A recent article in the Guardian described wedding photographers as “greasy” and “smelling of beer”. The writer also commented that he didn’t know “what on earth would make a grown man or woman want to give up their Saturday afternoon to take pictures of strangers in rigid poses?” Perhaps he was bitter and single or maybe he’d had a bad experience on his own wedding day with a photographer.
Wedding photography has changed so dramatically, along with the image of the wedding photographer over the past four or five years. Being a wedding photographer now has a heightened credibility, in return customers can now expect to have things done their way, rather than the “how its always been done” attitude which can’t have been good for business.
I’ve been a wedding photographer for long enough now to know that I sincerely love shooting weddings and positively thrive everyday I get to shoot another one. My work involves photographing one of the biggest days in a couples life, whilst its a great responsibility, its also, almost always, a great deal of fun.
Apart from an often small and short brief from my wedding clients, I am left with sole creative input as to how i shoot a wedding. Couples will choose me based on my portfolio of weddings, this is always a collection of weddings taken in the past 12-18 months and these are often my favourites. I want my photography to portray and represent the latest bridal fashions and changing wedding trends, as they change so does my work and my approach.
I offer clients the choice of DVD only, traditional and contemporary luxury leather albums and coffee table style hard bound books, as well as extras such as canvas prints and perspex mounted prints for wall hanging. My prices start at £400 for a DVD only package which is all inclusive. I also offer individual option plans so clients can put together their own tailor made packages.
-
Choosing a wedding photographer
-
Your wedding photos will remind you of your big day forever so make sure you choose a photographer carefully
If you’re tempted to let your groom’s best mate photograph the wedding because he thinks he’s the next David Bailey, think again. While your budget might thank you for it, gambling with your only tangible memories of the most important day of your life isn’t advisable. Finding a professional wedding photographer with a good track record and a great approach who is an expert with lighting and composition – and who’ll take the best pictures possible on this once-in-a-lifetime day – is something you should research carefully. Remember, if you’re not happy with your wedding pictures it will be hard (although not impossible) to recreate them…
Where do I start?
Think about the style of photographs you want. Whether you’re after traditional posed pictures or a fluid, reportage style, you want to ensure the person you choose is professional, proficient and perfect for you. You can find photographers through personal recommendations, wedding fairs, the Classified sections of You & Your Wedding, hotel managers, Yellow Pages, internet forums and local newspapers.
How will I know what style I want?
This will depend on the type of pictures you want. Reportage photography has become more popular recently as it captures the moments of the day organically. Make sure you find a photographer with creative flair and plenty of experience in this style. If you come from a big family and it’s important to have lots of traditional portraits of you all to keep your parents happy then you may want to choose someone whose portfolio is full of lots of traditional posed photography and formal line-ups. If you’re confused, click on this quiz and we’ll help you work it out.
What if I want both?
Many couples want a mixture of posed and reportage photos but it’s not necessarily that easy. Traditional photographers might not be skilled at reportage photography, and vice versa. Discuss your needs with the photographer before you make a decision They may be prepared to incorporate both styles to include some formal line-ups as well as more natural shots.
How can I tell if they’re good?
Look at albums of different photographers as you narrow down your search. The sign of a skilled photographer is consistently good photos from one wedding so make sure their portfolios aren’t full of single shots from 20 different weddings. If they’re skilled at high-quality portraits and traditional wedding photography you should be looking at good lighting, impressive background settings and perhaps some soft focus effects for close-up shots. With reportage photographers it’s really important to look at complete albums from other people’s weddings. Anyone can get a couple of natural shots, but it takes real skill to capture the magic of the entire day this way.
What else should I look for?
Check your photographer is covered by professional indemnity insurance in case something goes wrong with the camera or the film gets lost or damaged. This insurance doesn’t cover the style of the photographs so it’s imperative you discuss this with your photographer before the wedding day. Make sure you talk to the photographer in person, as you want to make sure you feel comfortable with them and feel sure that they have a good attitude. It’s important that they are experienced with weddings and can deal with highly charged emotions (and members of your families!) with ease and charm. The best wedding photographers will treat your day as a special event rather than just another job and will endeavour to capture perfectly the magic of your wedding day on film.
