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Introduction
Finding
a Photographer
Making
Contact
Have
a Clear Idea of What You Want
What
to Look For
Questions
to Ask
Making
a Booking
Adding
to Your Collection
Photographs
are the lasting reminder of your wedding day. They record the atmosphere
of your wedding, your choice of dress, colours, venues and guests.
They will be on display in your home, and the homes of the people
who shared the day with you, or those who were unable to attend.
They are a record of the most special day of your life for you to
look back on with future generations
It
is important then to find a photographer who is well qualified,
experienced and aware of the requirements for your special day.
You need to feel absolutely sure  that the photographer you choose will capture
the essence of your wedding and be able to make you and your guests
look a million dollars.
You
will find there are many photographers available to you. Photographers
are a varied breed specialising only in weddings or doing weddings
only as a sideline. Some do little or no advertising, others advertise
in many places. A good place to start would be to make enquiries
with the selected photographers that appear in the photographers
category
of our products and services section. You may
also consider asking friends and family for recommendations or posting
a message on our wedding
forum.
There
is a professional Guild of Wedding Photographers to which some photographers
choose to belong that publishes a list of it's members. Although
it is not an exhaustive list of good wedding photographers, it could
prove a useful reference point if you have difficulties locating
a suitable one.
Once
you have decided on a firm date for your wedding you can begin approaching
your choice of photographers to see if they are available. It is
worth starting your search for a photographer early, as the better
photographers will become booked up quickly. It is important that
you view photographer's work before you book them for your wedding.
Never book over the phone.
You
may like to invite a few people to come with you when you visit
a photographer, especially if they have a hand in paying for the
photographs. The presence of a parent, bridesmaid/best man or friend
will help you to keep a clear head and give you another opinion
on the appearance of the photographer and his work.
You
need to have a clear idea in your minds of what you expect your
wedding photographs to be like, or at least some idea of style or
specific shots required.
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Would
you like traditional or more journalistic style of photographs? |
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Do
you want exclusively formal shots or would some relaxed photographs
of friends and family help you to remember the whole day? |
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Would
you like some portraits of special people taken at home on the
morning of the wedding, where you can ensure everything looks
perfect (the photographer could visit you both separately)? |
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Would
you like a confetti
or bubbles
"in the air" shot, and do you mind if this is staged
rather than spontaneous? |
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Are
there some people you would like your photograph taken with
apart from the traditional selection? For example are some of
your guests travelling from another country who you see rarely? |
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Are
you inviting an old school friend that you had a photograph
with when you were very young that you could update on your
wedding day? |
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Would
you like all colour shots, black and white or shots using other
effects such as sepia toning? |
There
are a number of things to look for when you examine the work of
a photographer.
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Are
you offered a complete album of photographs from one wedding,
rather than a collection of good pictures from a selection of
weddings? |
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Do
you feel that the album tells the story of the whole wedding? |
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Are
the pictures of the couple different from each other: some close
up, some mid distance, some full length? |
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Can
you see a selection of tidy, well organised group shots, and
are all of the group positioned in the shot, or have people
been missed off at the edges? |
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Do
you feel yourself looking at the subject of the picture or a
distraction in the background? |
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Can
you see detail in the pictures: of the dress, the cake, the
flowers, people's faces in shots taken from a distance? |
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Do
the people in the photographs look relaxed, happy and comfortable?
It is helpful to check not only the bride and groom but also
the friends and relations in the photos. |
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Would
you feel happy owning your version of the pictures you are shown? |
 Don't
forget that there are a variety of different styles of photography
and of presentation. If one photographer does not share your ideas
of style, then try another one. It is difficult for photographers
to drastically change their style to suit yours.
You
should also make sure that the photographer you choose quickly establishes
a good rapport with you and makes you feel comfortable. He should
be able to advise you on where and how to stand without making you
feel stupid!
You
can always opt to have two photographers of varying styles at your
wedding, if photographs are particularly important to you.
Remember,
it is important to discuss all of your requirements with your photographer.
They can do a much better job of your wedding photographs if they
are totally aware of your hopes for the final outcome. Consider
taking examples of photographs from friends' weddings or sketches
so you are clearly understood. Leave as little to chance as possible.
Here
are some important questions to ask the photographer.
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Ask
if the person you are meeting will be the person there on your
wedding day. If not, ask to met the actual photographer and
see some examples of their work. If this is resisted, be a little
concerned. |
|
If
you meet an alternative photographer from the same company,
ask the same questions. Don't assume the same standards or experience
as their partner or employer. |
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Check
the photographer's qualifications and ask if they were gained
in wedding photography (if this is important to you). Also ask
how long they have been a photographer, and how long they have
been taking photographs of weddings. |
|
Ask
if the photographer has professional indemnity insurance to
cover the cost of retaking your photographs if something goes
horribly wrong. If the photographer does not have insurance,
you should take out your own wedding
insurance policy to
cover such an eventuality. |
|
Find
out how long the photographer spends taking their shots after
the ceremony and/or at the reception. There isn't really a standard
time for this, you should decide before you visit the photographer
how long you think it is acceptable to keep your guests waiting,
and see how close the photographer's estimate comes to yours. |
|
Ask
how the photographer copes if the weather is not as beautiful
as you hope. Here it will help if the photographer has worked
at your wedding and reception venues previously and knows the
local area. |
Having
found a photographer that suits your requirements you need to discuss
a price for the job. You will find that you generally get what you
pay for and the more experienced photographers are likely to charge
more, but this is not always the case.
Make
sure you ask each photographer to quote for the same job otherwise
you will not be able to compare quotations. There are some variables
in the cost of a wedding photographer: how long you want the photographer
to be in attendance, the approximate number of photographs taken,
the number of shots to be included in the package that is presented
to you and the type of album the final photographs will be presented
in. Be on your guard here. Make sure that the photographer anticipates
taking more shots than they intend presenting to you, as this leaves
a greater margin for error. Also be aware of "too good to be
true" offers as these are usually just as they sound.
Always
make sure that the content of the photographs, not the number of
shots or the size of the prints is what you are considering. You
can always enlarge a print, or have your photographs digitally changed
to include fewer people, highlight one particular area or even to
change the weather. The possibilities are endless if you are dealing
with a good print, but nothing can change a set of photographs that
do not have the content you require.
Finally,
make sure the photographer explains their quote and tells you of
any extras that may be involved in advance. Every wedding operates
on some kind of budget, and keeping a track of your spending is
easier if you have the full picture up front.
Click here to find photographers in our Products and Services Directory.
In
addition to the official photographs of your wedding, many couples
are opting to have a collection of photographs taken by the guests
themselves. This is achieved by placing single-use
cameras
on each table at your reception.
Imagine
the thrill of having another collection of one or two hundred informal
shots of your wedding, many of scenes and events you didn't even
know happened! Single-use wedding cameras, with flash, film and
free developing are available from our Wedding
Store.
If
you have any unanswered
question
about choosing
your photographer,
please post your question on our Wedding
Forum.
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