You’re all LOVED UP and you’re getting married -Yay! It’s just that now you feel like you’ve a million things to do before the big day including finding your dream team of people and suppliers who will help to make everything on your day amazing. So, here are a few essentials to help you choose the right wedding photographer that you would love to have capture what’s probably going to be the biggest day of your life so far…..
10 Essentials To Help You Choose the Right Wedding Photographer
Don’t Forget to…
Breathe…you will get everything done and it will be an amazing day. Don’t fret over small stuff!
The Big Question…
Ask yourself ‘how important is your wedding photography to you?’ If you’re in the enviable position of being able to book your dream team without compromise that’s great, but if your fabulous venue and honeymoon ‘blow the budget’ your dream photographer might just be a little out of reach. Sort out what matters most to you and plan your budget. To give you an idea, ‘Brides’ magazine budget planner for new year 2015 puts average photography spend at £1399.
The Big Picture….
Look at LOTS of photos. Wedding photography blogs, directories and social media sources are great to look at, as is Pinterest, but don’t confine yourself to on-line resources. Grab your favourite magazines, ask friends if you can look at their wedding photos, even look at your holiday 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 as this is what you’re looking for when you make the first decision about your photographer – with your heart.
Photographers will each have their own style and whilst there aren’t strict definitions, it’s worth knowing how photographers and magazines describe different styles. So, here goes:
Images That Tell a Story…
If you love natural photos that capture the day as it is with no scripted or time consuming ‘posing’, look out for photographers that offer documentary or reportage wedding photography. The style is very 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 is sometimes combined with a more artistic approach, working with available light to produce slightly more stylised and romantic images that are also sometimes referred to as fine art. There is often an emphasis on black and white imagery interspersed with a few beautiful colour images.
Documentary wedding photography is the approach that I have with my couples. You can read more about my approach on the about Kevin Page.
Channel Your Inner Fashionista…
If you’re a ‘fashionista’ at heart you may love the fashion editorial or high fashion style of wedding photography that focuses on you. This takes a lot of time to do as it’s aim is to make you look immaculate, glossy and perfect as though you had 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, look out for photographers that offer fashion led photography. The images can be amazing when done well.
When You Like Working to a List…
There is of course the traditional style that also requires time and effort. The look is posed and scripted and you will need to produce a list of group shots that you want. This is a style that’s often favoured by parents to make sure all the ‘important’ shots are captured, but it does have its place and when done right looks good.
Whimsical Wedding Wonderland…
Two other popular trends are the vintage style whimsical photography that has a very soft romantic feel to it. It tends to be a mix of posed and documentary and suits the current trend for vintage and soft floral very well. The last one is about having fun but in a scripted sense using props to take quirky shots of your day – think posing with false moustaches, hearts etc. There’s usually lots of colour.
The Big Picture…Again
Once you’ve done your research it’s time for the nice part, looking at the websites of the wedding photographers that capture weddings in the way that reflect your favourite images. It can help if you type in search terms that loosely match the definitions of style.
Another Wedding List…
Make a shortlist to contact, arrange to meet or Skype and 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, a good photographer just adapts quickly to wherever they work.
When you find ‘the one’ book them. Good wedding photographers get booked up early!
If you love the idea of natural, gorgeous images that tell the story of your day drop me a line or give me a call on 0370 6265200 or 07963 033266. I would love to hear from you!
USEFUL PAGES
Pricing & Availability
Destination Wedding Photography
Engagement Photography
My Approach - Documentary Wedding Photography
FAQ's
Testimonials
Favourite Wedding Venues
GET IN TOUCH
With bases in both Cambridgeshire and the Cotswolds it's easy for me to travel to wherever you are having your wedding. Do get in touch, I'd love to photograph your day!
E: hello@scott-wood.uk
T: 07963 033 266
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