Wedding planning requires a lot of trust.

You are handing vendors deposits, signing contracts months or sometimes years in advance, and trusting people you may have only met once to show up for one of the biggest days of your life. Unfortunately, not everyone takes that responsibility seriously. And strangely enough, a wedding vendor scam is part of the reason Elegant Visuals exists today.

Before Elegant Visuals

Before Elegant Visuals was a wedding photography and videography company, I owned a business called Thermal Drone Solutions. My world was drones, thermal imaging, inspections, and technology. Weddings weren’t even on my radar. At the same time, I had started building a pretty serious collection of professional camera equipment. I enjoyed filmmaking and photography, but at that point I had never filmed a wedding in my life. Then I came across a post on Facebook. A bride and groom had hired a videographer for their wedding, paid them money, and then the videographer disappeared.I don’t remember today whether they had lost their deposit or had already paid the entire balance, but either way, they were suddenly approaching their wedding without the videographer they thought they had hired.I reached out to the mother of the bride. I was completely upfront with her. I explained that I wasn’t a wedding videographer. I had never filmed a wedding before. I wasn’t going to pretend that I knew everything about weddings. What I did have was professional equipment, experience operating cameras and drones, and a willingness to help. I offered to film the wedding for $500. They took a chance on me. And thankfully, it went pretty well. Actually, it went well enough that the following year, I filmed their other daughter’s wedding too. That experience eventually led me to completely rebrand the company. Thermal Drone Solutions became Elegant Visuals, and what started almost accidentally turned into the wedding photography and videography company we operate today. That Experience Has Always Stuck With Me. I sometimes think about how different that first couple’s experience could have been. Imagine planning your wedding, believing one of the most important parts of your day is taken care of, paying someone your hard-earned money, and then discovering that they’re gone. Your wedding doesn’t get rescheduled because your videographer disappeared. There isn’t a second chance to capture your first look, your vows, your dad seeing you in your dress, your first dance, or the people who came together to celebrate with you. That’s why choosing your wedding vendors shouldn’t come down to who has the cheapest package or who sends the best sales message.

Research who you’re trusting.

Before You Book a Wedding Photographer or Videographer 

There are several things couples should look at before sending a deposit.

Look Beyond Social Media

A beautiful Instagram page is great, but it shouldn’t be the only thing you consider. Look for an established business presence. Check their website. Look through their work. Search their business name. Look at reviews from multiple sources and see whether they have a history you can verify. Anyone can create a social media account. Building an actual reputation takes time.

Ask to See Real Work

A highlight reel can show someone’s absolute best 30 seconds. That doesn’t necessarily tell you what an entire wedding looks like. Look through full galleries, wedding films, teasers, and examples from different venues and lighting situations. You want to know that the people you’re hiring can consistently produce the quality you’re seeing online.

Get a Contract

Professional wedding vendors should be willing to put the agreement in writing. Your contract should clearly explain what you’re purchasing, how much you’re paying, when payments are due, what will be delivered, and the expectations of both sides. If someone wants thousands of dollars but doesn’t want to provide a contract, that’s a problem.

Pay Attention to Communication

You don’t need your wedding vendor to respond within five minutes every time you send a message. But communication should be professional and consistent. If someone is incredibly responsive until they receive your deposit and then becomes almost impossible to reach, don’t ignore that feeling.

Be Careful With Deals That Don’t Make Sense

Everyone starts somewhere. I’m proof of that. I filmed my first wedding for $500 because I was completely transparent about the fact that it was my first wedding. There is a major difference between someone saying, “I’m building my portfolio, here’s my experience level, and here’s exactly what I can offer,” and someone pretending to be an established professional while charging suspiciously low prices.

Transparency matters.

Know Who You’re Actually Hiring

Learn about the company and the people behind it.

How long have they been operating? Do they have a real business? Is there a consistent body of work? Can you find previous clients? Are they willing to answer questions?

You’re not being difficult by doing your homework. You’re protecting your wedding.

Who You’re Trusting Matters

Elegant Visuals is a husband-and-wife wedding photography and videography company based in Des Moines, Iowa. It’s also owned and operated by an active law enforcement officer. That isn’t something I mention because I think a badge makes someone a better photographer or videographer. I mention it because integrity and accountability matter to me. When someone trusts us with their wedding, we understand what they’re actually giving us. It isn’t just a payment. They’re trusting us with memories that can’t be recreated. They’re trusting us to show up. They’re trusting us to do what we said we were going to do. And they’re trusting us to protect moments that may become more valuable to them as the years go by. We take that responsibility extremely seriously. Do Your Research. Ask Questions. Trust Your Instincts. Most people working in the wedding industry genuinely care about their couples and take tremendous pride in what they do. But just like any other industry, there are people who don’t. Before you send thousands of dollars to anyone for your wedding, take some time to make sure you know who you’re hiring. Read the contract. Look at their work. Research the company. Ask questions. And don’t feel pressured into booking someone simply because you’re told your date is about to disappear. Your wedding deserves more than a great sales pitch. It deserves people you can trust. For us, that philosophy goes all the way back to the wedding that started Elegant Visuals in the first place.