Wedding Wednesdays: The Photographers

If you know me, you know I love photos. Like a lot. I take way too many. It can occasionally be an obsession. Lately, I’ve really been trying to focus on enjoying moments rather than capturing them – but that’s a subject for another post. Back to the subject at hand:

Wedding Photographs!

I’ve found, that when planning events of any kind, the first step – even before budgeting – is to make a priority list of everything you want. That way, you know where to focus the lion’s share of your time, effort, and funds. The same idea applies even more to a wedding: identify your top five priorities, then focus everything else around making those happen.

At the top of my priority list for the wedding? Amazing photos.

I want to remember every single moment and detail of this day – even the bits I don’t get to see. The day lasts for a few hours, the photos we can keep forever. I can still remember sitting cross-legged on my living room floor gazing romantically at my parents’ wedding album. I loved that book – it was like our own family fairy tale.

Sure, there are other important elements on that list that I’m definitely not ignoring – a warm, comfortable atmosphere, good food, entertained guests, a show stopping dress – but the photos are a passion point in my world.

I don’t want just anyone taking the photos at the wedding. That’s a lot of pressure to put on an unseasoned, inexperienced photographer. I want an expert. Someone who knows how important these images are. How much their brides cherish them for years after. Someone who understands how insane a wedding day can be and how nervous/excited/scatterbrained the bride and groom will get. Someone who not only understands it, but loves it. Someone who thrives on the emotion and excitement of the day and knows how to capture all those precious little moments that happen oh so quickly. I want someone who is as passionate about these photos as I am.

I’ve had a specific photographer on the top of my Wedding Wishlist for something like six years. Long before I met Paul. Long before I had any idea what the rest of the wedding looked like. The colors have changed, the scenery has changed, the location has changed, but the photographer has always been the same: the Benfields.

So, when all this wedding stuff became real, they were the first call I made – even before we’d settled on an official date or location.

And, to my absolute delight, they were available for the date we wanted! I squealed when I got the reply back saying they could do it – I booked them without a second thought.

Since then, we’ve had a chance to visit with them and discuss packages, the location, ideas for engagement photos, and so on. These people are wonderful – they’re both so warm and welcoming – it’s like hanging out with old friends. I felt instantly comfortable with them, and they seem to truly understand the vision I have for the day. So much so that, after our discussion, I’m already excited to see the shots they get of moments that haven’t even happened yet!

If you’re familiar with the Benfields, you know how absolutely incredible their work is. If not, here are just a few examples I’ve pulled from their website. Dale posts every day, and it’s just overflowing with all sorts of pretty things. Go browse for a minute or two and you’ll understand how I fell in love with them.

A little bit more about them from their website:

“You are probably obsessed with pictures.  Well, we are too. That's why we love our job so much!  Well... that, and because we have an uncanny ability to find the COOLEST clients!”

Benfield Photography started in 1998 and quickly became one of the most sought after studios in the area.  After moving the business to Arkansas in 2006 (because Dale fell hopelessly in love with Meredith and hated being so far away from her), Meredith joined Dale as a full-time wedding photographer. 

We describe our images as timeless, storytelling, with amazing portraits.  We work hard to capture all the little details of your wedding day, while also collecting all the special moments that you'll want to hold on to, and shooting great wedding portraits of the bride and groom. We pride ourselves in being able to shoot these no matter where in the world you're getting married, as we work in all types of lighting situations, and also take into account your wedding style. We're able to capture your wedding day whether it be a vintage wedding, rustic wedding, modern wedding, green wedding, etc.

See what I mean? They’re just plain awesome. Can’t wait to see what they do with our day.

Til next time, friends!