How to choose a wedding photographer

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!

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.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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