As a non-traditional couple, finding the perfect wedding photographer is an important part of your to-do on your wedding checklist. You absolutely deserve to work with someone who helps you and your partner express yourselves authentically.
They should make you feel safe, supported, and celebrated and help bring your wedding vision to life — whatever that looks like.
As a queer, non-traditional wedding photographer who specializes in LGBTQ+ weddings, I know how important this decision is for you and your partner — after all, this is one the most important days of your life.
There are so many great reasons to work with a nontraditional wedding photographer, so let’s dive in!
Why You Should Pick a Non-Traditional Wedding Photographer
First, when I say non-traditional photographer, I’m referring to an offbeat and quirky photographer. A non-traditional photographer is someone who will help you create fabulous images and ensure that you have lots of fun throughout the process.
This is a photographer who thinks about and embraces ideas outside the box, celebrates, and, of course, captures the unusual, weird, and unconventional.
If you and your partner identify as eclectic and unique, a nontraditional photographer sounds like the perfect fit for your wedding.
Creating a Plan
Working with a non-traditional photographer means that instead of having to follow a pre-set plan, they will be all about building a plan that’s right for you, your partner, and the day instead of trying to force your wedding into a rigid mold.
They’ll take the time to understand your vision and build a plan that feels good and authentic for both of you. This means highlighting and celebrating the things that you want at your wedding without having to compromise.
Personality Fit
Wouldn’t it be wayyy more fun and enjoyable to work with someone who you feel just gets you?
I’m talking about someone who knows all the inside details and captures photos like swing dancers having a jam circle, rennies doing a sword arch, pagans doing a handfasting, or burners having fire spinning.
Picture working with a photographer who celebrates and captures what makes you weird and unconventional and connects with you because they are just like you and appreciates your interests.
This level of understanding can’t be found with just any photographer—working with a photographer who values your authenticity, that you can trust, and who will take amazing photos that capture all of the different aspects of your day is an unmatched experience.
Representation
One of the biggest reasons to choose to work with a non-traditional wedding photographer is to work with someone who is already a part of your community, especially when it comes to LGBTQ+ couples.
Personally, I believe that it’s not only way more fun to work with someone who is already a member of the community, but you’ll also be working with someone who wants you to feel comfortable being 100% yourself.
They’ll encourage you to fully express and embrace who you are without any pressure to fit into any traditional expectations of what your wedding or relationship “should” look like.
This can mean highlighting your different styles, not assuming one of you is going to take on any specific roles, or even including your other partners throughout the day for my poly folks.
Advocacy
Working with someone who identifies as LGBTQ+ means that you will have someone working with you who is also a voice for you and makes sure that all your needs are met.
You can be confident in knowing that you will be advocated for throughout every step of your wedding and that they will always create a safe and welcoming space where you and your partner will be celebrated for who you are.
Gender Neutral Posing
If you’re working with an LGBTQ+ non-traditional photographer, you will be working with someone who will always ensure that you and your partner’s comfort comes first and that your boundaries are respected.
You won’t be asked (or expected to) conform to traditional masculine or feminine posing – instead, you will both be posed in a way that feels natural for you and your relationship. Roles won’t be assumed, and your photographer will openly communicate with you and ensure you both feel seen, safe, and validated.
How To Pick A Non-Traditional Photographer
So you’ve decided that you definitely want to hire a non-traditional wedding photographer – but how do you find the perfect fit?
Here are my tips:
Research, Research, Research
Don’t skip this step! Take a look at the different options available to you and also spend time looking through their work to get a feel for their style, how they edit their pictures, and if they pass the vibe check.
Also, take some time to see what previous clients have to say about working with them and how they felt during the process.
Schedule a call with them
If you think that you want to work with the photographer you’re looking at, then go ahead and schedule a call with them!
During this call, you can ask them all of your questions. Some of the questions I would encourage you to ask are:
- What does your experience working with LGBTQ+ couples look like?
- Are you open to (and how would you capture) creative and unconventional moments in our wedding?
- Can you share examples of how you’ve celebrated non-traditional elements in previous weddings you’ve photographed?
- How do you create a comfortable atmosphere for the couples you work with?
Make sure you talk with them about your wedding vision and ask how they can help you make it a reality. If you have any set plans, talk to them about it so they are able to really understand what you are looking for out of your wedding day!
Their approach to posing and planning
Make sure you also get a feel for how they pose and plan weddings.
You can ask them about this in your call with them, but also when you’re looking at their galleries. See what they’ve done for previous clients when it comes to posing and if you love what they did…or not.
A great non-traditional photographer should prioritize what YOU want over getting the “perfect shot.” They should also be flexible and open to your ideas and make sure that their camera lens captures your vision.
If your photographer has worked with other non-traditional couples, you may even be able to pick their brain and get their opinions on different things you can do throughout your wedding to make the day even more special!
Now You Know How to Find a Non-Traditional Wedding Photographer
With a non-traditional wedding photographer, you’ll be ensuring that you’ll have quirky wedding photos that look exactly like you and your day and that all the amazing unscripted and authentic moments are captured.
It’s not just about snapping a few photos throughout the day, it’s about finding someone who really understands you and what you value. You want someone to show up for you and celebrate you exactly as you are.
Now all you need is that perfect photographer to capture your wedding! I believe everyone is photogenic, and everyone deserves a photographer who helps them not just look great in photos but also feel great.
You can click here to learn more about my wedding services here or reach out here to chat about your vision for your photos!
