5 steps of choosing the best wedding photographer for your perfect day
When choosing your wedding photographer, you want to ensure they create the wedding album you’ve always dreamed of. Your wedding photographer should capture every detail of your big day. From your place card holders to your hair accessories and your makeup applications, it’s your photographer’s responsibility to capture it all. This way, you don’t have to rely completely on memory. We firmly believe in investing in the right wedding photographer as your photos are one of the most important aspects of your big day. Below are 5 tips on booking the right photographer for your big day.
1. Set a Budget
No point finding a photographer you love and then discovering they’re well beyond your budget. We’ve got our complete guide to wedding photography prices to give you a good idea of what you can get for your money – the average is £1,500-£5,000 depending on number of hours for the day.
Your first step is to discuss how much you can legitimately spend and always keep that in mind as you continue your search. Lots of photographers have starting prices on their website or you could ask a few in your area for a quick quote to see what the going rate is. While £1,500 sounds a big chunk of your budget, your photos are one of the most important things to invest in. See if you can shave your budget somewhere else to give yourself as much money as possible for this. You get what you pay for.
2. Ask for testimonials
One of the best ways to find a photographer is to ask friends for recommendations. If anyone has got married recently and you loved their shots, find out who their photographer was. Other places to get recommendations from are your venue, social media and online reviews. A reputable photographer will have lots of testimonials from clients they’re happy to share with you or will put you in touch with previous clients. Once you have a shortlist, get in touch with the photographer and ask 1) do they have availability on your wedding date? 2) Can they send through a full album for you to look at (see below)? 3) Can you read testimonials or speak to a recent client? We recommend asking how the day went, did they get everything they wanted, and were they happy with the end result.
3. Browse your photographer’s portfolio
Look through the portfolio of any photographer you’re considering. You won’t just be looking for examples of the weddings they’ve captured. You’ll also be looking at their different styles and approaches. When you find the photos that resonate with you, you’ve found your style and photographer.
4. Decide on the right style
A professional photographer distinguishes all the subtleties of shooting a wedding. They’ll know exactly when to photograph your groom as he first sees you walking down the aisle, how to achieve the perfect confetti shot, and what to do in the event of rain. A creative and flexible approach often results in the most breathtaking and brilliant wedding photographs.
5. Create a detailed action plan
Everything from your chosen venue to the time of year will affect your wedding photographs. If you’ve got your heart set on certain shots, like couple’s portraits at sunset or a sparkler send-off photo, then you need to talk it through with your photographer. More often than not, your photographer will offer a pre-wedding shoot to help you both gauge what kind of shots you want. It makes taking the photos on your big day that bit quicker and more efficient.
