As Featured on the Wedi-quette website:
Hands up who is getting overwhelmed with all the wedding planning they need to do?!
I know so many brides-to-be who speak to me about how they don’t know what to fully expect from the businesses they are hiring, which makes the process daunting for them.
Trust me, you are not alone!
To take some of the stress out of your planning, I have written some of my top tips for finding the right photographer for your wedding and how to get the most out of them on the day.
1. Be Comfortable
When you’re trying to find a photographer there’s probably a lot of things you feel like you need to take into consideration, but the most important thing is how comfortable you feel with the person you’re hiring.
Out of all your suppliers, your photographer is going to be the one who will be with you throughout the entire day, therefore it is essential that you find someone who you know is going to fit in with who you are, in style and personality.
Simply hiring someone because you love their work or because they are within budget is great, however if they arrive on the day and you find they do not gel with you and your guests it will ultimately affect how you all look in the photographs.
Personally I find the best way to capture a great image is when you feel comfortable in front of the camera, and for that to work you’ll have a connection with the photographer. The best way to get a feel for your photographer is to meet in person before you book and a great way to do this is at a Wedding Fair.
Wedding fairs allow you to meet face to face with absolutely no pressure to book and you can snag some great discounts too.
Unfortunately, not everyone exhibits so if you’ve found someone online that you like, don’t ever be afraid to ask to meet up so you can get a feel for who they are, be it at the venue or even over video call or Zoom. If they refuse to meet you before you pay, then it’s probably best to stay away.
2. Invest
Weddings are expensive so it’s understandable that you’re going to want to save money where you can, but don’t compromise if this is going to affect the style that you want.
I’d say on average for a full day you’d be looking at £1000 to £1500, a full day should be from when you’re getting ready until after your first dance.
If you shop around you can easily find companies that offer two photographers as standard who are only a little bit more expensive and don’t forget you’ll have twice as much coverage.
If two photographers is something you’re looking for but you don’t want to pay for two photographers to be there all day then a few businesses will offer a second photographer for just certain parts of the day at a fraction of the cost of the main photographer.
Shortlist 5 of your favourites and keep an eye on their social media pages, most businesses run discounts throughout the year so if you’re booking far enough ahead you could find a good deal, also if you’re getting married mid-week some businesses offer lower prices so it’s worth an ask.
I know it all sounds expensive but trust me, when it comes to your photographs these are the moments you’ll treasure forever, so treat it as an investment.
3. Pin, Pin and Pin some more
I don’t know a single bride-to-be who hasn’t used Pinterest to plan the most magical wedding she could possibly imagine! If you haven’t used it before or don’t know what it is, it’s essentially a mood board in an app. You can search and pin ideas to your board so the theme and look of your day can be envisioned in all its glory.
The best thing about it is that you can share your boards with other suppliers. Sharing your board with potential photographers is going to be the best way to convey the type of style you’re looking for, and if you’ve already booked someone then it’s a great way for them to get an idea of what the day will be like.
4. Streamline
I’d wager that 9/10 couples want to get rid of the formal photographs and replace them with the lovely natural candid ones.
I’d also wager that at 9/10 weddings there’s always a nan or an uncle who wants to have some group photos from the wedding they can frame and stick on the mantle, and who can deny them that?
If you select the right photographer then group shots won’t take 20 minutes and if you’re happy to grin and bear it for that long you’ll never regret having those photos of you and your family in the future.
To streamline the process provide the photographer with a list of each group photo you want with names to be sure the photographer takes it. That way you don’t have to scramble to think of everyone during the photo time and they have a list they can cross off.
It’s also always worth appointing someone to be, what I like to call “The Sheppard.” This role usually goes to a groomsman or a bridesmaid (or whoever knows the most guests and has a loud voice) and their role is to help point out particular guests to the photographer but mainly help herd all the guests for the group shots as people tend to scatter after the ceremony.
5. Entrust and Enjoy
There’s lots to do when planning a wedding but hopefully you’ve found this helpful for thinking of your photographer and what to consider.
If you found this article helpful, then please consider sharing it with your friends.
If you are considering a photographer, I’d love to chat through ideas with you. Details below.
Wishing all couples a marvellous wedding day!
