Finding Your Perfect Wedding Photographer CherryGorgeous

Finding Your Perfect Wedding Photographer

by Olivia Brabbs

So you’ve announced the engagement and set the date and are now ready to get your heads down for some serious wedding planning. Alongside decisions on venue and dress, one of the major planning considerations will be your wedding photography. Unlike other elements of the day your photographs will be the one thing (apart from each other!!) that stays with you for life and so it’s important that you take some time to think about what’s right for you and your plans. It may feel like a minefield but with some careful reflection and good research you should be able to confidently find the person for you.

1: KNOW YOUR STYLE

Traditional - a formal style of wedding photography with a very posed and directed approach following a strict schedule of images. The focus is on formal group shots and posed portraits of the couple.

Reportage/Documentary/ Wedding Photojournalism - all of these terms are used to describe a more candid fly on the wall approach to wedding photography. A documentary photographer will be as unobtrusive as possible with a focus on allowing the day to flow naturally without direction. It’s all about storytelling - so you end up with a very real depiction of your day with attention to all the little moments and expressions. Be warned though it’s become quite common for more traditional photographers to use the term reportage incorrectly in response to market demand. Reportage is not about taking informal portraits of individuals or staging moments to make them look spontaneous. Looking through sample albums will quickly let you see how “genuine” the coverage is as moments that are faked are very obvious from people’s expressions. To view work of the best wedding photojournalists in the world just take a visit to the WPJA (www.wpja.com) who offer lots of advice to couples on this style of photography.

Contemporary - this has become a very broad term for a more modern and free approach to wedding photography. It may also be referred to as Avant-Garde. Contemporary photographers are looking for creative compositions with a more fashion feel. There may also be a focus on using flash and dramatic poses. Contemporary photographers often use a lot of post-processing techniques to give their images a magazine look and there can be lots of attention on the couple rather than natural moments. This is the style of photography that will often be featured in photography association awards.

2: VIBE FOR THE DAY

So.... you’ve just about decided on the style of photography you think you like but before you make a final decision take some time to think about the experience you want to have on your wedding day. Each of the three styles comes with it’s own approach which will impact on your day in very different ways. With a traditional approach you and your guests need to be prepared for a long session of group shots - (facial exercises are recommended to get those smile muscles strengthened up!) and depending on the photographer you may experience a lot of direction. Rather than allow events to flow naturally, with a traditional approach photography tends to become the centre of the day dictating when and how key activities will happen. The big plus of traditional coverage is that you will definitely have a portrait of all your guests and meets the expectations of parents and grandparents who may feel more comfortable with this format.

Onto contemporary - with this style you will end up with some amazing portraits of the two of you but on the downside you will be taken away from your guests for quite a considerable amount of time on the day. This approach to portraiture isn’t for everyone so you need to be sure that you feel comfortable striking a pose for the camera! Have a think - are you look the camera straight in the eye kind of people or are you more about relaxed images with natural smiles when you’re not aware the camera is on you?

And finally onto a documentary approach.... Wedding photojournalism is all about keeping photography in the background and allowing people to be themselves and events to flow naturally rather than be directed. The biggest plus is that you get to spend as much time as possible with your friends and family and is helpful for couples who are feeling a bit self-conscious about being in front of the camera. Most documentary photographers understand that by the very nature of a wedding there needs to be an element of formality and are usually very happy to take a small handful of family group shots.

3: BOY OR GIRL

Ok... you’ve cracked the style that’s for you and now onto thinking about tracking down your perfect photographer. The sex of your photographer may be something you haven’t really thought about and for a lot of people it may not be an issue. Some brides however instinctively know that they will feel a lot more comfortable with a female photographer on the day - particularly during the girly getting ready moments. Just take a moment to think about those build up hours on the morning when it’s all about the girls - pampering and getting dressed - make-up, hair, jewelry, underwear and then onto the amazing moment when your dress goes on. For some people this is a very private moment but it can be one of the most emotional parts of the day and can lead to some stunning images. So if you do want to capture this moment just take a minute to think about how comfortable you’d feel with a man or woman in the room with you as you’re getting dressed and go with what your instincts tell you. You may not have strong feelings either way but if you’re not sure do take time to visit a range of photographers and you’ll quickly know how you’re feeling about the issue when viewing sample images from this part of the day.

4: PERSONALITY MATTERS

Boy, girl... you’ve had a little think but whatever you decide it’s your photographer’s personality that’s central to everything... It’s really sad that most people seem to have a horror story or two to share about wedding photographers and their behaviour - turning up in jeans, being bossy, upsetting family members - the list goes on - and an all time favourite is the photographer who used a whistle to “herd” guests into the group shots! It’s important to recognise that out of all the suppliers you will hire for your day it’s the photographer who has the most impact. They will be there in the thick of things and will need to cope under extreme pressure and keep to timings. It’s about finding someone who you both get on with but who you feel will also fit in with your family and friends. Someone might have the most stunning portfolio of images in the world but might have an ego the size of Africa - you need to look for the balance. Again, gut instincts are the thing to follow and don’t be afraid to ask for testimonials from previous clients or go back for a second meeting before making that final decision.

5: THE SEARCH IS ON

So where on earth do you go to find your dream photographer? Personal recommendations can be great - ask friends and work colleagues about their experiences. Your wedding venue might also be able to offer some recommendations but a word of warning - some of these lists are like advertising with suppliers paying for the privilege of being included. Many wedding co-ordinators might unofficially give a verbal tip off for a photographer that isn’t on the list as they’ve enjoyed working with them so much. Other suppliers such as florists and bridal shops are a great source of advice too and are often happy to give a very honest personal recommendation. The internet is a couple’s best friend when it comes to wedding planning - there are countless blogs (e.g. www.rockmywedding.co.uk) and directories (www.thisisweddingphotography.com) that can give you a good starting point. You could also try some general searches but rather than just putting in the obvious “wedding photographer yorkshire” perhaps think about some key words that fit with your requirements. e.g. “female wedding photographer”, “documentary wedding photographer”, “wedding photojournalist”. There is also a range of different professional bodies that can give some reassurance of quality - (MPA, BIPP, SWPP) but not all photographer’s feel that qualifications and awards are for them so this isn’t a pre-requisite for professionalism. For documentary photography a fantastic resource is the WPJA which is an elite organisation representing the world’s best wedding photojournalists.

6: MEETING FACE TO FACE

After doing lots of internet research and requesting price lists and info you should feel confident about making a short list of photographer’s who you’d like to visit in person. As with anything in life it’s important to see at least three people so you have a basis for comparison. A consultation should be really relaxed with an opportunity to ask tons of questions and nosy through piles of sample albums. When looking at albums it’s important that you’re viewing complete weddings rather than portfolio books that just showcase the best of the best. You need to look for consistency and quality throughout the day. Have a think about the date and location of your own wedding - there’s no point in only looking through summer weddings in marquees if your date is in December with a 3pm ceremony. Coping with low lighting is a real skill and requires technical expertise and good lenses so you need to check that the photographer is confident in winter conditions. The consultation shouldn’t feel in any way pressured and any photographer that starts with a hard sell banter should get alarm bells ringing. You will be making a substantial investment in your wedding photography and so need to give yourself time to make the decision that’s right for you.

7: THE FINISHED PRODUCT

Phew - we’re getting there - after style of images, personality of the photographer the last thing to consider is the physical products on offer. Do you want an album or do you have grand designs on creating something yourself through a set of digital files? As with meeting your photographer the only way to know what’s right for you is to see and touch albums. You might like the look of a more traditional matted album - these have moved on considerably from gilt edged ivory pages to more contemporary layouts and finishes. A more modern choice is the storybook or magazine album - these have images printed onto thick photographic pages. They can have very simple layouts that let the images speak for themselves or be designed with some very trendy effects. Another option is a coffee table book which will have the feel of a fine art book. Many photographer’s now offer the option to purchase a set of print ready digital files so you can take control on making your own prints. A word of warning though lots of couples go down this route with the best intentions of creating their own album but find a year later haven’t got round to doing anything with the images. There’s something really lovely about being handed a finished album rather than getting bogged down in book design or sticking prints onto pages. A lot of clients choose to have the best of both worlds and will go for an album but then have the benefit of a set of files so they have their own archive and can save lots of money in the long-run on reprint costs. In these times of consumer awareness and the movement towards green weddings you might also like to ask about the source of your photography products. There’s a trend among photographers at the moment for albums from New Zealand and Australia which comes with a hefty carbon footprint. There are some fantastic album suppliers here in the UK and so if it’s an issue that matters to you as with anything in life don’t be afraid to ask questions. One last thought is to consider how “fashionable” your photography is. Of course you want your wedding photographs to have the cool factor but be careful about gimmicks and trendy effects that will date very quickly. You need to love your wedding photographs in 20 years time as much as you do on first viewing so going for a more timeless feel can be a big positive.

8: THE NITTY GRITTY

Once you’ve made the a decision with your heart then it’s important to at least try and put matters into your head for a while and just check a few crucial points off. Make sure that your photographer has got professional insurance - public liability and professional indemnity are the ones to look for. Do also make sure that you’ve received a clear break down of all the costs involved. There are a few different approaches to pricing so it’s important to make sure you won’t find any hidden surprises at a later date. One thing that people can get caught out with is the number of images in their album. If you’re only offered 30 images in your album you’re more than likely to want to add in extras. For example, at £30 per extra image if you took your total up to 80 images you would be liable for an extra cost of £1500. Your photographer should formally confirm your booking in writing so make sure you take some time to read through the terms and conditions supplied and ask questions if you’re not sure about anything. Regarding payment, it is normal practice to pay a booking fee to secure the date and then be required to settle the balance in advance of your wedding.

Good luck with the hunt !!