How to Choose a Wedding Photographer

Choosing  a Wedding Photographer can be a minefield if you are not sure what you are looking for.  Gone are the days when all photographers produced a broadly similar product. Just as you can choose from many different styles of Wedding dress you now also have a great choice of photographic styles.  Here are some helpful points to consider when choosing to record your day.

Film or Digital

Digital photography has become popular with most professional photographers and many now operate in a purely digital format. Some still use film to good effect.

Both digital and film are equally capable of producing first class pictures in the right hands and the format is simply a means to an end.   Do not be fooled into thinking that a digital photographer is more “up to date” and therefore is going to produce more contemporary photographs as this is not always the case.  You should always be aware of the following:

Some photographers will tell you that using a digital camera means that they can take hundreds of photographs  for you to choose from.  Remember that quantity is not synonymous with quality. 

Do not be misled by the suggestion that a digital photographer can be less expensive than one using film.  They may not spend money on film but their outlay on equipment is   more.  Prints have to be paid for in both formats. In addition a photographer using digital equipment will spend many hours working at their computer in addition to time on the day.

Equally do not be put off digital because you have only seen poor quality images produced at home from inkjet printers. Professional quality equipment is available and in capable hands produces fantastic results

Thanks to email,  digitally captured images can be viewed almost immediately.  Seeing the images whilst at your exotic honeymoon location has a real feel good factor, but           remember you are not buying pictures to see the next day but to remind you over a lifetime.  First class pictures ready in a few weeks will become more precious than indifferent ones seen the next day.
You should be aware that in the right hands both film and digital produce first class results and you should be more concerned with checking that the photographer understands posing (the people are all seen looking their best), lighting (their eyes are not in shadow) and technique (there are no objects in the background which spoil the shot).

Styles of Wedding Photography

Wedding photography used to consist solely of a few formal wedding groups and some full length pictures of the couple stiffly posed.  Nowadays a wedding coverage can encompass a number of styles, in varying proportions depending upon the propensity of the photographer and the client’s preference.  It is most important that your preferences be communicated clearly to the photographer and the deal only be struck when you are happy that he understands what you want.  To begin with you need to know yourself!  

There are five main components of  comprehensive wedding coverage

Formal (classic) Photographs

These are the formal portraits of bride and groom, usually in an attractive part of the location, whether this is at church or reception, indoors or out.  Photographs of groups of the principals: parents, bridesmaids, best man and ushers; each family of parents, siblings (including partners and children), and extended family. 

Storytelling Elements, often called ‘candids’

These are set up pictures of the main events of the day the bride arriving with her father, coming out of the church, confetti throwing, the departure, cutting the cake, etc.  While it might seem that all these can be taken off the cuff, just as they happen, much better versions can be taken if the photographer is allowed to do a little choreography. 

‘Hello’ magazine Pictures

These are those groups of friends standing close together, all looking at the camera.  Unashamedly set up, with big grins they are meant to show clearly all your friends enjoying themselves at your wedding and let you see the clothes and hats which you have failed to take in on the day.  By simply walking around and clicking, but this is not so; that results in too many back views.  Much better pictures are taken with a little organisation.

Detail Pictures

When you have spent such a lot of time on the details of your wedding, it is good if these can be captured for you.  Often they are too small to show on full length or even half length pictures, so many photographers include a series of small, detail images, e.g. embroidery on the dress, the back of the dress, flowers, shoes, jewellery, rings, specially if inscribed or with a special pattern, order of service, signatures in the register, elements of the church and/or hotel, features of the car or carriage etc.  These are often put in the album, several to a page.

Photojournalism or Reportage

These are the pictures that are taken without your having to do any posing, repositioning or even being aware that they are being taken.  They are popular because, if properly captured, they show you, your family and friends just as you are, really happy and carefree. There has been a great demand for these in recent years, but they are not easy to do and not all photographers are  skilled in this genre.  It is a fine line between a ‘snapshot’ and good reportage.  The former tends to be the result of luck; the latter is the result of the photographer having anticipated a great picture, having manoeuvred him or herself into an optimum position and pressed the shutter release at the decisive moment. Even though this style of photography is very popular at the moment, satisfy yourself that the photographer is producing more than just the occasional lucky shot

Black and White or Colour

Pre 1970 nearly all wedding photographs were black and white.  Then for a generation they were all in colour.  Now most people have some in colour and some in black and white, appreciating that the latter brings a special timeless quality to the image.  However, it can lead to problems.  It the photographer takes photographs on colour film and others on black and white film, it is too bad if grandma likes this picture best, but wants it in colour when it is black and white only.  Some photographers take the formals in colour, the reportage work in black and white.

Digital photographers take them all in colour and can subsequently supply excellent colour or black and white prints from the same image.  While film photographers could do this in theory, the quality of direct black and white prints from colour originals was not always very satisfactory.  Now fortunately, first class black and white images can be produced digitally from colour film negatives.

It you want a mixture of black and white and colour pictures, ask the photographer how he/she does it.  Examine samples carefully and be sure you understand what he will be taking  and supplying in each medium.

Making Your Choice

Many photographers produce a selection of pictures incorporating the five styles outlined. The majority however concentrate on the traditional, classic style of photographs because the majority of customers still enjoy this traditional photographic style. There are some photographers who only do reportage work. This is often only black and white. 

It is up to you to decide what you really want, and seek out the photographer who would appear to meet your needs best.  Here are some guidelines:

Most weddings are essentially a formal occasion with formal dress.  It makes good sense to have at least a few formal groups with everybody carefully posed and arranged in a traditional manner, i.e.  Bride’s father alongside groom’s mother etc; chief bridesmaid alongside groom, best man beside bride and other bridesmaids and ushers alternated.

When you have spent so long choosing your dress, it deserves a few moments of your time posing for a carefully arranged classical portrait.

Equally when you have chosen the colours of the dresses, flowers and accessories, it is worthwhile having at least some pictures in full colour.

Generally speaking people of your parents’ generation particularly enjoy colour pictures.

Black and white images, if well taken can be extremely romantic and have a timeless, evocative quality.  It is well suited to the journalistic style of pictures because it avoids clashing colours in the background of a picture which otherwise distract.

It is possible to have good quality black and white photos made from colour originals (film or digital) so it is a good idea to ask your photographer to take everything in colour.

Time for Photography 

Enjoying your day is most important and brides sometimes say that they want minimum time spent on photography, maximum on enjoying the company of their friends.

This is as it should be!

However if you want a really good wedding album, you need to plan a timetable with your photographer to allow for both.  Never forget that when the dress has been folded and put away, your photographs will remain to help stimulate your memories in years to come and will become a treasured heirloom.

Your photographer will advise you about time required on the day for the formal pictures, but you can help by including due time in your timetable.  For instance if the reception is a half hour’s drive away from the ceremony, allow a few minutes for some guests to get temporarily lost. 

If you are having a winter wedding, do not plan for a 3.00 pm ceremony and expect to have pictures out of doors at the reception.  Photographers can be very helpful in planning your day, but discuss this well ahead before all timings are confirmed.

Avoid Misunderstandings

Make sure that you tell your photographer about any special picture you want—family from overseas, for example.  Make sure you know exactly what is included in his fee, photography only or photography plus many prints?  How much are extra prints?  How will he show them to you initially?

It is vital that you request to see a recent wedding album taken by the photographer who will cover your wedding.  In many cases this will be the proprietor of the studio, but it may not be.  If not, the person delegated to you maybe a first class photographer but you must see that person’s work.

Similarly make sure you meet the actual photographer at the pre-wedding meeting, usually about two weeks before.

If the firm cannot satisfy you on these two counts, walk away.

Ask if the photographer is a member of a professional body,
e.g., the Guild of Wedding Photographers.
Ask if the photographer is qualified?  If so what in?  Maybe he is primarily trained as an aerial or zoological photographer.  You want a qualified wedding photographer!

Does the photographer have professional indemnity insurance? If things go wrong this insurance is vital to a speedy resolution.

What does Wedding Photography Cost?

The answer is not straightforward.  How much is your wedding dress?  Possibly budget for about the same, but photographers’ charges vary enormously depending on their skill and experience; how long they will be with you on the day; the type of album and presentation (you will be given a wide choice) and many other factors. 

You will have to make the decision, but please try not to get your photography ‘on the cheap’; the pictures taken are all that remain afterwards to remind you of one of the biggest days in your life.