Spotlight on Vision Photography, not your average wedding photography studio 

With all of the wedding planning that you will do, only photography and videography can be viewed more as an "investment" rather than an "expense", since these will be the only things remaining after your wedding day. Choosing a photographer can be difficult, and it is always important to make sure that you find one that fits with your personality. 

Vision Photography is growing as one of the most popular wedding photography studios in Michigan. Located in Bloomfield Hills, they
primarily do engagements, weddings, maternity and boudoir portraits. They also offer photobooths and digital guest books that set them apart from many other area photographers. I interviewed owner of Vision Photography, Jenay Dawson, and her take on some things that brides should be looking for in a wedding photographer.
Bride's Guide: So what's the most important thing a bride should consider when choosing her photographer?
Jenay (Vision Photography): The most important thing a bride should consider is style and the connection between herself and who she chooses. The biggest mistake a bride can make is choosing someone because they were the lowest price. The wedding day goes by so fast and all the couple will have to remember the day are their photographs and video. It’s extremely important to make sure they have someone they can trust to tell the day exactly how they envisioned it. Some photographers are pushy and will try to take over the day based on how they think it should be. Be sure to know what the photographer is like. Be sure to ask how they work on the day of the event.
What's your approach, and how then, do you work on the day of the event?
Vision is different from other studios because we offer a fresh take on photography. We use different angles, and photograph things most would never even think to shoot. We are always challenging ourselves to come up with something different. During a wedding, we focus primarily on the love that’s everywhere. There is so much to capture during a wedding between the emotion, the anticipation, the excitement, the love, I could go on and on. Those feelings are our main focus whenever we photograph.
Do you have any advice as far as budgeting for a photographer?

Budgets are meant to be a guideline, not an exact. Instead of using dollar amounts, I believe a bride should rank their vendors in order of importance. Then you have a little wiggle room. If you get a better deal than expected on vendor number 5, you may be able to splurge a little bit on your number one and two! I also believe that video and photography are the two most important vendors at a wedding. When the stories run out and the memories fade, the photographs and video are there to help you relive the day exactly as it was.
For a bride who is looking to cut corners during these rough economic times, we offer ala carte packages. Get what you can afford now and add on later. It’s as easy as that! There are also easy payment plans for any of our already set packages. [With that being said], Unfortunately every package isn’t for everyone. I would not feel comfortable changing my packages for one bride while other brides pay the price I have deemed fit for my products and services. I keep my prices as low as possible for all of my clients. If a bride thinks it’s too high, I may not be the one for them.
I've heard some that try to hire a friend to take photos, to save a bit of cash. Your thoughts?
That is nice of him to offer. Just keep in mind, there will not be any time for him to enjoy himself if you have him photographing the whole day. Think about it this way, I can cook a decent meal, but I don’t pretend to be a chef and would not offer to cater an important event for my family members. There is so much more that goes into wedding photography than just being able to take a decent picture.
Is there anything a bride can do to make things a bit easier at the wedding?
The best thing a bride can do to make my job easier is to trust me. As long as I have the trust and respect of the bride and groom, most wedding days go off without a hitch! I don’t need much time during the wedding but the little bit of time I need is best organized by letting the families know about being available for photographs at a certain point throughout the day. As long as there is time set aside for that, everything will be a breeze!
Any other advice for the bride to be?
The biggest mistake a bride can make is trying to please everyone involved in their day. The thing that every bride needs to remember is this is their day and it only happens once. Spending time trying to make everyone happy is not only impossible, but will take away from the fun and excitement of the planning process itself.
Vision Photography, LLC is located at P.O. Box 7165 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302. Contact them for more information, 248-683-1412, their website, blog, or on Facebook.
Do you know of a wedding vendor that should be featured by the Detroit Wedding Examiner? Contact Tom at [email protected] or www.cvideosolutions.com