Good Wedding Photographers

Looking for a wedding photographer is one of the most important elements of your wedding day. The memories of the day are encapsulated in the images taken for all your married life so a wrong choice could be a very regrettable one.

Although the digital era is causing the wedding photography market to be saturated there are some simple research tips and hints to help you find a good, experienced wedding photographer. Watch out for weekend only photographers, choose one with a degree in photography or who has membership of a professional body. Look for some diversity to their style of work in albums as opposed to a handful of images and expect to see a variety of locations shot as this will indicate a flexibility to adapt to your unique occasion.

The photographer is responsible for far more than just capturing images of the day as they should also control timings of the day, organise family and friends who really want to be having a glass of bubbly and catching up with the other guests as well as making sure the bride and groom are happy and not missing out on too much of the reception. This all should be achieved in a polite, unobtrusive manner.

They will need to have a quick eye and anticipate situations that occur throughout the day and years of experiences certainly help so that a first kiss between the bride and groom or look from a proud parent is not missed.

Don’t under estimate the relationships that the photographer may have previously built up with a vicar or venue as this benefits the bride and groom and ensures that the day will flow seamlessly. Notwithstanding this, if the photographer is experienced but has not worked at your wedding reception venue previously they will be able to adapt very quickly.

Find out if the photographer you are meeting will be the photographer on your wedding day. If not, ask to met the actual photographer and see some examples of their work. If this is resisted, be a little concerned.

Ask friends and family for recommendations.

Ask if they have a wet weather plan.

There is a professional Guild of Wedding Photographers to which some photographers choose to belong that publishes a list of it’s members. Although it is not an exhaustive list of good wedding photographers, it could prove a useful reference point if you have difficulties locating a suitable one.

Meet with your wedding photographer a few weeks before the wedding. It is a good idea to meet at the venue (if they have not worked at it before) and discuss the types of picture they will be taking, and approximately how many of each. Don’t be shy to let them know specifically and exactly what you want. Provide a “wish list” of photographs

Think about the members of family you would like include, friends, stag and hen do groups!