One of the very first stages of planning a wedding, after the date and venue are confirmed, is to select a wedding photographer.
Now I may be slightly biased but it seems to me there are only three tangible elements of your wedding day that will last your whole life. Your dress, your wedding ring, and your photographs.
And of these three, only the photographs can keep every other element of the day alive forever.
Deciding how important your photographs are to you is the first stage in finding your perfect photographer. You only have one chance to create the images that will be a lifelong representation of the day you married each other, and you are effectively trusting your memories into the hands of one photographer. Choose carefully!
The best photographers are usually booked 12 months in advance, especially for Saturdays in June, July and August (although September is quickly becoming an extremely popular month for weddings here in Wales), so the earlier you make your initial enquiry the better chance of booking your first choice.
When you're shopping for your wedding dress, you don't buy the cheapest dress on the rack, so don't make the mistake of opting for the cheapest photographer you can find - the phrase "you get what you pay for" has never been more true than in wedding photography. Instead, search for photographers whose style and portfolios impress you, and contact them to see if they are available on your wedding date. The most professional and reliable photographers will always reply promptly, so take note of how quickly and courteously each of your "shortlist" of photographers returns your call or e-mail.
Next, make an appointment and meet them in person. This is extremely important. You are going to be sharing your wedding day with this person and if they annoy you or you don't like them, it just won't work. The more comfortable and relaxed you are with your photographer, the better and more natural your photographs will be.
Make sure you look through a number of albums showing complete weddings from start to finish. A selection of favourites is fine for a website but you need to be confident that the pictures will be consistently good throughout the day.
Sally Marie's website
http://www.sallymarie.co.uk/ offers this advice when selecting your wedding photographer:
- Meet the photographer beforehand and make sure you can communicate easily and feel that you can work together comfortably. You have been planning your wedding day for months, if not years, so don't let yourself be bossed around. This is your day.
- Make sure your wedding photographer has a contingency system in place for unforeseen events such as illness - you don't want to be left without a photographer on your big day!
- Check that your photographer has public liability AND professional indemnity insurance. Saving a few pounds by booking an uninsured amateur isn't worth the risk if you're left with no photographs, or if someone is hurt tripping over their equipment. Someone once said, "if you think an expert is expensive, wait and see what an amateur will cost you." Wise words.
- Similarly, don't make your decision based on price alone - if you go for the cheapest option, be prepared to accept cheap results. Your wedding photographs are one of the few elements of this important day that will last forever, long after the cake has been eaten, the guests have gone home and the dress has been packed away in the attic! So make sure you choose a high-quality service from a reputable, established and insured professional.
- Choose a wedding photographer who returns phone calls and e-mails promptly and can be tracked down when you need them. A mobile phone number alone isn't enough!
- Look at the photographer's previous work and style of photography. Every photographer is different, and you don't want to choose a traditional formal photographer if you want a reportage-style wedding album, and vice versa. Choose someone who specialises in the sort of look you want for your own album.
Sally Marie offers a complimentary, no-obligation wedding consultation for all couples planning their wedding celebrations. It's an ideal opportunity to browse through albums and talk about your wedding plans over a coffee, get to know how Sally Marie works and what to expect from her on your wedding day.
If you would like to talk to us about your upcoming wedding, please call the studio on 01341 28 11 93 or e-mail weddings@sallymarie.co.uk
COMING UP NEXT: Wedding Photography Blog Series - Part 2: Pre-Wedding Services
All Blog content ©Sally Marie Photography Ltd - No reproduction without express permission.
