgary. Our work is true-to-life, story-focused, and infused with an editorial and modern vibe. We focus on documenting every moment of the day to ensure our couples can relive it over and over again.

What inspired you to become a wedding photographer? Tell us your story.

I (Azra) have always loved photography. I was that little kid in 6th grade who always had my camera with me everywhere I went, and every time I developed the film, I would print 4 copies of each picture so I could give them to my friends. The whole experience made me so happy, taking the photos and sharing them with those I was capturing. People always told me I had an eye for photography. As I grew up, I was convinced by the adults in my life that photography wasn’t a realistic career and, unfortunately, I believed them.

Eventually, I graduated from university with a business degree and got that normal job that was expected of me. Even though I worked for an amazing company and really had a good thing going, I wasn’t inspired by my work. I still longed for something more. Then, I had the chance to photograph a close friend’s intimate elopement. She didn’t care about having amazing photos and just wanted someone to take a few pictures, and I offered to help out. Turns out, I was pretty good at taking wedding photos and loved doing it! I ended up putting an album together for the couple and they loved it.

Shortly after that, I decided to start doing wedding and portrait photography as a side business. My sister Dee partnered with me, we went out and spent $10,000 on equipment, and we opened Face Photography. It was an adventure of trial and error (the industry was very different back then and there wasn’t all the educational, styled shoot, and coaching opportunities there are now) but we eventually made a name for ourselves in the Toronto industry.

In 2017, I decided to go out on my own, quit my job, went full-time as a photographer, and rename the company to Revel Photography. In 2021 we moved to Calgary and added wedding videography to our portfolio.

What you think makes a great wedding photographer?

There are quite a few elements that must come together to make a wedding photographer really good at what they do. Not only do they need solid technical photography skills, they also need the soft skills that will allow them to connect with couples, vendors, and others at the wedding.

Some of the top things to consider when trying to determine if a wedding photographer is a great one, include:

Experience and skill level - How long have they been in the industry, how do they handle difficult lighting situations and hard to shoot venues (ask for full wedding galleries in venues similar to yours to determine this)
Consistency in their work - Being consistent is not easy so it gives an idea of skill/experience and allows you to know in advance what your photos will look like (you can also determine this by seeing a few full galleries)
People skills - Photographers spend more time with the couple on the wedding day than anyone else, they interact with the families/friends throughout the day, deal with vendors, and are usually your main contact leading up to the wedding as well. Working with a not-so friendly photographer would likely cause stress and disappointment for everyone. Usually you can determine this by reading their online reviews.
Attention to detail - There are so many little things on a wedding day that should not be overlooked, from moments to special items, and a great photographer won’t miss capturing it all (when you view the full gallery, do they seem to be catching everything and delivering a very full gallery with everything captured?)
Communication - Clear communication is needed before, during, and after the wedding. It can cause a lot of stress on a couple planning their wedding if a photographer doesn’t respond to emails on a timely manner, doesn’t communicate with the couple about expectations and preferences, and doesn’t make the couple feel supported throughout the process. (Once again, reviews, but also how they are communicating with you and how quickly they respond to you during the inquiry process)

What advice would you give newly engaged couples starting to plan their weddings?

Book your vendors early. Vendors are usually booked at least one year in advance of the wedding and If you wait too long, the top and most sought-after vendors in the city will no longer be available on your wedding date. Another benefit of booking early is that you can sometimes snag lower pricing as prices tend to go up every year and even multiple times per year. 
Pick a venue that matches the style of photographs you love. Your venue and the backdrops you choose for your day (including the space you get ready in) will heavily impact the overall vibe of your day and, ultimately, your photographs. For instance, if you love modern and editorial photography, avoid venues that are rustic and have a lot of wood in the decor. If you love bright and airy photographs, avoid choosing a dark venue without natural light and ideally do as much as you can outdoors. 
Hire a wedding planner! Wedding planners, like the amazing Day of Diva team, are imperative to having a stress-free planning experience and a wedding that that you can truly enjoy and take in every moment. When it comes to photography/videography, planners help the wedding day run smoothly and take a lot of pressure off the photo/video team which allows us the freedom to focus only on the job we were hired for - capturing every moment of your beautiful day!
Invest in your photography (& films). If you need to cut down on your budget, I always suggest some other aspect of the wedding day. Your photography and films will be with you forever and picking the wrong person to document your day could mean many years of regret and disappointment when looking back at your images/footage. As the old adage goes, you get what you pay for.  
Many couples state that their biggest regret when it comes to their wedding is not hiring a videographer. They wish they could go back and watch the day unfold, listen to their vows, hear the speeches, etc. Don't overlook the importance of capturing your day in sound and motion. A wedding film is an heirloom that will be enjoyed today and for generations to come.   One of our couples, after watching their film for the first time, said " It was SO magical reliving our whole day again. You told the story of our day so well and I still can’t believe we have this video to watch over and over again which we will be doing a million times this week alone hahaha. We are obsessed with it and are so excited to share it with our friends and family, especially those who were not able to make it. We know it will make them feel like they were there.”