London Wedding Planner

As part of our regular Wedding Planning Advice series, today we’re examining the key things to consider when choosing a wedding photographer . Your photographs will be a lasting reminder of your wedding day for years to come, so you want to be sure that you choose someone who is going to capture those special and emotional moments.

Wedding photography is an area where I believe you shouldn’t try to cut corners. That doesn’t mean you have to blow your budget and find the most expensive photographer available, but it does mean that you should think carefully about what you want and take the time to find an experienced professional who inspires your confidence. Many couples often make the mistake of thinking all photographers offer the same service, but the quality of images and style of photography varies enormously between individuals.

What Do You Want?

Before you start looking for a photographer it’s important to think about what you want for your wedding photographs. Everyone has different tastes, so you need to find someone who will work with you to capture the memories of your special day in a format that you are happy with. Your sister may have had a brilliant photographer at her wedding, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he will be right for you. Ask yourself the following questions:

- Do you want lots of posed shots, or are you looking for a more relaxed and informal style that will document your day from beginning to end?

- Do you want an album, or are you happy with a just a disc of images? Albums do tend to increase fees and many photographers now offer them as an additional option rather than include them in a standard package

- How long do you want your photographer for on the day? For example, do you want them to photograph you and your bridesmaids getting ready through to your first dance, or are you looking for someone just to capture the key moments of the ceremony and part of the reception?

It can be easy to get overwhelmed with information when you first start looking for a photographer, so the answers to these questions will help you focus your research to ensure you find someone that suits your style and budget.

When it comes to researching photographers, asking your venue for recommendations is a good starting point. The photographers they suggest should have plenty of experience working at the venue and so will know the best locations to use on the day. Online directories and wedding magazines are also useful starting points. Don’t just look at the adverts in the back of the magazine – look through the real weddings that are featured and make a note of any photographers whose work you particularly like.

Any reputable wedding photographer will have a website that showcases their work, so use this to determine whether their style of photography is what you are looking for. Draw up a shortlist of 2-3 prospective photographers that suit your requirements and arrange to meet them so that you can view their work and assess their suitability for your wedding.

The Initial Meeting

Remember that on your wedding day you will be spending several hours in front of a camera, so it’s essential that you feel relaxed and comfortable with your photographer. There are going to be lots of emotions swirling around, and you may be feeling understandably nervous about being the centre of attention and having so many photographs taken of you. It is, therefore, important that your photographer is able to put you at ease – if you don’t have a natural rapport with them, you will feel uneasy on the day and the tension will show in your photographs.

Use your initial meeting with a prospective photographer to assess whether you feel they are right for you. Do you feel comfortable with them or are you on edge? Are they interested in your wedding plans, or are they only concerned with selling their services? Do they offer suggestions as to how they can work with you to record your memories in a way that suits you, or do they seem inflexible? Most people normally know whether or not they ‘click’ with a photographer, so trust your instincts and don’t feel compromised into booking someone you’re not 100% happy with, even if you are impressed with their work.

In addition to getting to know a prospective photographer, the initial meeting is an opportunity to ask questions and find out more about their services. Some questions you may like to ask include:

- For how long have they been a professional wedding photographer?

- Have they worked at your venue before? If not, will they visit beforehand to identify suitable photograph locations so as to make the most of the time available on the day?

- What are their prices and what do their packages include? Can they tailor a service to suit your requirements if their standard options aren’t suitable?

- For how long will they be present on the day?

- Do they work alone or will they have an assistant?

- How many photographs, on average, do they take in the period of time you are considering?

- If you want a wedding album, what style do they offer? Do they design the layout themselves? How many photographs can be included, and how much do extra additions cost?

- Can you keep the proofs? Some photographers offer small prints of all photographs, others provide a print-ready CD, and some may charge an extra fee for this option

Make sure you take your time viewing their albums so that you can assess their photographic style, the image quality and album design. Even if you are not intending to have an album, it’s important that you see what the photographs look like when printed. A good photographer should be able to show you a complete album, rather than a collection of images from different weddings.

Before making a booking, ensure that they have adequate public liability insurance and make sure you know exactly what is included in the quoted fee (for example: time they will be present on the day; display options; VAT). Also make sure you know of any extras that may impact the overall price, such as travel costs. Once you have made your decision, make sure you sign a contract and keep a record of the date when the final balance is due.

Photo Credits:
Wedding rings: Julia Boggio
Bride: Segerius Bruce
Flower: Tim Bowden
Bride and groom: Lloyd Dobbie

For further planning advice and professional tools to help you organise your wedding day, including supplier management spreadsheets, please take a look at our DIY Wedding Planning Package . If you would like more hands-on assistance with your wedding arrangements, please check out our services page to see how we can help you. Remember, we’re offering 20% off all services booked before 31 ^st January 2010 .

Next month : Finding Your Wedding Entertainment

You might also find interesting:

• Planning Advice – Finding Your Suppliers
• Wedding Planning Advice – Finding Your Venue (Part 1)
• Wedding Planning Advice – Finding Your Caterer
• Wedding Planning Advice – Finding Your Venue (Part 2)