Wedding photos capture your special day and freeze memories, allowing you to remember the emotions and excitement of the occasion years later. No other medium will tell the story in quite the same way. And the pictures remain long after the flowers and decorations and many other aspects of the event may have faded or been put away.
An experienced, professional photographer will record the joy of your wedding in a way that well-meaning friends with camera phones simply can’t. And while you may think you’re a dab hand at photography (and may well be right) yourself, there is, of course, simply no way you can take your own marriage shots.
So you need a pro for the job, and may want to shortlist a few to research in more detail.
Things to consider before taking on a photographer for your wedding:
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Learn about their style
What sort of style do you want from your wedding imagery, and is your potential photographer the best one to replicate it? Do you want posed and quite formal/traditional, for example, or something more natural and artistically shot? Do you want some black-and-white images?
Many photographers will specialise in a certain style of working, and this could range from non-intrusive to traditional and with an organised structure to the photos.
Among the various styles to consider are reportage; a photojournalistic approach based on capturing reactions and emotions, so it’s a documentary style. Expect many candid shots and no posing, which gives a highly authentic feel. You could opt instead for a traditional record of the day, with standard group shots of the wedding party. This is quite time-consuming, and involves considerable direction from the man or woman behind the camera. For a more modern, unique style, contemporary wedding imagery is almost like an editorial or fashion shoot, done very artistically.
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Think about their personality
Your wedding day is of course a highly personal and emotional day. So you’ll need to feel comfortable with your photographer, get on with them and be able to ask them anything you want. That simply won’t be possible if you don’t get on with them on a personal level. So a face-to-face, relaxed meeting ahead of the big day, well in advance, will be essential. And remember, if you aren’t feeling relaxed, this can be reflected in the pictures.
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Make sure they can capture the whole wedding day
When you look at sample work and portfolios, ask to see shots from a whole wedding, not just a small number of key pictures. They may be able to capture a few important images – but you need them to cover the whole event from start to finish. All their pictures should display the same consistency and quality.
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Questions, questions, questions
You simply cannot ask too many questions – and no true professional will mind being quizzed on a range of things, including how many weddings they’ve covered in the past year, whether photography is their full-time job, what back-up equipment they have, and whether they’ll be doing the shoot themselves. How long will they need to turn around the pictures? How long have they been shooting weddings? Have they worked at your venue before? If not, will they visit it in advance? Finally, it’s also worth asking about membership of professional organisations.
At the same time, your wedding photographer should also have plenty of questions to ask you.
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Talk about the small print
This may seem tedious, but don’t forget it. Does your prospective photographer carry professional liability insurance? What about copyright and use of the created images? What is the expected payment schedule, cancellation and rescheduling policy, and do they require a deposit – if so, how much is it and is it refundable?
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Know your budget
Clearly, the professional you book will need to charge a price that falls within your budget. Discuss price before you do anything else.
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Read reviews
As with any other service, read Google reviews and ask around people you know for recommendations. Think about whether the expertise of your chosen photographer is reflected in positive reviews from other customers. You can read my Google reviews here.
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Consider an engagement shoot
If you have an engagement shoot ahead (obviously) of your marriage, you’ll get to know your photographer and have a chance to work with them before you tie the knot. So it’s always worth asking about options for pre-wedding imagery.
I’m an experienced wedding photographer with a number of years’ experience capturing couples’ perfect moments across Surrey and Hampshire. I’ll always meet potential clients and chat over a coffee and answer all their questions before expecting anyone to commit to using my services.
Get in touch to learn more today about how I could create memories you’ll treasure for decades.
