choosing a wedding photogrpher, how to choose a photographer for your wedding day

How to choose a professional photographer for your wedding day

Professional Wedding Photography

Photographing a wedding is not as simple as snapping a few buttons. Don't expect to negotiate a cheap price based on this preconception that it's just pressing the shutter a few times. Good wedding photographers are highly skilled professionals, it takes many years of practice to master this profession, they also constantly need to keep updated with changing fashion, new technology and equipment.

Covering a wedding is not only about photography, it is learning how different ceremonies are conducted, being able to work with a large crowd and sometimes in stressful situations, knowing what to do when things go wrong and being able to work under various lighting and weather conditions and often with very little time to spare.

The work of a wedding photographer does not end on the wedding day, preparing the images to be presented to the client and assembling albums can take more time than one thinks. Treat a photographer and their craft with respect and you will be able to negotiate better, and find a package you are happy with.

Let's begin with some helpful advice on the best way to schedule your special day to get the most out of your photographer.

First things first – you’ll need to decide what style of photography you prefer since wedding photographers’ styles vary. You’ll have two basic choice; the Classical look…groups of your friends and family and set up shots of the bride and groom in various locations or the reportage style (also known as photojournalism) which captures your day with images that are mainly candid, not posed and show the atmosphere and mood of the day. This style is growing more and more popular with brides today. Ideally you’ll want to find a photographer that can capture both styles.

Highly contrived and overly romantic poses seldom succeed. A more casual, contemporary approach to posing usually feels more comfortable to the bride and groom and can be more successful in its final appearance.

Some of the most successful wedding photographs are those that reveal the couple as they really are and the nature of their day as it really happened. These images are captured during interactions with each other and with friends and family.

There are several factors that should be considered when selecting a photographer for a wedding. When comparing and interviewing photography companies, one of the most important factors in your decision should be whether the photographer can show you more than one complete wedding and not just a few of the best photographs taken from several weddings. Anyone can snap hundreds of pictures at an all day event and be fairly certain that a small percentage of them will be good. Ask your prospective photographer to see all of the photos from more than one wedding, not just a selection of his best work which is what most photographers will offer. If you look at all of the images from 3 or 4 complete weddings and you are impressed, then you can be certain that he/she is a professional wedding photographer.

Some large photography companies rely on work from a group of various photographers. Make sure that the photographer you interviewed is the photographer that will be at your wedding. You don’t want to go through the ordeal of interviewing and building up a relationship with your chosen photographer only to find out on the day it’s someone completely different!

Unless this type of company can show you several weddings from each of their photographers and then you get to pick the photographer you want, then we suggest staying right away from them. We recommend searching for a photographer that shoots all of his weddings on his own.

Try and find a photographer with a timeless style - you will want to feel happy with the pictures for many years to come. Don't be bamboozled by gimmicky effects in some modern photography, they can date very quickly. The photographer shouldn't rely on Photoshop or other retouching software; it should just be used to enhance the natural light in the photographs.

Questions to ask your wedding photographer

BRUNO MEDICI Photography - FAQs

Are you a member of any UK body such as BIPP, BPPA, SWPP? (Members of a regulative body are usually high quality professionals)
I am a member of the BPPA and the SWPP

How long have you been photographing weddings?
I have been a wedding photographer since 1980

Are you the only photographer in this company? If I hire you, am I guaranteed that you will be the one showing up to shoot my wedding?
I am the sole photographer and prefer to work alone - In the unlikely event of injury or sickness beyond my control I will do my best to provide a qualified photographer with similar style to cover your wedding.

Do you offer traditional and reportage style wedding photography?
Although my style of photography is natural and relaxed for much of the day, I appreciate a small number of formal family photographs will be required. In order to keep the disruption to a minimum, I recommend approximately 6-8 groups, which should take no longer than 20 minutes. However, if you want a more extensive coverage all your needs will be accommodated as efficiently as possible.

How many photographs will you take on the day?
There is no limit to the number of photographs I take - I will take as many pictures as there are opportunities. The quantity might depend on the size of your wedding, the location or the weather.

Do you retouch or enhance the pictures?
Every care is taken to ensure your pictures look amazing. All images are individually balanced for colour, density and contrast. I retouch and enhance all images where I feel necessary. I do not charge extra for this service.

Do we get to keep all the pictures?
You keep all the edited photographs taken on the day

Will you visit the venue before the wedding day?
I do not usually visit the venue before the wedding. Lighting and backgrounds change depending on the time of year and even the time of day, therefore what looks nice several weeks before the wedding might look different on the day.

Do you charge a fee if the wedding and reception are in more than one location?
There is no charge to attend different locations. I do not charge travel fees, hourly rates or VAT.

Do you work with a second photographer?
I prefer to work alone as I find it easier to blend into the background. In my experience guests become more aware that they are being photographed if there is more than one photographer around which can make them feel quite uncomfortable. However depending upon the size of your wedding and requirements, a second photographer can be provided, at an additional cost.

What kind of cameras do you use?
I use top of the range Canon EOS1 MK lV digital cameras. These cameras enable me to simultaneously backup all of the images on to a separate memory card, providing added security for digital wedding photos should a memory card fail and I always carry backup equipment

If your packages are not what I am looking for, would you be willing to try to customize a package for me that is within my budget?
If my packages do not cover your requirements then I can put together a bespoke quote based on your needs and budget.

Do you have public liability and indemnity?
I have a £ 50,000 indemnity cover and a £ 2,000.000 public liability cover

How do we book you?
I will give you a bespoke quotation for your wedding. Once this is approved please complete a booking form and return this with a booking fee of £300 to secure and validate your day. I receive more enquiries per year than there are days available and this means I am unable to provisionally hold any date without payment of the booking fee. All dates are booked on a first come first served basis.

Asking the right questions when selecting your photographer will help you to avoid any unwanted
surprises on your special day!

Planning a wedding can be a very stressful and time consuming task, but planning properly is essential for a wedding day that will run smoothly. Make a list before the interview, letting the photographer know exactly which pictures you’re after and who you want in those pictures. Especially in the case of a large wedding; make sure your photographer knows exactly who they must get in a shot. If you fail to do this you run the risk of omitting an important family member or friend. You can’t repeat the day or the photos so make these arrangements ahead of time and be sure that your photographer knows the important characters in the event!

If you follow these steps you will be able to enjoy your wedding day, leaving your photographer to his or her own devices to capture wedding images that you’ll cherish forever.

Above all - enjoy yourselves

Choosing a professional wedding photographer, how to select a wedding photographer, wedding day, wedding photography tips, advice, planning a wedding, wedding planning, questions to ask your photographer, organize a wedding, wedding schedule, wedding photography, wedding advices, wedding etiquette, wedding planning guide, wedding coordinators, wedding photo.