Picking your wedding photographer is one of the most important decisions you will need to make for your special day. After your wedding is over, these photographs will give you memories to treasure and offer you a glimpse of some of the key moments of your day, many of which are likely to have passed in a blur. In the UK, there are thousands of wedding photographers so knowing how to pick the one who is right for you can certainly be a tricky decision.
Here we will look at some of the things that you should consider when looking for the photographer who will capture your magical day.
Style
Before you can begin your search for a photographer you need to select the style that you are looking for. If you are not sure what you want, then take a look on the internet for photographs that appeal. You may find a photo sharing website is a great place to start as you will be able to find a range of different styles that other people have shared rather than just a few on each individual photographer’s website. Once you have found a style that you love then you will be able to make a shortlist of photographers that match the style. This might be contemporary, traditional, quirky or reportage.
If you are quite laid back and want your wedding to be as natural as possible then you may prefer the altogether more relaxed feel of reportage, which will allow your photographer to capture candid moments as they happen. If you want plenty of posed group photos, then a traditional style photographer will be more appropriate.
Experience
For some people, the amount of experience that a photographer has is less important. If they like their style and have seen previous pictures this is enough. However as a rule it is a good idea to pick a photographer who has at least a few years of experience photographing weddings. This is not so much to do with the quality of the images they capture, but their “on the job” experience. Experienced photographers are adept at knowing where to be and when, and what works and what doesn’t.
Recommendations
If you have friends who have recently married then ask them for recommendations. If they loved their photographer, they will probably show you all of their photos as well. If they were not impressed, they will certainly let you know!
Meet with them
Once you have narrowed down your shortlist make appointments to see some of the photographers. Have a chat with them and see how comfortable you feel with them. If you don’t feel a connection then they may not be the right fit for your special day.
Ask to see samples of previous work. If they just show you selected photographs of a wedding, ask if they have a full album, you can look at. If they are only showing you images they have selected then you are only seeing what they want to show you and again you may want to look for another photographer.
Back-up plan
Once you have finally chosen the photographer you want to trust with this important job then it is important to check what contingency plans they have in place for your big day in case a problem arises. If there is an emergency and they are suddenly not able to take your photographs, do they have someone they trust to call on to help you out or will you be left in the lurch? If they don’t have a plan B or they don’t seem confident in the arrangements that they have it may be best to look elsewhere.
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