Looking for a Wedding Photographer?
It is vital that you choose your wedding photographer carefully, as the images will represent how you and your guests will remember your special day. Whether you prefer reportage, elegant, modern, classic, black & white, colour, formal or informal, by viewing our online galleries you'll see there's a photographic style to suit everyone.
A good wedding photographer will give you the opportunity to view selections of images from previous weddings and assist you with planning the perfect photographic coverage. Make time to discuss all your arrangements with your wedding photographer before booking, as this will help you to understand each other's needs and requirements. This is also the time to discuss with your photographer any specific images that you would like to be part of your album.
Photograph © Peter Arciero
Additional to a pre-wedding consultation, you may find a pre-wedding photo-shoot may be helpful. This will give you and your wedding photographer the opportunity to develop a working relationship and will better prepare you both for the actual wedding day. It will help you to become more accustomed to being photographed, whilst helping your photographer discover under which conditions you look your best.
The Master Photographers Association is the only UK's body for full-time,
qualified photographers, all of whom are bound by the Association's Code
of Conduct. When you choose a wedding photographer registered with us,
you can be certain that they will strive continually to uphold the professional
standard of their work, and deal fairly, honestly and helpfully with their
clients.
Choosing a wedding photographer
Learn how to find your ideal wedding photographer and be armed with
all the right questions when you visit your shortlist
You've planned your big day down to the finest of details; you don't want
to leave anything to chance. So, make sure you get the perfect record of
your wedding - use a professional photographer.
You only have one chance to get it right and a professional will have the
experience and knowledge to cope with all possible eventualities and still
turn out a great set of pictures, that you can treasure forever.
So, what are your options? You may first consider using a friend of the
family, or other guest(s) to take the images. While the financial aspect
of this may seem attractive, it's important to consider what experience
they have and what they would do should it be raining, for example, and
all the images had to be taken indoors. Also, how efficient will they be
at organising people into groupings, if you should want them. A professional
will obviously cost more, but it will be one less thing to worry about on
the day.
Having ruled out a non-professional, you may also consider a part-time (semi-professional)
wedding photographer. They will be cheaper than a full-time professional,
but will probably not have the support network that comes with a full-time
photographer. They may not have undergone any training and also may flounder
when it comes to demanding conditions, such as harsh sunlight, high winds,
rain, dark skies, shooting into the sunlight, etc.
Photograph © Jules Kent
Using a full time Master Photographer will be well worth the investment.
Professionals also come in different levels of competence, but what is really
important is that you a) like the pictures and b) get on well with the photographer
who will be shooting your pictures on the day.
How do you know how good they really are?
They shoot amazing, creative pictures. This will jump out at you when you
view a number of different photographers' sample albums.
A good professional photographer will have professional indemnity insurance,
should the worst happen. You may also take out insurance yourself to cover
against photography failure.
They often hold a recognised qualification with one of the professional
bodies such as the Master Photographers Association.
View samples of complete weddings, not just highlights of the best. This
is very important, as most people would get one or two good shots from every
wedding, but you'll want most of your pictures to look fantastic and make
YOU look great on your wedding day!
Don't be fooled by wonderful presentation. Try to look at the pictures individually
and judge them on their own merits and not necessarily on how they are presented.
Choosing a service to suit you
It's only natural that you'll want plenty of pictures taken on the day,
that they'll all be great and took very little time to organise. However,
please be aware that great photographs take time to be 'created'. Even the
fantastic natural 'candid' shots you've seen in the wedding magazines are
often 'set up' in some way by the photographer. So, consider that the photography
will involve some time in your schedule - before, during and after the ceremony.
Also, volume is no substitute for quality. Today's professional who shoots
with a pro digital camera will have the facility to shoot many hundreds
of images. The skilled professional will shoot just one or two images of
each completely different 'scene', meaning that they will use their skill
and the available time to look for new and creative shots.
Photograph © Stephen Redfern
Also consider how many pictures you can afford in your album, or indeed,
if money is no object, then how many images can actually fit in. Some albums
now have the facility to have digital 'montages' of a selection of images
on one page. This is a good way to include say 4 images, where just one
conventional print would have been. These digitally produced albums are
often more expensive, so speak to your photographer before the pictures
are taken, to make sure you are happy with how your pictures will eventually
be presented and the approximate quantity you wish to end up with, for the
price that's right for you.
Shooting Styles
The last few years has seen a massive growth in the 'reportage' style of
photography. The popularity of this style came about due to their 'natural'
look and also because it appears to be less intrusive.
True 'reportage' photography has a great deal of creative and technical
input - the skill of the photographer being to make the pictures look like
they were totally natural, while they actually had a great deal of control
over the lighting and composition. Great pictures in this style demand an
experienced professional.
Be absolutely clear, both to yourself and the photographer, what style of
images you will be happiest with. Also don't be afraid to make it known,
before the day, who you do (and don't!) want in your pictures. Make sure
the Best Man liaises with the photographer to help organise people for groupings.
Always allow enough time for any formal or romantic shots. Your photographer
will be able to accurately guide you on this. The catering manager at your
venue will want to work to a tight schedule.
Make sure you get the actual photographer you book. Some studios have 'wedding
operators' who do some of the photography. Ensure that if you book a named
photographer (make sure it is their work you have viewed), that it is they
who shoot your pictures on the day. That said, in the unlikely event of
illness, a professional can often arrange for cover by another professional
at short notice.
Photograph © Bruce Neville
After the pictures have been taken and the day is over, you'll be away on
your honeymoon and the photographer will be preparing your pictures for
viewing and selection for the main album. Some photographers may place all
the 'proofs' online for you to make your selection, often protected by a
password. Guests can often order prints via this method, too. All photographers
have different ways of handling your imagery at this stage, so discuss that
you'd like before hand to make sure you are happy with what happens when
it comes to the final stages.
Finally, enjoy the photography and don't forget to SMILE! Choose
a photographer now