Home » Wedding Guides » Wedding Photography » Finding the Right Wedding Photographer
Finding the Right Wedding Photographer
Once you have decided what you want, you should contact a range of photographers for a quote before reducing your shortlist to two or three.
You should then aim to visit every photographer on your short list. Below you'll find the main things to look for and what questions you need to ask.
Portfolio
A good wedding photographer will show you a range of their work. Ask to see two or three complete wedding albums so you can get to see their photographic style as well as the quality of their presentation. If you look at just one portfolio or a range of weddings - you risk only seeing the best photos they have taken - which may be a small percentage of the total photos he takes.
When looking at their portfolio, you should look for the following:
- Consistency in their work.
- Good mix of close up, mid-range and long distance shots.
- Creativeness
- Whether they are the sort of pictures you would like of your wedding day?
- Do the people in the pictures look relaxed and comfortable?
If you are interested in a particular wedding photography style you should check that this style is represented well in the albums you view.
- If it is a traditional album - can you see a good mix of different groups of people and different shots or do they look bland and repetitive. Do the people look stiff or relaxed?
- A good reportage album should portray the story of the day - does this come across?
- If you're looking at contemporary albums - can you see the creative flair in their photos? Is there a mix of photos or is the photographer a one trick pony.
Qualification & experience
Nothing beats experience and a good reputation. An official wedding photographer should be part of a professional photography body such as BIPP, SWPP, MPA and BPPA. This will ensure you hire a photographer who is qualified to an approved standard, acts professionally at all times and adheres to a strict code of conduct.
Personality
Another important factor to consider is whether you actually get on with the photographer. If you have a rapport with them, chances are that they will also get a better understanding as to what sort of photos will work well because they understand you as a couple and understand the kind of photos you want taken on the day. Having a good relationship with your wedding photographer is crucial if you want to feel confident and relaxed in their presence on your wedding day. Your photographer needs to make your guests feel at ease too - so try and avoid over those with 'over the top' personalities!
Questions to ask a wedding photographer
- How long have they been doing wedding photography?
- Are they part of a UK professional photography body?
- What kind of photographic style do they specialise in?
- How much are the different packages and what do they include in terms of album, time and number of prints? Can packages be customised?
- Does the price include more than one location or would this be extra?
- Do they charge extra for travel? If so, how much?
- How many photos do they take on the day?
- Do they have public liability and indemnity insurance? Professional indemnity insurance would cover the cost of retaking them if something goes wrong. This may also be covered on your wedding insurance policy.
- Will they be the photographer on the day? (always worth checking especially if they are part of a larger photography company)
- How long will they be taking photos for during the drinks reception?
- Will they be working on their own or do they work with a second photographer? If you want a mix of traditional and reportage - two photographers may be better, but you need to be sure they will blend in with the crowd.
- What sort of photos would they be able to take if you had bad weather?
- What would happen if they were unable to attend on the day?
- Will you get to keep all the photos taken on the day?
- If you want some of the photos in Black & white or Sepia can they change this after the photos have been?
- Will they re-touch the photos where necessary? Will this be at an additional cost?
- Can they supply you with references of recent clients?
- Will friends and family be able to view your photos on a website after the wedding?
- Will these photos be available for anyone to buy?
- Can you buy a Hi Res (resolution) CD/DVD of the photos so that you can print them out as you wish? How much would this cost?
- How much would it cost for additional prints/albums/CDs?
- What are the payment terms? When would you need to pay a deposit?
- If you hire them for the whole day, should you be providing food on top of the price paid?
- What are the terms of the contract?
- Can they offer a pre-wedding shoot? This option helps camera shy couples to become more comfortable in front of the camera.
nofreetime tips
- Good photographers are often snapped up early - so start looking for a photographer as soon as you have set a wedding date
- Always get written confirmation as to what you want in terms of style and photos
- It is always advisable to have a few soft drinks available for your suppliers - ensure you speak to the venue in advance to arrange where necessary
- Most importantly - make sure the photographer knows who you want a picture of and with who, if necessary - give them a list of your essential shots