How Can We Help?

• Doing almost 100 weddings per year we tend to have some perspective on how to help your day run perfectly. Lean on us for guidance and assistance as you plan your day.

• It's tough to create an itinerary and timeline with all the various pieces. We can help pace out the day so you get the most out of it and without stress.

• It's the little things, like showing you how to bustle your dress or putting the flowers on the guys.

• When others may be saying to play it safe and stay inside, but we can read the weather perfectly and get that amazing shot with the rainbow just after it stops raining (like the shots below - the event coordinator called off doing pictures and I insisted we go to the beach anyway and we got these amazing shots).

• When that annoying person jumps in the group shot and we pick up on the vibe right away - get that shot then invite them to jump out real quick for another without offending them.

• When two sides of a nasty divorce need to take pictures at the same time and we can make everyone smile.

• When we're behind schedule and need to hurry up with pictures to get back on track, but you're starving and we somehow get you some appetizers and a drink in the rush of it all.

• When the sun is setting - the sky is exploding in colors and your event coordinator insists that you cut the cake right now, but we grab you by the wrist and drag you outside for the shot that will define your wedding day and quite possibly be the best shot of the rest of your life.

• When that one friend does that amazing thing on the dance floor and we just happen to be right there and capture it forever.

When you hear someone say "We're going to hire a family friend to take our pictures - you better hope we're the family friend. . .

How to plan a wedding

There are LOTS of newly engaged couples this time of year and after all the excitement settles in you find yourself having to now plan the biggest party of your life.  Where to start?!  Hopefully this helps a bit.  

1. Book your date at a venue. Research venues online and tour at least three. Look closely at their cleanliness, attention to detail, support/staffing and flexibility. They should be willing to accommodate you and work with you to make your day perfect. If they seem too restrictive - move on. Look in their bathrooms and hidden corners, ceilings, light fixtures and more to see how clean they really are. If those areas aren’t clean, the kitchen won’t be either. If one person is running everything, ask if their staff or owners support their efforts. The bluntness of such a question will gain a true response showing full support or an uncomfortable chuckle. 

2. Build your team of vendors focusing first on entertainment and photography as these two book up fastest. This should be as soon as possible after securing the date at the venue. You don’t need to start each from scratch. Ask your venue for a referral list - but then ask how that list is created. If it’s a paid advertisement list, then its credibility is shot. Anyone can pay - doesn’t mean they’re good. It should be merit based in which a vendor has proven themselves to your venue. If you get referrals from friends (or strangers in FB groups) remember that everyone’s “Guy” is “The Best”. Always cross reference with reviews on WeddingWire or The Knot. Meet with any vendor before committing. 

3. Don’t hire a “family friend” no matter how good the deal. Just because you’re friends doesn’t mean they’re the most qualified to work your wedding and they’d probably want to socialize. If they don’t do a good job, it could be very awkward. Hire a pro who is dedicated to you only who you can maintain a professional relationship with before and after. 

4. Feel free to negotiate to get what you want. More popular dates will be tough to negotiate with but off season or odd dates you’ve got leverage - use it. 

5. Less is more. You don’t need a DJ who brings an MC, two photographers, two videographers, a lighting guy, a photo booth guy, etc. Keep it simple and build your team adding only what you actually need. After-all, that first dance should be the two of you, not surrounded by four cameramen.

6. Lean on your team of professionals. Trust them to help with anything and everything. As you plan the logistics of your day the timing of things will be very important. Want that perfect sunset shot? We can't have you being introduced into the room right when the sky is exploding in color. In the end, your team of pros can help to make sure every little bit of your day is perfect. That's what you hire us for and we're honored to have that role.

Becoming a Wedding photographer: what it really takes

Hint: It's a lot more than just taking pictures...

As with everything in life, experience breeds success. Do over 1000 weddings and inevitably you'll pick up some knowledge along the way that will be super helpful to your clients. Actually taking the pictures though really requires that kind of experience. It's much like playing a musical instrument. Getting that perfect symphony of settings in conjunction with the current status of the environment you're in - maybe it's bright sun, maybe it's a dark room, odd shadows, etc. Add to that, a good photographer need to have "The Eye" for a good shot.

“Anyone can buy a nice saxophone - but can you play it?”

You can know all the tech stuff - you can know your settings, lenses, filters, gear and more, but if you don't have the eye for an interestingly amazing picture than it's all for not..

So why Berryphotos?

What sets us apart? It's blending that artistic style with unique secondary lighting techniques to create a look specific to Berryphotos. Whereas most photographers utilize natural light as much as possible, Berryphotos will take full control of the light balancing natural with second and third light sources to create stunning images.