Elle CashinElle Cashin|July 10, 2024|Wedding Features,
Picture This
PHOTOGRAPHER ANDRE LACOUR (LACOURIMAGES.COM) HAS SPENT 40 YEARS BEHIND THE LENS, CAPTURING TIMELESS WEDDING MEMORIES FOR COUNTLESS COUPLES. HERE, HE OFFERS TIPS FOR TO-BE-WEDS IN SELECTING THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER.
What are your tips for choosing a photographer? Looking at websites, gathering referrals and checking reviews can narrow your list. Look through online collections of several weddings to get a feel for a complete story and not just the “greatest hits” from different weddings. If you are getting married in a hotel, don’t be lured by images from beach weddings [and vice versa], as those aren’t realistic expectations. Make sure your photographer is skilled at and comfortable with some posing. Your photographer’s personality is an important factor, and I would always suggest meeting with them [before booking]. If they aren’t able to make you comfortable, it’s unlikely they will be able to during the stress of the wedding day.
What is most important to capture on the wedding day? It’s the couple who are the center of the story, so make sure to schedule time for photos of each of you solo and also together when you aren’t rushed. For many couples, it’s one of the few times they’ll hire a professional photographer—so take full advantage of it.
Digital creators are on-site more and more these days. Why is the traditional photographer still the most important vendor? Digital creators can help fulfill the immediacy of sharing images on social media that some clients want. However, your photographer is creating and capturing professional images to be enjoyed for a lifetime. I’ve had the pleasure of being in homes where a wall or bookcase was covered with two generations of photos I had taken for their extended family.
How has your approach changed throughout your career? Our approach has definitely grown over the years as preferences have changed and technology has advanced. In general, there are fewer posed photos but more photos overall. Our aesthetic has always been modern yet classic and timeless, a combination of editorial, classic and fine art.