You’re GETTING MARRIED – how fabulous does that feel? Close to the top of your ‘wedding day to do’ list is choosing your perfect wedding photographer. The one that you would love to have capture the biggest day of your life so far…..
The Other Big Question….
How important is wedding photography to you? Few of us can book our entire dream team without first setting priorities and a budget. So, first things first sort out what matters the most to you and plan your budget.
Prices for wedding photography vary. ‘Brides’ magazine own budget planner for 2016 puts average photography spend at £1046. But, in reality an experienced full time professional photographer will be more. The average is more likely to be around £1500 for a digital package. And, for a top world class wedding photographer you can pay around £3,500 for the same.
Your perfect wedding photographer can be in any of those price ranges, but my advice is don’t make your decision based on price alone. You’ll make the best decision based on whether you love their work, whether you like the photographer and whether they fit your budget based on the priorities you’ve set!
The Bigger Picture…..
Look at LOTS of photos. Make a mood or story board of the images that you love or that inspire you. You may not know why you like them but it could be something as simple as how relaxed you or someone else looks in an image. Whatever the reason, the image speaks to you, it just gives you the ‘right’ feeling. Hold onto that feeling! This is what you’re looking for when you make the first decision about your perfect wedding photographer. It’s a decision made with your heart.
Don’t know where to start? Start by asking friends who photographed their wedding. And don’t forget to ask for recommendations from them for their wedding photographer. Wedding photography blogs, and social media sources such as Instagram are also great to look at. Pinterest can also be a useful source of inspiration!
Wedding Photographers will each have their own style. And, it’s worth knowing how photographers and magazines describe their different styles. Read on for more details about wedding photography styles….
Wedding Photos That Tell a Story…
Do you love natural photos that capture the day as it is with no scripted or time consuming ‘posing’? Search for photographers that offer documentary or reportage wedding photography. The style is observational and ‘fly-on-the-wall’ and there isn’t a list of shots to work to! The photographer takes on the role of story-teller, providing a narrative of your day. The emphasis also tends to be on black and white imagery.
This style is sometimes combined with a more artistic approach. Working with available light the photographer will produce more stylised. This type of photography is also sometimes referred to as fine art.
Documentary wedding photography is the approach that I take with my couples. You can read more in “my approach”
The Wedding Fashionista…
Are you fashion forward or just love to capture a trend? You’ll love the fashion editorial style of wedding photography that focuses on you. However, this does take more time to do! But you’ll adore the results. You’ll look immaculate, glossy and chic. And, you’ll look as though you’ve just stepped straight off the page of a glossy magazine.
If you don’t want to spend hours on the day posing it isn’t for you. But it may be something you want consider as a post wedding shoot. If it is the style that you want, search for photographers that offer fashion led photography. The photos are amazing when done well. It’s something that I offer at Scott-Wood Photography as a special coverage option.
Traditional and Classic…..
There is of course the traditional style of wedding photography. This style also requires time and effort. The look is posed and scripted and you will need to produce a list of photos that you want. This is a style that’s often favoured by parents. But, it does have its place and when done right looks good. Most photographers will incorporate some aspects of this into their style.
Vintage Style Wedding Photography…..
Do you love vintage and Boho? If so, vintage style wedding photography may be for you. It’s a whimsical style of photography that has a soft romantic vibe. It tends to be a mix of posed and documentary style photos.
Fun and Quirky Wedding Photography……
This style is all about having fun. But it’s more about fun in a scripted sense. It’s a style that is popular at the moment, using props to take quirky photos of your day. Perhaps this style is something that you can incorporate in your day with a photo booth? Particularly useful if you don’t want your whole day photographed in that style!
The Big Picture…Again
So, once you’ve done your research it’s time for the fun part! Start by using search words that match the style that you love. For example ‘creative wedding photographers Cambridge‘ or ‘best documentary wedding photographers‘.
Make a shortlist to contact of the photographers that you like. And it’s also a good idea to find out more before you book. So, ask for a brochure or even arrange to Skype to chat about your day and find out what they offer, prices etc.
Don’t worry about location or if they’ve never photographed at your venue before. Why? Your perfect wedding photographer will just adapt to wherever they work.
And, when you find ‘the one’ book them. Good photographers always book up early!
Don’t Forget to…
Stay calm…..you will get everything done and it will be an amazing day. And don’t fret over small stuff!
Found Your perfect wedding photographer?
So, do you love the idea of stunning photographs that tell the story of your day? Drop me a line or give me a call on 0370 6265200/07963 033266. I would love to be your perfect wedding photographer.
