With a lot of brides out there looking for wedding photographers for their wedding day it is important to take a valid look at your requirements in both what you will want from your photographer, and also picking the right photographer for you.
One of the increasing posts I see on the Internet is from brides who say: "I am looking for a cheap photographer for our wedding as I only want to have about ten photos" Or there are posts about how to cut back on the costs of a wedding photographer by having them there for less time, and letting friends shoot the wedding.
While you may expect me to say no don’t do it! Friends can take some great photos and get candid moments as they interact with people they usually know better to get the photos that are more relaxed. But, there is the down side to this as well and I will details this in another post as it IS important.
If you want low numbers of Prints:
If you think that you will want about 30 or less photos, then you really haven’t spoken to other brides and grooms; The Brides and Grooms will tell you that the day flew past and it was over in a flash (pardon the pun) so the only memories are the ones that have been captured as the day blurs and I have never had a client that has wanted below 60 images.
Save on time:
Photographers work on the basis of how long it will take to shoot the wedding. This is only part of the cost formula that the photographer has to consider.
Photographers have a fixed cost which are their business costs and have to be paid regardless of what they offer. The other large part of the costs is the albums and the prints and what is known as the products.
There is also pre wedding time such as stripping and cleaning the cameras, charging batteries and testing the camera to ensure it is fully functioning for your wedding day.
After the wedding there is the post production, which is backing up your wedding photos, editing and balancing the photos, any retouching that is required, making preview galleries and designing the wedding albums. This post wedding work is around 4 times the time spent on the wedding photography itself to give you some idea.
In effect for saving time on the wedding day you are only saving around £50.00 – £150.00 on an all day package, and remember your photographer could book an all day wedding with another client.
Summery – Don’t think that you will want to cut back on the day, ask your photographer about different albums and prints to make a package to suit you and your wedding budget. It makes little difference to the costs for booking less time at the wedding with your photographer.
Selecting your photographer
Male and Female Photographers
Many people will be aware of the differences between a male and a female photographer photo’s as they view the wedding differently and therefore capture the wedding differently. For those brides who are having the bridal preparations, they may feel more comfortable with a female photographer, however the photography is not a bridal boudoir photo shoot and you will be dressed.
National Photographers work in teams of male and female photographer groups so that you get the best of both worlds from your wedding day photography.
One Two or Three Photographers
Often when you are booking a professional photographer, you will find that any wedding photography package over four or five hours would usually come with two wedding photographers or more.
When you select one photographer, you will find that they can capture much of the wedding as it surrounds you. The photos are somewhat limited to how much of the story of your day it will tell. Then you lean more towards a more traditional style of photography.
If you have two photographers, you can benefit from having more candid photos from your wedding; as the main photographer will photograph the groups and the second photographer will photograph the people waiting in the wings, as well as mingling. Also they assist the photographer when carrying out the other photographic duties.
When there are three photographers, the third is generally not a photographer as such, but a person that is tasked with being a runner for the photographer and assistant to both photographers as well as taking some candid photos. This is great for larger weddings and as well as this, they are trained to take the details of the wedding day like flowers, order of service, wedding dress details, hats and down to the location grounds etc.
Having three is essential with High Fashion styled wedding photography.
Picking the RIGHT photographers
When you are looking for a photographer, one of the first things you need to do is look at the photographers gallery. To see if you like the pictures that they take and their style of photography.
Most photographers will cherry pick what they want to show to make them selves look good and this may be a clue what they aspire to photograph like.
You will want to view the real wedding photos and try to avoid photographers that have not shown full weddings on their websites.
One of our benefits is that we have shown albums and designs of the finished products (albums) within this website just so that you can see what you will have after the wedding, although many of the albums are custom designed for each client.
Try to avoid photographers that have been in business for 3 years or less. Most businesses fail within the first three years and you could find that you have lost your deposit and even a photographer for your wedding day.
You do not have to pick a photographer from the SWPP or BPI, as I would assume that you have seen the reports of the members who took horrendous wedding photos that made national news, so there is still no assurances.
If we wanted to be a SWPP business, then it would only cost a few pounds per year and we wouldn’t have to do anything. But National Photographer’s aims are to become an official photographic body.
If you are half-hearted about your wedding photography, then a student can really work wonders, they are cheap and can even offer some structure for your wedding photos over the snaps of friends and family.
Every photographer has to start somewhere, but avoid first time wedding photography tryouts as they do not have the background information and skills to make the photography seamless.
Wedding photography is not as simple as many think. It is also as much about people management as well as working with changing light and weather conditions. Generally, students only have one camera, if it fails on them? Then its all over for the photography on the day.
At National Photographer we have a portable studio lighting system, so if it rains we can carry on taking your wedding photos indoors. We also have a few back-up cameras should anything go wrong; and this HAS happened before.
Personality
Being able to gel and click with your wedding photographer is very important, if you get on and are on the same wave lengh then you will work well together and it will show in the photos. If you hate or can’t stand each other then this will show as well.
Be carefull of photographers with big over powering personalities as they can or may take over a little on the wedding day. However sometimes having a photographer who will take the lead in getting the group shots is essential, a shy timid person will find it hard to manage a larger wedding.
Your personality matters as well. The photographer needs to like you and get on with you to produce their quality work. If we do not feel the clients are right for our wedding photography then we do not offer to shoot the wedding based on personality.
Talk to and meet your photographer.
While many people have never interviewed someone, remember that your wedding photographer is tendering to you for your wedding day. There has been a growth in wedding photographers (33%) and while this means there are more new photographers who are ‘going pro’ and just starting out many photographer can offer you a deal or special offer.
Ask your photographer if they can make a better offer, as mothers around the world have said, " if you don’t ask you don’t get".
While it may sound a little odd now, your photographer will become a big part of your life having shared the special day with you closely they become like family or your friend, I say this from exsperience after being invited to clients homes after the weddings and also clients stopping to say Hi and a little conversation like friends do.
For me personally, I generally deal with the booking meeting side differently to the wedding photography as it is a totally different world, as a meeting is business and the wedding pleasure. At a wedding you are dealing with all of the people and keeping them happy and making the wedding more fluid, its like being on the x-factor as well. Meetings generally tend to be formal and lots of paperwork.
Meeting your photographer a few times before your wedding is a good idea as you get to know each other a little more each time and this works well when it comes to the photography. Often meetings are held when you book, at the wedding venue and then shortly before your wedding day itself to finalise all the arrangements for the day.
When to book your wedding photographer
Booking your wedding photographer should take place between a year to two years before your wedding day. It is important to book in advance. There are only a few weeks of a peak wedding season and dates can go very fast with couples wanting to book the same weekend as everyone else.
For some a pre shoot at a venue, bridal boudoir photo shoot and a wedding rehersal are all long before the wedding day and have to be scheduled in with the photographer and you. Booking in advance allows you and your photographer to meet and discuss your plans and wedding.
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