Choosing A Wedding Photographer

Have you or any of your friends/family recently got engaged and are starting to plan the big day?

Choosing a photographer to cover your special day may seem a simple task, but time should be taken to decide on what you really want. This can mean the difference between having a set of mediocre photographs gathering dust or set of photographs accurately reflect your big day and can be treasured forever.

Here are a few tips and pointers to help you choose wisely.

Decide on the style of photography that's suits you?
There are a variety of different photographic styles on offer:

Traditional - this includes groups of family & friends, signing the register and the cutting of the cake etc. in staged poses.

Reportage – records and tells the story of your big day in a more relaxed way, capturing candid shots covering the real events of your wedding rather than staging everything.

Contemporary – captures the important poses/moments during the day with a modern twist
You can usually have a mixture of styles to suit your preferences.

Arrange to see several photographers before you make your choice?
When looking for a photographer, arrange an appointment to see them to assess their work. Ask them if their display albums show complete weddings; this way you can ascertain if the quality of their photography is consistent throughout the day. It is important that you have a good rapport with your photographer. Do the staged photographs show the wedding party having a good time and at looking relaxed & natural; if so the photographer has put his clients at ease?

When visiting a photographer, make sure the samples and albums you are shown are actually taken by the photographer who will be covering your wedding? This may seem an obvious point, but some companies have a few photographers on their books or may even use freelance photographers. The chemistry has to be right.

Check how many weddings the photographer will cover on your required date It is preferable to choose a photographer who covers only one wedding a day this ensures that all his effort and attention will be with you and not on looking at his watch.

Are the studio / photographer full insured? Check to see that the photographer has professional indemnity insurance (this offers protection in unfortunate event that the photographer is negligent) and public liability insurance (offers cover if someone is accidentally injured by the photographer whilst carrying out his business service.)

Does the photographer / studio carry back up camera and lighting equipment in the event of an emergency? It is always advisable to carry at a back up camera at every wedding in the event of mechanical failure or an emergency.

How much should I invest in my photography? Work to your budget. As a general rule, the more the photography costs you, the higher the quality and the skill level of the studio / photographer. You can find photographers offering wedding day coverage for under £300 – but the old adage “you get what you pay for” should be borne in mind. You should pay as much as your budget allows, but bear in mind once all the cake is eaten and the honeymoon is over your wedding photographs will be the only record of your day to treasure forever. It is therefore important to engage a photographer who will record your wedding with the versatility and skills required to produce an excellent set of artistic wedding photographs.

When should I book my photographer? As soon as you have your wedding date and reception confirmed. The most sort after photographers take bookings 12 to 24 months in advance of a wedding date and will cover only one wedding a day, so to avoid disappointment start looking as soon as you can.

Stuart Blackledge @ The Kent Wedding Photographer would be happy to discuss your wedding photography requirements with you. www.thekentweddingphotographer.co.uk T. 07881 588802


By Nicola Blackledge
Nicola Blackledge – The Kent Wedding Photographer

www.theweddingphotographer.co.uk