Miscellaneous
Choosing a Wedding Photographer
Photographer Tips and Advice.
Working with the Photographer.
As a photographer with over 12 years experience,
when I was asked to write an article on 'tips and advice' on how
to get the best help from working with a photographer, my immediate
thoughts were, "I could write a whole book on this!"
There are so many potential disasters just waiting to happen that
could easily be avoided with some prior knowledge and by working
closely with the photographer in the planning of the event.
However, knowing that your time will be limited,
I will narrow down 'my tips and advice' to the questions that
matter most to you, based on my many years of experience of what
customers usually want to know.
After visiting numerous web sites, you may become
even more confused and stressed out in the process of choosing
who you believe, will be the best photographer to undertake your
wedding photography. You will see hundreds of wedding photographers'
all advertising their wedding services. On web site adverts, all
the photographers' wedding photos look fantastic, don't you agree?
So how do you select that special talented photographer?
1). Selection
Select a photographer who either lives locally to you or in the
same region - preferably within a radius of 25 miles from where
you live. This is a good start as it helps narrow down your initial
search. You may need to meet up with the photographer on several
occasions to organise and plan your wedding event. Even after
the wedding you will need to view the photos and sort out your
order, album and reprints etc.
The photographer will more than likely be familiar with your area
and may already have done a past wedding at the venue you have
chosen.
2). View samples.
Most photographers will cover formal to informal style wedding
pictures and may offer documentary to reportage styles. Experienced,
professional photographers should be able to adapt to any of these
photographic.
Most importantly, their pictures will reflect their style, personality
and their own unique approach to the wedding day event. Allow
your heart and instinct to tell you this when looking at a photographer's
pictures or portfolio. To some photographers it is just another
job but to many other photographers, they will simply enjoy photographing
a wedding because of the challenge; it's an exciting, enjoyable
social event and they will want to capture fantastic pictures
to tell the story of your special day.
Of course, there are always a small minority of commercial wedding
photographers who operate with the sole aim of making 'quick easy
money.' They take a limited amount of photos and spend as little
time as possible covering the event. Perhaps an hour or two in
time at the most. This is not a bad thing if you happen to want
something quick and have a simple record of your special day only
- since not everyone has an unlimited budget. Ask the photographer
for client testimonials and if possible speak to people who have
used the photographer before. This way you're more likely to get
an accurate idea of how much time and effort a particular photographer
will spend on your day.
3). Photographer coverage.
Decide between you both, what aspect of your wedding day you would
like to have
covered by the photographer. I guess this depends on your financial
budget as
having a photographer attend your wedding all day, will usually
cost more for this
kind of service and the photographer's time.
Consider whether you want the photographer to attend the following:
a). Do you want some coverage of your Hen Night or Stag Night
when out celebrating your last days of being single for about
30 minutes only? These can be fun photos and they show all your
best friends in attendance. It could be a large group shot taken
in the restaurant or a funny and hilarious moment about to happen!
Not many people consider this, as this event is often overlooked,
but they can hold very special memories and can add humour and
laughs to your album! Isn't this part of the pre-wedding event
as a whole?
b). The location where the bride will be getting ready and departing
from?
c). Without question, the official wedding service
itself. Church or civil cermony?
d). On occasions, the bride and Groom may request
the photographer to photograph them at a separate location, such
as in a park or a special flower garden area possibly some distance
away.
e). At the reception. 'Cutting the cake.' This can be set up first,
so after the photographer can quickly depart. For some photographers,
this is the time when they take their farewells. This is usually
because the bride and groom no longer request the services of
the photographer. They have done their job.
However, many couples wish to have the photographer
remain for the speeches; the fun moments; the relaxed family and
friend pictures; taken in a more relaxed manner; and again at
the precise moment of cutting the cake as it happens, with all
the laughter and excitement created. For a photographer, this
is a good time to get great pictures, as everyone is more relaxed.
To me, Weddings are not only about the Bride and Groom, they are
also about families, extending the family and building up relationships.
It is great to see Aunties, Uncles, Grandmas, Grandads, Parents
and all the family members, young and old mixing together on such
a special occasion.
After the wedding is long over, these family pictures are priceless
and never again will they be captured, the young and old, all
together at such a special occasion. They will later become archival
pictures and passed onto the Bride and Groom's future children,
and then onto their children.
It will become a vital part of the family social history on both
sides. This is the essence of what wedding photography should
also be about in my view. A kind of 'social documentary.'
f). Table Speeches. These are often fun moments and an important
one. I have often seen the bride and groom, best man or bridesmaid
turn up with some unforgettable and hilarious 'props' from their
partner's past history or stag/hen night! To have this recorded
on film will bring back so many fun memories and always raise
a smile from viewers of your album.
g). Hotel bedroom. This is a good moment to
show off the expensive honeymoon suite that you have selected,
accompanied with a glass of champagne together.
h). Evening Reception. 'The first dance.' It is
also an occasion to capture those 'one time only photos' of the
bride dancing with her father, uncles, brothers and of course
the groom with his mum, aunties and sisters. Again the family
theme
continued of young and old throughout. However, you can only really
do this when you have the photographer in all day attendance to
capture all these unique moments.
Often the couple may like to have pictures of special guests arriving
or to capture pictures of the beautiful dinner buffet. You may
want some pictures of the evening entertainment or artist. Perhaps
you have booked an Elvis impersonator or whatever!
i). Usually after the dance photos, the photographer will ask
you whether there will
be any last requests for photos at this point before they will
depart.
4). First communication.
When you make initial contact with the chosen photographer by
telephone or email it will be helpful to the photographer if you
have thought about the following points:
a). Give the date of wedding event and time of service.
The photographer will first check in their diary if they are free
or are booked for this time.
b). What kind of wedding service is it - a Church
or civil ceremony?
c). How many people are expected to attend?
d). How many pictures do you wish to have in the
finished album?
e). Would you like a parents album made, consisting
of about 15 pictures?
f). What size prints would you like in your album?
g). Colour or black and white pictures required?
Or a mixture of both?
h). Will you need to order a wedding album from the photographer?
Or do you wish to save money by shopping around for an 'arty'
or more unique album, when on holiday or from looking in other
High Street major stores?
If it is Christmas time, you could add it to your Christmas present
list, or even on the wedding present list? I would feel honoured
in knowing that when the Bride and Groom viewed their wedding
album, they would always remember that it came as a special life
long gift from me.
i). Will you want an enlargement picture for the
home to display on the wall?
J). Print Sizes. Usually, most couples tend to select
around 36 to 40 pictures for their album in print size 8"
x 6" or even 8" x 8" prints. The reason for this
is that, most of the prints are afterwards placed inside an 'album
presentation card overlay,' which brings up the viewing page to
an A4 size near enough. This is a popular size because the wedding
album is most often viewed from either the tabletop or on peoples'
knees, and to look at prints this size is a most comfortable
distance away for the eyes.
Also, if you select more than 40 pictures for your traditional
wedding album, the pages can become more difficult to turn over
for viewing because the album spine becomes thicker. The more
pictures you try to place have in an album; they begin to lose
their impact and maintain less interest.
Good picture editing and picture selection skills are very important
at this point.
K). What style and kind of Photos would you like in your album?
Most photographers will usually know what pictures you would like
for your album. They will have talked to you over the phone or
by email at this point to discuss your first thought ideas, as
you will probably have some set ideas whether
you want formal, informal or reportage style pictures taken, or
perhaps a mixture of both. It is always useful and helpful to
the photographer if can present them with a 'wish list' of definite
photos that you would like taken on the day.
L). Most photographers will require a booking fee
payment ranging from £50, whereas others may require more.
This booking ensures your wedding day is confirmed as definite
with the photographer. This is usually done by a written
contract agreement and signed by both parties. This covers the
photographer, should he or she happen six months later to find
the wedding is cancelled for some reason, the photographer could
have turned away several other wedding jobs for that same date
and end up having no wedding to photograph!
M). Never ask a friend who is a good photographer
or who is a keen amateur to do
your wedding photographs in order to save you money. This is a
'one time only event.' They may be a good photographer, but when
you view the resulting wedding photos, you may be very, very disappointed.
You will have life long regrets afterwards and you may 'lose a
good friend' who you thought was helping you out and doing you
a favour. Believe me, Wedding Photography is
a highly specialised job and a professional photographer's knowledge
and experience is worth its weight in gold and is invaluable.
I hope this information has been helpful in providing you with
some useful 'Advice and Tips' in helping you to select a photographer
and in working with them to save time and guide you through what
will be regarded as 'the most special day of your life.' Of course
it is not possible to include all information here, but what I
have written will serve as a starting point and help you consider
the many questions to raise with the photographer regarding your
wedding. After all, the wedding photographer is most experienced
and knowledgeable about wedding and they will always be delighted
to help and answer your questions.
Should you require more information, please do not hesitate to
ask for further advice. I will be more than happy to help.
Article published with the kind
permission of
Mike Sweeney
(Click
here to visit his site)
