Finding the right photographer for your special day can be a big challenge. We cannot even begin to tell you how quickly your wedding day goes - we get it, we've been there. It literally flies by in such a blur that the photos will be all you have to remember all the little details. But just how do you go about choosing the right photographer (or photographers *wink*) for you when there are literally HUNDREDS of insanely talented people out there right now?
It's a really good question and we want to help you with this.
The first question you need to ask yourself is
what's your style?
There is no right or wrong answer here - this is all about your personal taste. Like with the number of photographers out there, there is also a number of different styles too. So have a think about what you'd want out of your photos.
Do you want your photos to be light, bright and airy? Or are you down for a moodier, more dramatic look? Then there's the soft focus or black and whites only. Maybe you just want somewhere in-between. Normally one of the styles will jump straight out at you. Personally, we are what you would call documentary photographers. We like to capture the moments as they happen and produce a gallery that really reflects your day. Of course we do the posed stuff too if that is what you're after, but on the whole our style is keeping it low-key and natural. We will stand among you and your guests and snap away the raw and authentic moments that you will be sure to treasure.
One of the biggest tips we can give you is do your research. Make sure you see the photographer's portfolio, and we're not just talking about the posed couple photos. Check out all your potential photographer's work and see how they handle the ever changing lighting situations that comes hand in hand with a wedding (especially the low light / evening shots). You need to truly love the style of ALL their photos.
The second question you need to ask yourself is
what's your budget?
It's no secret that weddings can be hella expensive. But they don't have to be. Sit down and create a list of what is most important to you and how much you can realistically afford - put your list into priority order. The average wedding photographer will set you back £1500-£2000, ouch. Whilst this does sound like a big chunk of your money already spent, remember that photos last a lifetime. Once all the confetti has been thrown and the honeymoon period has come to an end, your photos are what's left of your day and they are one of, if not the, most important thing you can invest in. We aren't lovers of the phrase, but you really do get what you pay for.
Once you've figured out the style you like and the budget you've got
ask for recommendations
A lot of our bookings come from word of mouth / reviews, and rightly so. We don't know about you, but whenever we buy any product online or visit any restaurant we ALWAYS check out the star rating beforehand and make our call based off that - so why should Wedding Photography be any different? If your friend has recently tied the knot and you just love their photos; ask them who took them. You want to make sure that your photographer is professional, reliable and also someone you'd get along with. Make sure you always read the reviews.
Next up
create a shortlist and build a rapport
Start contacting a couple of the photographers whose work you really love and check their availability. Wedding photographers can get booked up months, if not a couple of years in advance, so it's good to have a couple of options just in case here. You also need to want to hang out with your photographer - you will spend more time than you realise with them on your wedding day. Ask for a meeting or zoom call to make sure it's a match. If the budget allows, an engagement shoot is also a great way to get to know your potential photographer. You get to hang out for 1-2 hours and see if you like the way in which they work, and also if you like them - plus seeing yourself in their photos might help you make a better decision too.
