Booking a wedding photographer – top 5 tips

Looking for a wedding photographer can be a daunting task, when it should be really exciting! There are so many to choose from, all with different styles, different price points and different package options. More affordable digital photography equipment has seen a huge surge in amateur photographers, and there’s always a friend of a friend who could do a cheaper job too.

So where do you even start and how can we make it easier for you? Here are my 5 tips that will help you find your perfect wedding photographer.

Tip 1: Decide on the style of photography you like.

Are you looking for a traditional photographer or maybe a documentary photographer? And what’s the difference anyway?

Traditional – This type of photography has been around for years and will consist of capturing the main elements of a wedding day and the focus will be placed on posed shots for couple portraits and group shots.

Documentary – This type of photography will capture the day as it happens without any interference. The key moments will still be captured but the smaller natural moments will play an important part in this type of photography. The aim here is to tell a story with multiple images. This is the style that best describes the way I work. Check out my recent wedding at South Farm

Creative – This is photography that thinks outside of the box, both in a composition and lighting sense. It may be a different angle or added flash, something that adds an extra dimension to a image. I like to be creative with my shots, you can see my lastest wedding at South Farm

Fine art – For me this is similar to traditional in the sense that more emphasis is placed on posing but it’s carried out in a more creative/artistic way to traditional poses.

A great place to look for inspiration is Instagram

Tip 2: Set your budget

This is always going to be important in the sense that weddings can be very expensive and everyone has a budget that they set. But the important thing to remember here is that your photographs will be the only thing from your wedding that will stand the test of time. Sure you will have your memories but photo’s can allow you to share your memories with others – your children, their children or anyone you wish to share your photo’s with. A general rule of thumb is to set aside 10% of your wedding budget for your photography.

Tip 3: Ask for recommendations

Do your research. Ask friends for recommendations to photographers they’ve used and were really happy with, or search for local photographers to you that fit the style you like.

Tip 4: Set up a face to face meeting & ask a lot of questions

Do you like/get on with the photographer? This is massive and in my opinion the most important thing. You will be spending most of your wedding day with your photographer especially the bride. It is vital that you feel comfortable with her/him and that you place your trust in them to capture your wedding day as they see it. They are the professional and that’s what you are paying for and why you have looked through galleries and galleries of photographers to arrive at this chosen photographer.

Get a face to face meeting booked as soon as possible so you can start to get to know them. If that’s not possible, then there’s always Skype.

Once you have decided on who you would like to photograph your wedding it is really important to ask questions. Lots of questions. For example:

Do they have back up equipment in case their camera breaks?
Do they have insurance?
What happens if they are unwell?
Can you see photos of a whole wedding from start to finish?
Do you have any solutions if it rains?
When will I receive my images?
Do you charge for travel?
How long has he/she been shooting weddings?
These are standard questions and any professional wedding photographer should have answers and solutions to them all.

Tip 5: Book early

I can’t stress this one enough. If you’ve spent hours and hours searching for your perfect photographer, only to be told that the one you have chosen is booked, you’re going to feel pretty deflated! Photographers tend to get booked up 12, 18, or even 24 months in advance, so its really important to plan ahead.