With all those romantic proposals over the festive period couples are now starting to look at planning their wedding. Whether you are looking at booking something this year or next (or even later!) it’s never too early to start looking for your photographer. Once you have your date and venue sorted give us a call and come and have a chat about your wedding and look through some of our work.
Looking for the perfect photographer can be a daunting task – there are hundreds advertising their services today – so here are a few things to think about when starting to look.
1) How long do you want your photographer to be there for on the day itself – ceremony, reception, bridal preparations, speeches, first dance?
2) How would you like to view your wedding images – proofs, internet, preview book?
3) How do you want your finished pictures presented – traditional album, coffee table book, storybook album, wall portraits or a disc to print from?
4) How much value do you put on the photographs – what’s your budget?
It’s always best to start with recommendations from friends who have recently married – see if they liked their pictures and the photographer themselves, check the photographers website and see if you like the style of work they do then arrange to meet with them to discuss your options and what you want. When meeting make sure you view albums from an entire wedding not just a handful of pictures from different weddings – this will give you an idea of how the images work together in a fininshed album.
Is your photographer a member of the Master Photographers Association?
Although there are many great photographers out there who are not members of a professional organisation you do get a little peace of mind by booking with an MPA member. Not only does each member have to achieve a high standard of photographic competence to join but it is the only organisation who will only accept Full Time Photographers – this means your photographer doesn’t undertake weddings as a hobby or additional income to supplement another job, they earn their living from photography and need to maintain their own reputations to get the next job. As a member they also need to have full professional indemity and public liabilty insurance should the worst happen on the day itself – always advisable to sort out your own wedding insurance thought to cover any eventuality. If your photographer is suddenly taken ill on the day then they have a network of other professionals who can be called upon to cover if needed.
I’m often asked why wedding photography is so expensive but there is no simple answer to this. The majority of a wedding photographers work is done before and after the wedding day itself – they will spend time in consultations with you, possible pre-wedding photo sessions, visits to the venue if needed, the day itself then all the time editing images for your previews, album designs and construction along with the costs involved in the album / prints etc. When looking at the prices it may seem a lot for “a couple of hours work” but all the office based time has to be included as well – if I do a full days wedding (approx 10 hours) then I will spend the best part of 24 hours editing your previews, sorting slideshows and then there is the extra time taken to do the final album not to mention the basic costs of equipment and overheads.
When setting your budget for the photography just remember that you will spend hundreds of pounds on a dress you will wear once and pack away, the cost of a cake that will be cut up and eaten, cars that will drive you for 20 minutes, table decorations and plans that get tossed away afterwards, flowers that will eventually die – the photographs taken on the day itself will be the only lasting keepsake that you have. A good photographer will be able to capture all these details along with shots of you and your guests and help bring back the emotions and atmosphere of the day when you look back through the pictures years later.
Finally, make sure you like and get along with your photographer – if you think about it they will be the only wedding service provider that will be with you for the longest time on the day itself, you don’t want someone you dislike at your wedding. I’ve heard many stories about photographers who were less than polite to guests and had run ins with the couple themselves.
So after all that – give me a call if you’re getting married and we’ll have a chat about thing.
Good Luck!
