Building Strong Vendor Relationships

How to Build Strong Vendor Relationships as a Wedding Photographer (and Become Everyone’s Favorite to Recommend)

One of the most powerful (and often overlooked) ways to grow your wedding photography business? Building meaningful, genuine, strong vendor relationships. When you serve vendors as well as your clients, you don’t just leave a great impression—you build a long-term referral network that can keep your calendar full year after year.

As a New England wedding photographer who has photographed over 300 weddings, I can confidently say that strong vendor relations are one of the biggest game-changers in my business. Here’s how you can do it with heart, professionalism, and a little bit of strategy.

1. It Starts With a Heart to Serve

The best vendor relationships aren’t transactional—they’re relational! Walk into every wedding day not just thinking about your couple, but also how you can serve the entire team. That means:

• Helping a planner with their timeline flow

• Making sure the florist’s work is captured beautifully

• Grabbing a quick behind-the-scenes photo of the hair and makeup artists

• Supporting the DJ or coordinator with smooth transitions

When vendors feel seen and supported by you, they remember it—and they talk about it.

2. Go Above and Beyond for Venues

If you’re trying to build strong vendor relationships, prioritize venues! Most couples book their venue first, and many venues provide a preferred vendor list—which means being on that list can literally drive bookings to your inbox while you sleep.

So how do you become their go-to?

• Be easy to work with

• Follow their rules, respect their property, and keep things on time

• Offer to share your gallery with them after the wedding

• Tag them consistently on social media

• Deliver a few sneak peek images just for them

And above all? Be kind. Genuinely kind. Kindness paired with professionalism gets remembered.

3. Follow Up After the Wedding (Most Photographers Don’t)

Once the wedding is over, don’t disappear. This is where you have the chance to truly stand out. Sending a short thank-you email to the vendor team—with a gallery link or a few sneak peek images—is a small touch that goes a long way. Make it easy for them to tag you, and always provide clear crediting preferences so they can confidently and respectfully share your work.

I know what you’re thinking: “But Ali, I already have a million things on my plate!” I get it—vendor follow-up often ends up at the bottom of the never-ending to-do list. That’s why I rely on two simple systems that make it easy to stay consistent.

Pro Tip 1: During the wedding, I make a point to check in with vendors. I confirm their social media handles, thank them for their work, and let them know whether the couple has given permission to share images (thanks to my wedding day timeline questionnaire). If the couple is okay with sharing, I tell vendors that if they don’t hear from me within 6–8 weeks, they’re welcome to reach out! That little accountability nudge helps ensure I follow through before they have too though. But if I still forget to follow up – they know its ok to reach out and ask!

Pro Tip 2: Build a follow-up system into your workflow. Whether it’s a reminder in your CRM or a recurring task on your calendar, creating a dedicated space in your process for vendor outreach builds trust and shows you’re a team player from start to finish.

4. Become the Photographer They Want to Work With Again and Again

The wedding industry is close-knit. Planners talk. Venues talk. DJs and florists and makeup artists—they all talk. If you’re the photographer who is fun, kind, organized, flexible, and always shows up ready to serve, you’ll quickly become the one they want to work with again and again.

I can’t tell you how many inquiries I’ve gotten from venues I didn’t even know had me on their referral list. That’s the power of showing up with integrity and care.

5. Build Vendor Friendships, Not Just Connections

Vendor relations shouldn’t feel like networking—they should feel like friendship. Be curious. Be genuine. Ask about their business. Connect on Instagram. Send a quick “you crushed it this weekend!” message after a wedding. Recommend them when you can confidently stand behind their client experience.

You don’t have to be best friends with everyone—but treating your vendor team like humans you genuinely care about will set you apart more than any marketing strategy ever could.

Final Thoughts: Great Vendor Relationships Are Built on Great Intentions

Here’s the truth: if you show up, give 110%, and treat your vendor team with kindness and respect, those relationships will grow naturally. And over time, those connections become community—the kind that leads to more referrals, more dream weddings, and more joy in your business.

Want to Strengthen Your Vendor Relationships?

Grab my free Vendor Relationship Toolkit for Photographers—complete with:
✅ A done-for-you email template to follow up after a wedding
✅ A checklist of ways to serve your vendor team with intention
✅ Conversation starters to build authentic connections that last

👉 Download the Toolkit