The most common recommendation is to book your wedding photographer between 9 and 18 months before the day. Other professionals suggest a slightly shorter window, between 7 and 10 months. Both figures point in the same direction: the most sought-after photographers fill their diaries well in advance, especially in certain months of the year. If the couple already have a professional in high demand in mind, booking up to two years ahead may seem excessive, but it is a sensible decision. And what if only a few months are left? Booking that late is possible too. Some couples have found their ideal photographer just a few months before the wedding. Even so, the sensible approach is not to leave this booking until last.
What makes the timeframe longer or shorter
The first step sets the timetable for everything else: fixing the wedding date. Without a date, no photographer can confirm whether they are free, so it is best to have it decided before booking. Then comes the search. This means looking at previous work, comparing styles and talking to several professionals, and it lasts as long as the couple need to be clear about who they want with them on the day. Several things make the timeframe longer. A wedding in high season competes with many others for the same dates. Many photographers and videographers work at weddings spread across different parts of Spain, and each weekend they can only be in one place. At a large wedding, or one spread across several places at once, more than one photographer may be needed, which means coordinating more diaries. If you also want video, you need to secure the date with another professional. Booking early also leaves time to organise a pre-wedding or engagement shoot calmly, which takes place before the wedding day. Some professionals point out that booking in advance can also mean a significant saving. The timeframe is shorter when the date falls in a month with fewer weddings or when the couple are not tied to a particular photographer.
How to secure your date
The next step is simple. With the date decided, it is worth making a short list of photographers whose work the couple genuinely like, meaning complete wedding stories rather than just individual photos. Then write to each one to ask whether that date is still free, what the coverage includes and whether they also offer video or work with a videographer. Having the answers in writing makes comparing easier. If the chosen professional has the date available, the sensible thing is not to wait too long to confirm the booking, because in the busiest months free dates run out quickly.
