What to expect when hiring Chris Bennett Photography
Emily and Jason, Harpswell, Maine.
If you’ve landed on this blog post there is a good chance that you’re recently engaged and are thinking about getting married or eloping, congrats! Planning a wedding takes time, hopefully I can take a little stress off your plate by offering this comprehensive guide of what to expect when booking Chris Bennett Photography for your big day.
Liz and Collin, the summit of the Grand Teton, Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
-Who I am.
An adventurous wedding photographer based in Maine and available worldwide. No mountain is too high no destination is too far and no idea is too crazy. In fact the crazier the idea the more excited I get!
Yours truly somewhere on the Appalachian Trail.
-Who you are
A laid back couple with an adventurous spirit. I understand most weddings aren’t at the top of a mountain but you are at least not afraid to get the dress a little dirty or role up the pant legs and kick your shoes off to run through the surf.
We may not be a good fit if you are a couple looking for every image to be perfectly posed and every wrinkle to be photoshopped. Silly jumping bridal party pictures aren’t really my style. I work well with couples who find it fun to jump in a mud puddle with rubber boots on if it rains on their wedding day.
Jordyn and Sam, Glacier National Park, Montana.
-Photography Style
I’m very much a wallflower when photographing weddings, I don’t give too much direction… I prefer to photograph the genuine moments and raw emotions of the day as they happen from getting ready to the ceremony and the reception. With 300+ weddings under my belt, I use my experience to know where to be and when to be there to get the best shots that tell the story of your wedding.
Madison and Damian, Clark Cove Farm, Maine
When photographing you and your new husband or wife together I try to direct the two of you in a way that feels organic, natural and dynamic. If you’re in a static pose it is done in a contemporary and natural way. While technically many of my couple photos are “posed” because I’m giving direction, (generally the only part of the day where I direct the action) they don’t look or feel posed.
Emily and Mike, Peaks Island, Maine.
Megan and Josh, Spruce Point Inn, Boothbay Harbor, Maine.
-The Booking Process
When you reach out via email or phone the first thing I will do is check to see if your date is available. If it is, sweet! If not, I will refer you to some awesome folks in the area whose work I really admire. I’m more than happy to answer questions via email but a quick 5 minute phone chat would be better. If you’re in the area a meeting in person is best. If the chat goes well and we think we’d be a good fit for each other, then I’ll make up a contract based on our discussions and the different packages I offer. The signed contract and a $600 deposit is required to set the date in stone and make it official!
Nicole and Jon skiing to their reception, Sugarloaf, Maine.
-What to expect between booking and the wedding
I highly recommend an engagement shoot. I will also be in communication with you about the schedule of the wedding day. Feel free to bounce as many questions off me as you want, as I have done this several hundred times and I have a good sense of what works and what doesn’t. One thing that I recommend is a first look. This is why. About a month out from the wedding day I will request a list of the formal pictures that you’d like and a timeline of the day. If I’ve never been to your venue before, I’d love to meet you there to go over details.
Jenny and Tony, Broadturn Farm, Maine
Liz, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
A little more about me
I am the owner and sole employee of Chris Bennett Photography. I’m primarily based in Maine although I travel a considerable amount both domestically and internationally. I’ve been to 46 states and six out of the seven continents (Antarctica I’m coming for you!) Let’s just say I don’t do the sitting still thing that well. I majored in Photographic Imaging Arts and Sciences with a concentration in Photojournalism at Rochester Institute of Technology. Initially, I wanted to be a war photographer reporting for a major publication on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those thoughts mellowed quickly and after graduation in 2006 I found myself on the Appalachian Trail for six months. Soon after I photographed my first wedding and the rest is history! In addition to weddings, I freelance for major publications such as Backpacker Magazine and Outside Magazine and I’m also represented by an agency that markets my adventure photography all over the world.
Ready to get in touch? Contact me today!
Liz and Collin, Jackson Hole, Wyoming