Darren McCall 5/14/20 Darren McCall 5/14/20

How to choose a wedding photographer

People often ask us- how should they choose the best wedding photographer for them? We know we can’t photograph everyone’s wedding so we’re always happy to help provide some pointers. There are so many different factors to consider (style, price, personality, sales techniques etc) and we understand it is important to choose the one that is right for you.

How do you choose a wedding Photographer?

People often ask us- how should they choose the best wedding photographer for them? We know we can’t photograph everyone’s wedding so we’re always happy to help provide some pointers. Rosy and I were in the position of finding a wedding photographer ourselves when we got married in 2009 so we know how difficult the decision can be. There are so many different factors to consider (style, price, personality, sales techniques etc) and we understand it is important to choose the one that is right for you. Whenever anyone asks us, we always explain that there are a number of different factors to consider, but the most important thing, beyond anything else, is ensuring they fit your own personality. This is really interesting, because we find that 9 times out of 10, the people who choose us for their weddings are relaxed and fun couples- exactly what we consider ourselves to be!

Personality

It’s really important to find someone you like. The photographer probably sees more of your wedding than anyone else, yourselves included! We can be there from 9am in the morning until 9pm (sometimes even longer!) so will see you both get ready, the nerves before the ceremony when everyone else has disappeared, witness your ceremony, your one to one time in between, and throughout the first dance and the evening. You don’t want to be spending that much time with someone you don’t like!

Choose someone who you think will fit in well to your wedding- someone who will be able to get on with your guests, and someone who will make you feel comfortable (especially when posing for photos may be a bit out of your comfort zone). Think about how presentable the photographer is – they may be behind the camera but they are still attending your wedding. Basically, choose someone who you’d be happy being a guest at your wedding!

Darren and Rosy, wedding photographers in Peterborough

The strange thing about being a wedding photographer, but also one of the things we love about our experience with all of our couples, is we become good friends, albeit for a fairly short period of time (although some we have convinced to continue being our friends)! With all our weddings we’ll have seen our couples up to 5 times by the big day – the initial meeting that is often at someone else’s wedding or a wedding show; the face to face meeting where we discuss everything in a little more detail; the pre wedding photoshoot where we have a chance to get to know each other a bit better, take some photos and have a bit of fun; often a catch up just before the wedding; and then the big day itself. Having a stranger at your wedding is the last thing you want.

Adaptability

This is very important, it is your day- not the photographer’s. You need the photographer to plan group shots, have a plan of action, and to ensure they’re getting the best out of your day, but they are not there to dictate. This is the same when it comes to the photos themselves, if you have asked for natural, reportage photos, they should be able to cater for this. If you’ve told them you don’t like posing they should be good enough to get great one on one shots without having to tell you where to position each leg and hand.

They work for you, and as such should give you what you want. Sure, they should be on hand to push you a little as they know what makes a great shot, but they need to be flexible. This also relates back to why it is important to get to know your photographer before they day itself- that way we know what you do and don’t like and can adapt our approach to you.

Price

Price is always going to play a big part of your choice, and every photographer has slightly different pricing. Some, like ourselves, have packages, some have modular pricing, others a one-size-fits-all approach, and some have more complex pricing. Set yourself a budget and work from there. A good wedding photographer will charge anywhere between £1000 - £3000 for their whole package, depending on experience, success, demand, quality of work and the clientele they’re aiming for.

Beware of photographers offering you a full photography package for £500- there is often a reason they’re cheap (either hidden extras, or their work is a poor quality). We’ve made it very simple to choose the right price and package, and have listed it on the website for all to see.

The package

Whilst price is important, do remember that price alone isn’t everything! When comparing prices it’s important to consider what you are getting for your money, and to ensure it includes everything you want.

We offer a range of bundles at different price points, and we hope this makes it easier for you to select an option that suits you. For example in our platinum bundle (our most popular package) we offer full all-day photography, digital high-res copies of all your photos, an online gallery that you can share with friends and family, a pre-wedding photoshoot, and a bespoke luxury lay-flat photo album. When comparing prices it’s important to know what you are getting as you may be getting a lot for a slightly higher price than someone who may offer say day photography only for a set lower price so ensure you compare like for like, and if it is unclear what is included- ask!

Most photographers will offer add-ons, so if you are thinking of getting a piece of wall art let them know- most photographers will be happy to discuss different options that suit what you are looking for. Similarly so if you do not want extra products such as canvasses, prints etc be clear on this. Whilst we offer bundles based on what couples most commonly asked for, if there’s something included that you’re not interested in (for example an album), let us know as we can create a custom package and knock off the price of that element. Communication is key, and if the photographer isn’t comfortable with your questions, they’re probably not the ones for you!

Coverage and number of photographers can be another big factor, it is common for a photographer to only cover until the start of the wedding breakfast, which means you might miss out on some of the most important bits – cutting the cake, the first dance, and (our personal favourite) the drunken dancing photos! Beware though, some photographers are less keen to work the extra evening hours and will charge a premium to cover it, so make sure you know how many hours of coverage are included.

As for number of photographers, the more photographers you have, the better the coverage of the wedding –they can cover more ground, different camera angles, and be in more than one place at a time. Having a second photographer can allow for both the bride and groom’s preparations to be documented so you can both see how your new spouse spent their last few hours of freedom! Some photographers will have a second shooter included, with some it’ll be an extra cost. It’s a real perk if you can find someone with an extra photographer included as standard (*cough*, *cough* - there are two of us ).

The photos themselves!

It seems so strange that the quality of the photos is further down this list, after all, you’re getting a photographer, you want them to be good, right?! Right – but they’re a professional photographer, their photos are likely to be a high quality anyway. There are exceptions – some can be old fashioned, with odd techniques that they learned a long time ago. The world has no space for colour spotting (black and white with a red rose highlighted) – nope, nope, nope. If you see someone showing their portfolio that includes colour spotting run for the hills! (Unless that is your thing, and then that photographer may be your match made in heaven!) Make sure to look at examples of their work, and even ask to see an example of a full wedding, before making a decision. It can be easy to show one or two good photos from a wedding but seeing a full set of photos will give you a better idea of what to expect.

Every photographer will have their own style though, from romantic light photography to intense and moody darks, all have their place in the wedding photography world, just ensure whichever you choose fits with the vision you have of your shots. Trust me, a photographer will understand if you say we’re not choosing you because we had a different style of picture in mind. However it’s possible that the photographer may be able to alter their style slightly to fit in with what you’re looking for (depending on how close a fit their own style is) so it’s always good to ask. Ensure you’ve seen their work, and most photographers will have a page showing some of their best work.

Editing

Are my photos edited? Yes. Photoshop has become a swear word because of how magazine editors edit their photos, but don’t be scared. Every good photographer nowadays will edit every single one of your photos. Will they make you look like a different person? No. Will they artificially enhance every element? No. Will they take every photo and make them the best version of themselves? Absolutely. See the below photos of Hannah and Sam, amazing what a difference it can make! Photoshop is a friend, not a foe, and a key part of the process of producing photos that you will love to look back on in years to come!

Can you get the originals? Very unlikely- why do you want unfinished photos? The average wedding for us takes 10 hours to photograph and more than 20 hours to edit, wondering why you’re paying so much? It’s an expert’s time.

Products

If the photographer has albums, make sure they’re good quality - there are a lot of cheap album manufacturers out there, and if you want a professional photo album you’d like to think it’s something you can’t order yourself from one of the many online printers. You want a great quality cover, with first rate materials, thick pages and great picture quality. We use Loxley Colour, they are amazing, and British (which always counts double) with a wide range of options to help you create your own bespoke luxury album.

This is the same for wall art – canvases, acryllics or frames.

Other stuff

Location – does location matter? We’re wedding photographers in Peterborough, but we’ve covered weddings in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire (Yorkshire and Hertfordshire are next up on the list)! Most of our couples live within an hour’s drive of us, but we’re happy to travel, not all are. Some may charge you for their travel, but in truth fuel is comparatively cheap, and if you’re getting the right photographer it’s worth the investment.

Part time or full time –there are benefits for both. Full time photographers may have more experience (assuming they have been in the industry for some time) but they are often photographing weddings every weekend and sometimes multiple weddings in a week so it can take longer during peak wedding season to get your finished photos delivered; part time photographers may have less availability during the week but they do it as a passion because they love it, and as part-time photographers ourselves, we genuinely get excited for each and every wedding we photograph and love being able to provide a truly personal service to each of our couples.

Availability – seems too easy this one – if they’re not available, they can’t photograph your wedding so definitely make this a priority to ask! We always recommend booking your photographer as soon as possible after securing your venue to make sure your preferred photographer is available.

So to summarise, choose someone who will fit in with the guests at your wedding, and that will deliver what you’ve asked for without taking over your big day. The price needs to be fair for the product that they are delivering, and that includes great quality photos, albums and wall products.

I hope this has proven useful, and if there’s anything we can do to help just let us know!

Darren

Darren McCall 5/19/19 Darren McCall 5/19/19

Tim & Becky - Swynford Manor

Last year we were lucky enough to be asked by Tim and Becky to capture their wedding at Swynford Manor. One of our favourite ever couples, at an amazing venue, with a genuinely awesome group of family and friends, on one of the hottest days of the year- it all added up to make for a genuinely memorable day!

The day started capturing Becky and her bridesmaids getting ready at Swynford Manor…

…before moving on to Tim and his groomsmen…

…and as the girls were ready nice and early, we are able to take some truly stunning shots of Becky before the ceremony.

As it was a gloriously sunny day, the ceremony was held outside, and Tim really choked up when he saw how beautiful Becky looked…

…and the ceremony ended with an impromptu throwing of the confetti as the new Mr & Mrs made their way down the aisle!

After the ceremony we took Becky and Tim aside to get some couple’s portraits in and around the manor house, and allow them some time to chat to each other. It was also a good chance for all the guests to make use of the air-conditioning at the venue to cool down!

Before the wedding breakfast the guests sat down to listen to the speeches including one by the mother of the bride. Amongst the tears and the laughter, it was clear from what was said that this was a true joining of two families who really wished Tim & Becky the best as they started their married life.

In the evening, Tim & Becky wanted to have some fun with sparklers (who knew it would be so hard to simultaneously light lots of sparklers?!), and the night was finished off with lots of fun on the dancefloor!

Darren McCall 4/19/19 Darren McCall 4/19/19

Zoe & Ollie - A Harry Potter Wedding

Back in October 2017 we had the pleasure of photographing Zoe & Ollie’s amazing Harry Potter themed wedding. Both are huge Harry Potter fans, and Ollie had even proposed with a ring hidden in a Harry Potter book, so it just made sense that their wedding would reflect their love of the bespectacled boy wizard.

Using the Pottermore website all of the wedding party was sorted into houses, and each wore their house scarf (the bride was in Hufflepuff and the groom in Slytherin, in case you’re wondering!), and the bride and bridesmaids even had Hogwarts-style capes to protect them from the cool October weather. The brides bouquet of flowers and the Grooms buttonhole were crafted from pages of the Harry Potter book series. The bride even had a Potter themed tattoo and nail art, and wore a Golden Snitch emblazoned dressing gown whilst having her hair and make-up done.

During the ceremony at Normanton Church the bride had arranged a surprise for the groom- a barn owl (like Harry’s own Hedwig, although this owl was appropriately called Lily- the name of Harry’s mother) flew down the aisle to deliver the rings to the best man!

After the ceremony there was time for some photos with Lily the owl and her feathered friends (not sure how keen the groom was!), and some stunning photos around the church.

For the reception, the guests travelled to the Theatre Lounge bar at the Corn Exchange in Stamford- with the Victorian arches and original bare brick walls it was the perfect setting for Zoe and Ollie to create their own mini-Hogwarts. The venue was decorated with the emblems of each of the houses, wands were provided for all of the guests, and there was even a Platform 9 3/4 . The cake was a real work of art- covered with the Marauders Map, a Golden Snitch, and even a fondant Dobbie the House Elf, and to top off the night- the bride and groom had a wand fight!

Darren McCall 4/13/19 Darren McCall 4/13/19

Jonathan & Katie - Langley Abbey

Today I want to share with you the beautiful wedding of Katie & Jonathan at Langley Abbey. Whilst the weather may not have been entirely on our side (at least it didn't rain) everything else about the day was perfect; from the bridesmaids outfits (they had pockets!), the bride’s Sleeping Beauty themed shoes, and the stunning venue- it was a great day from beginning to end. Katie was a relaxed and radiant bride, Jonathan a chilled and cool groom, the bridesmaids are groomsmen but some of the most fun that we have worked with, and the guests were all so friendly! I have selected some of my favourite photos to share with you below- I hope you enjoy these, and if you are consideingr getting married at Langley Abbey I would certainly recommend it (and please do get in contact- we’d love to photograph another wedding there!).

P.S.- See if you can spot the bat in the last photo!

Darren McCall 3/24/19 Darren McCall 3/24/19

Weddings 2018 (and beyond...) in Review

Welcome to our sparkly new blog! As this is the first post, and as the wedding season for 2019 is yet to begin, I thought it would be fun to reflect on the weddings we had the pleasure of photographing in 2018 (and maybe a few before that too…).

It is such an honour to be entrusted to capture someone’s wedding, and we love being there to ensure each unique moment is recorded for our couples and their family and friends to look back on for years to come. The below is just a small selection of my favourite photos (it was so hard to choose!), and I hope you enjoy looking at the below photos as much as we enjoyed taking them. If you like what you see, please get in touch- we would love to hear from you!