Jamie + Michelle are the duo behind the wedding photography team Rad + In Love. Michelle lives in an A-frame cabin in Los Angeles and loves exploring the city, mountains and sea with her cameras and her bicycle. Jamie lives in San Diego with two dogs, a cat, her husband, and one very handsome baby. She blogs about her daily life on A Desert Fete.
How did you get started in wedding photography?
It all started when Jamie threw herself a wedding in Joshua Tree and asked Michelle to photograph it. Jamie has since joined Michelle behind the lens at weddings, and now they’re both hooked; there’s nothing like the incredible positive energy that surrounds the union of two folks in love.
These days, it seems like everyone is an aspiring photographer. Why hire a professional?
There are no re-dos on photographing the moments of a wedding day, and unlike the cake that you might cut or the booze that fills your toasting glass, you’ll be holding onto your photographs for life. If you hire someone who has experience, and whose work you love, you can trust them to capture the complete story without mishap, in a way that is meaningful to you.
Tell us your tips for choosing a photographer. What’s the most important question a couple should ask their wedding vendor?
You should fall in love with a photographer’s work. Their images should resonate with you, sing to your soul, move you, inspire you, make your toes tingly. Next, check in to make sure you vibe with a potential photographer. You have to like their energy, ya know? If possible, meet up over beverages. If geography prevents this, a chatty phone call can stand in.
How much should couples budget for wedding photographs?
There is no magic number. A photog in NYC will probably cost more than one in Nebraska, and that guy whose work you keep seeing on all the cool blogs? He probably charges a few more pennies than a girl just entering the profession.
Is there a meaningful difference between digital and film? Is film worth the extra cost?
We shoot in both film and digital, and each have their place. Digital lets us take thousands of images, immediately backed up, with beautiful results. BUT. We love the mystery and the perfect imperfection of a film image. It has an unaffected warmth. It has history. If you love film too, it’s worth the extra cost.
If I’m having a destination wedding, should I look for a local photographer or bring one from home?
Wherever you’re getting married, don’t limit your search to one location. You might find a photographer you are head-over-heels about whose lower rates offset travel costs, or one for whom you are willing to shell out extra travel expenses. Also? Photographers are notoriously into traveling. A lot of them will work with your budget if they can get a cool trip out of it!
How can you communicate with your photographer to get the shots you want? Is there an inside lingo or specific terms that are helpful to know?
Words can be misinterpreted, but if you show your photographer examples of what you want and don’t want, you are much more likely to be happy with the end result.
Are there any wedding photography trends you love? Any you think are played out?
We see a lot of fellow photographers embracing a photojournalistic style, striving to capture the story of the day, rather than something phony and staged. LOVE IT!
Is it worth doing the traditional wedding shots, or do you think a more photojournalistic approach captures a wedding’s spirit better?
Though we believe in a photojournalistic approach, there is definitely a place for traditional shots. It is much easier to make sure you walk away with good photographs of your full bridal party, for example, if you set aside time for portraits.
What shots should brides make sure to get?
What is important to you on your wedding day? Is it your $800 Miu Miu shoes? Is it the stunning dessert table that your best friends labored over for a week? Is it the looks of joy and love on the faces of all your friends and family as they witness and celebrate? A good photographer will try to capture everything, but it doesn’t hurt to give her a list of your priorities.
What do you need to know about printing, albums, and negatives/digital files?
This is a big question. Do your research, ask questions, read the fine print on your contract and make sure it suits your needs. (i.e. Who owns the negatives? Do you get a copy of the high res digital files or do you have to order prints through the photographer?) Look at and feel samples of albums and prints before ordering. Know that traditional albums are spendy but archival, stunning, and laid out by a professional. That doesn’t mean a DIY version can’t be a great budget option.
Any other words of wisdom?
Want good pictures? Consider the lighting. Talk with your photographer before you set the schedule and hammer out too many details. Good natural light can make all the difference.
And finally? Do what feels right. And have fun. You are getting married!
Jamie + Michelle are the duo behind the wedding photography team Rad + In Love. Michelle lives in an A-frame cabin in Los Angeles and loves exploring the city, mountains and sea with her cameras and her bicycle. Jamie lives in San Diego with two dogs, a cat, her husband, and one very handsome baby. She blogs about her daily life on A Desert Fete.
3 Featured Comments
Sign in to add your ownRockAndHardware from RockAndHardware says: Featured
Great tips! Even though our wedding was a very long time ago (30 years, woohoo!!), I think one of the most important things for us was that our personalities and styles meshed well with the photographer. He knew the shots we wanted ahead of time as well as candidly captured some of the most priceless photos ever. Your photographer is with you all day, make sure you like him or her!!!
1 year ago
Ever So Lovely from EverSoLovely says: Featured
Could not agree more that choosing the best photographer for your style is a must! For our wedding we spent the most on our photographer because years from now the photos from our wedding will be the things we cherish most! My husband and I met with several photographers and fell in love with the one we hired. Her personality was what we were looking for and she shot our engagement photos and did our wedding. Not only did we get awesome photos but we made a great friend at the same time which was a great find in itself! :)
1 year ago
Sarah from CAMPandQUARRY says: Featured
There are so many great tips in this interview! I got married last fall and the thing that we decided was most important was the photography. We chose locations that would allow us to have a photoshoot with the feel we wanted and we are so happy with the results. Hiring pro photographers that shared our aesthetic was exactly the right thing to do. And our photographers were so cool that our guests just thought they were more friends of ours. Couldn't have asked for more. P.S. - That shot of the dresses hanging is unbelievable! I love the bridal party styles and colours.
1 year ago
85 comments
Sign in to add your ownSam's Natural from SamsNatural says:
Great article and beautiful photos!!
1 year ago
Kia from aoisart says:
Great article! You will always cherish your marriage photos, make sure you get the right photographer!
1 year ago
ACupOfSparkle from ACupOfSparkle says:
Awesome photos! I kind of want to go back to my wedding day and have more photos...
1 year ago
Erin Inglis from COLRtheory says:
Those dresses are beautiful
1 year ago
Kelly from KikuPaper says:
Fantastic photographs that capture a moment, the connection between two people, the friends and family.... are priceless. Invest in the best photographer that you can afford. (Excellent article!)
1 year ago
Stephanie from DottiesPhD says:
Great interview with lots of great tips! I was lucky enough to have a wonderful experience with my photographer for my wedding, and I'm amazed at how many of the qualities mentioned here were echoed in her work. I met her through a friend in my book club, did a 1 hour engagement photo shoot (well worth the money if it's an option to you, because we got to see how she photographed us and got to see her personality working with us), and then booked her to our "destination" wedding at our hometown... and she traveled from D.C. for it. We had an amazing experience and have a million photojournalistic photos to document our amazing day! Those photographs are worth their weight in gold... or diamonds? :)
1 year ago
Windy City Novelties says:
Those are all some really good tips. When it comes to the big day, there really are no re-do's when it comes to photos so you want a photographer that not only captures the beauty of everyone at the wedding but also the wedding items themselves likes the cake and the centerpieces.
1 year ago
VintageMarketPlace from VintageMarketPlace says:
How I wish we had a better photographer at our wedding. I had to ask for certain shots and nothing came out looking how I wanted ;( These are all so soft and beautiful
1 year ago
Dotty Walker from SewThoughtfulBlanket says:
Wow, some really good advice. I love the picture of the dresses hanging up. Good idea. Great article!
1 year ago
Kay from Tyingtheknotinvites says:
I love these photos they look timeless! Great Story!
1 year ago
Angela Lewis from CasualCastle says:
It is so nice and refreshing to see wedding photography that doesn't look like all the other wedding photography out there. Its nice to see creativity. Stunning use of light, and I like the treatment on the shots. Sounds like they live awesome lives :)
1 year ago
KettleConfections from KettleConfections says:
I love the rustic elegant quality of your photos - great work!
1 year ago
mazedasastoat from mazedasastoat says:
As well as the professional photographer, ask any & all guests who take photos to let you have copies of any you might like to own. Either digital files or borrow the negatives & print your own copies. They're likely to get all sorts of candid shots of other guests...
1 year ago
Laura Wennstrom from laurawennstrom says:
Not getting great wedding photos are one thing I regret from my wedding. I decided to go super cheap and hired a friend to photography my wedding. There were some pros, like she just gave us all of the proofs to keep, but we had to do our own editing. She wasn't as good as I had assumed, and I was disappointed with the results (but I got what I paid for!) I wish she would have had more experience and courage when it came to taking photos of our very huge families, and say things like "I can't see you Grandma!" or "Let's not take pictures in a sunny field at noon, everyone is washed out and squinting." We had asked my uncle in advance (who loves to take pictures) to take photos of guests for us, as the photographer is often catching the "big moments." He was happy to oblige and it was a fun way for us to see what was happening 'behind the scenes' on our big day!
1 year ago
fairyn11 says:
As an assistant to a wedding photographer for over 8 years, I have some advice. -If you want a specific picture or certain shots during one time, etc. Tell them!!! We can't read your mind and know all your shots so don't be shy. -Look at their work and judge that! I don't mean one album, I mean the website, multiple albums, still shots, etc. -DO NOT BASE WHAT YOU WANT OFF OF A MAGAZINE ARTICLE OR THEKNOT.COM, ETC! This is YOUR day. Why bother living up to someone else's standards of what are good shots to take. -Really talk with your photographer and get to know the work they do so you know totally what to expect. -We love taking cool shots as much as you love getting them so loosen up and live a little even if an idea for a photograph is a bit wacky. -RELAX AND ENJOY YOUR DAY! If you are still, nervous, and otherwise not enjoying your wedding day it will show in the pictures. Loosen up and learn how to be comfortable and natural in front of the camera. There is nothing worse than a stiff pose and fake smile. Ultimately, love what it is you will be getting and know that a good photographer will do their best to make your day look amazing in the pictures (because it is that way anyway!).
1 year ago
Phil Jackson from NuptialNotion says:
Wonderful.
1 year ago
vKnit from vKnit says:
Super tips! Thank you for sharing! :)
1 year ago
NecessiTees from NecessiTees says:
Thanks for the informative tips!
1 year ago
messinabella from BandBEstate says:
Great tips!
1 year ago
Dawanna Young from peacesofindigo says:
Great advice~
1 year ago
Allison Bratcher-Wescott from dabrascott says:
Fantastic ideas! I am a fan of the informal, photojournalistic style as well. I am shooting a wedding for a couple in October --I just finished their engagement photos-- and I know it's going to be a set of photos that display their personalities more than anything staged ever could. I have their engagement photos on my page and I'm very pleased with them, for sure http://facebook.com/dabrascott -------------------------------------------- Support local artists! :)
1 year ago
Unique Fabric Gifts from uniquefabricgifts says:
Very good tips! On my wedding we decided we wanted to enjoy every moment of it. Nothing better than good memories! I had a few pose photos but everything else was very informal. The photographer captured every moment as it occurred while we were just having fun. When we received the photos we also enjoyed the things that we didn't even noticed and we had as much fun when we were looking at the pictures as we did in our wedding.
1 year ago
Mel from WeddingAmbience says:
Great article. Wonderful information. Beautiful Pictures!
1 year ago
Hatsuna from Blingup1 says:
good heads up, there should be no "re-do" exist in the big day. Everything captured in the first lovely sight! great article with fabulous pictures and inspiring tips!
1 year ago
Adriana from sweetindependence says:
beautiful pics!!!
1 year ago
TheEverlastingPosy from TheEverlastingPosy says:
What fun photographs!
1 year ago
BioMed DB Design from BiomedDesign says:
A good photographer makes a big difference. Nice article.
1 year ago
Emma Shepard from SewWonderfullyMade6 says:
Wow this is great!
1 year ago
Melissa Kojima from ArtistInLALALand says:
These really are some of the best wedding photos I've ever seen. Nice tips. Thanks.
1 year ago
Hannah Jasmine Tucker from TheMiddleButton says:
Love these tips! Thanks so much for sharing. :o)
1 year ago
mary from QueenofCuffs says:
Great points made. I like the deceptively simple and casual picks. Not so easy to do - the people all look so 'in the moment' yet no unflattering looks - beautifully done. I love looking at wedding blogs for the pretty and fresh photography. It is a real collaboration between couple and photographer and a 'must photo' list is an important part.
1 year ago
Megan from MegansMenagerie says:
Beautiful! Love the hanging dresses photo!
1 year ago
RockAndHardware from RockAndHardware says: Featured
Great tips! Even though our wedding was a very long time ago (30 years, woohoo!!), I think one of the most important things for us was that our personalities and styles meshed well with the photographer. He knew the shots we wanted ahead of time as well as candidly captured some of the most priceless photos ever. Your photographer is with you all day, make sure you like him or her!!!
1 year ago
VaLon Frandsen from thevicagirl says:
Such great tips. I am no where near getting married, but I have always been thinking about a photographer. It is such an important thing. If money is to be spent, it will be on photography.
1 year ago
baconsquarefarm from baconsquarefarm says:
Beautiful photo's and great article, thank you. Our son is getting married in August so I'll share these ideas and link with our son's bride to be. :)
1 year ago
iammie from iammie says:
Love articles about wedding! :)
1 year ago
Shell-Sherree from ShellSherree says:
Great suggestions - years ago, I was bridesmaid for a wedding where the photographer lost a couple of rolls of film {before the digital photo age!} and the bride and groom had to dress up again to re-shoot. {Lucky it wasn't the entire bridal party.} And it just wasn't the same, of course. Hiring a professional one can trust is so important. Your work is beautiful!
1 year ago
cottonage.com cottonage.com says:
Fantastic photos and great articles!
1 year ago
Katrina Alana from KatrinaAlana says:
Great tips on sourcing for a wedding photographer!
1 year ago
stylesbychanel from OnnyWear says:
Nice photos, thanks for sharing your advice!!
1 year ago
Izabela Murawska from IronCurtainSteamPunk says:
The photos are realy great. On my weeding I also had an professional photographer and I don't regret it! It makes difference!
1 year ago
Dorottya from SenoritaJoya says:
Great images! :)
1 year ago
dollmeat from ALABcraft says:
Great tips,very useful
1 year ago
Natalia from Nikifashion says:
awesome article!
1 year ago
Natalia from Nikifashion says:
Wonderful pictures!
1 year ago
Natalia from KMalinkaVintage says:
Awesome pictures!
1 year ago
Natalia from KMalinkaVintage says:
Beautiful pictures!
1 year ago
Peshka from Peshka says:
Beautiful photos!!!
1 year ago
Natalia from KMalinkaVintage says:
Great post!
1 year ago
Victoria Baker from LittleWrenPottery says:
Great tips, I always love the more natural style of photographs as opposed to a 'posed' photo. I think they just capture the spirit of the individual more!
1 year ago
Jelena from CeruleanBird says:
I really enjoyed looking at these pictures and also pictures on the blog, they really bring to life the moment
1 year ago
twentytwotwenty from twentytwotwenty says:
I couldn't agree more about how important the photoraphy is....lasting memories captured forvever. Lovely photos!
1 year ago
Siany from sianykitty says:
great great idea, I wish I read this articles before I choose my wedding photographer.. after going through a wedding, a good photography should probably be one of the most important aspect of your party
1 year ago
Katrina from mintmoose says:
There are so many people out there with a digital camera and photoshop who set up facebook pages in hopes of someone throwing some money their way when they have no experience. Hopefully these tips encourage people to really look at photo examples before deciding, and not being afraid to talk about what they need. Great post!
1 year ago
MaJentaDesigns from MaJentaDesigns says:
These are all very useful tips! it definitely is all about what style you like, and also feeling comfortable with the photographer - as you want to feel natural around them, in order for your smile in your shots to feel natural too
1 year ago
Deodorant Shop from deodorantshop says:
So pretty! Love the color pallette
1 year ago
Brianna from thehappycouple says:
These tips are all so true. For me getting good photos was the most important thing. I think it's reassuring to know that you're confident in someone's work and that you'll have great photos to look back on.
1 year ago
Lana Manis from VintageHoneysuckle says:
I really like all of the shots shown in this article. Traditional wedding poses are nice to have, but I love the candid shots!
1 year ago
Ever So Lovely from EverSoLovely says: Featured
Could not agree more that choosing the best photographer for your style is a must! For our wedding we spent the most on our photographer because years from now the photos from our wedding will be the things we cherish most! My husband and I met with several photographers and fell in love with the one we hired. Her personality was what we were looking for and she shot our engagement photos and did our wedding. Not only did we get awesome photos but we made a great friend at the same time which was a great find in itself! :)
1 year ago
Dstello from Dstello says:
Beautiful article! :) Love it!
1 year ago
Kathleen from myvintagecrush says:
Great tips!
1 year ago
Jesus Camacho from 27thEmpireGallery says:
great article :)
1 year ago
Jamie and Michelle from RadandInLove says:
thanks again, etsy team, for having us! we had so much fun with this interview. thanks for the kind comments, and love hearing all the additional tips! so much good advice! xoxo j+ m
1 year ago
karen from karensopencloset says:
Love the article :) And wonderful tips !!
1 year ago
bedouin from bedouin says:
soft and dreamy ~ so pretty ~ we were married 25 years ago in Vegas by an Elvis impersonator ....I'll leave your imagination to do the walking through our photo's!
1 year ago
Stephanie Morris from GeezeesCustomCanvas says:
amazing!!
1 year ago
Sarah from CAMPandQUARRY says: Featured
There are so many great tips in this interview! I got married last fall and the thing that we decided was most important was the photography. We chose locations that would allow us to have a photoshoot with the feel we wanted and we are so happy with the results. Hiring pro photographers that shared our aesthetic was exactly the right thing to do. And our photographers were so cool that our guests just thought they were more friends of ours. Couldn't have asked for more. P.S. - That shot of the dresses hanging is unbelievable! I love the bridal party styles and colours.
1 year ago
AJ Marsden from OnlyOriginalsByAJ says:
Have fun! Best advice I got for my wedding pictures and they look great :)
1 year ago
CraisinRain says:
A lot to think about but great tips. Thank you!
1 year ago
Ada Ada from idajewelry66 says:
Those dresses are beautifulThank you!
1 year ago
lindsay lindsay from ThePaisleyWindowpane says:
yay, Rad + In Love!
1 year ago
TheCustomQuill from TheCustomQuill says:
Wonderful, great ideas!!!!! : D
1 year ago
Tracy from designlab443 says:
I love weddings, what a fun job!
1 year ago
NicoleNicoletta from NicoleNicoletta says:
really beautiful photos!
1 year ago
Kathy Lindemer from BayMoonDesign says:
Great ideas!
1 year ago
Esra Asoratti from Asoratti says:
great tips and lovely photos :) xx
1 year ago
BossStudios from BossStudios says:
The photos are wonderful! Thanks for the tips!
1 year ago
H Wang from sandboxcastle says:
I love wedding photographies- I agree- I love the photojournalism trend - brings out the true story and real emotions of the day :3
1 year ago
mirabellamorello from mirabellamorello says:
Wonderful photos of these weddings!! It is so important that the mood of the photos match your wedding! We were the luckiest couple ever in that one of my husbands friends did our photos and she did an amazing job! She is a very gifted amateur and I don't recommend this route for everyone, but she probably should be doing this for a living! The "feel" of all of the pictures was just perfect and we were so comfortable with her because she is our dear, dear friend (just that tiny bit more dear to us for having captured our special day just the way we wanted!)
1 year ago
Pasi Torkkeli from TorkkeliJewellery says:
Very nice tips for someone like me, who happens to make THE CHANDLER- face in every photo that has been taken:D
1 year ago
Pearl Springfield from ZoeGraceBlooms says:
Great perspectives on photography! As a relatively new Etsy shop, I appreciate some fo the thoughts you share. Thanks!
1 year ago
Pink Poppies from pinkpoppies1991 says:
Oh these are so beautiful! It's great to see some non-cheesy wedding photos!
1 year ago
Alisha Scicolone from AlishaBaird says:
Amazing!!!
1 year ago
Carina Mary from FishPunk says:
I would love to know how people handle the photographer situation if they are eloping. Would it be strange to spend the money on a professional photographer?
1 year ago
ArtDecoDiamonds from ArtDecoDiamonds says:
I think the photos are fantastic!
290 days ago