Top 5 tips on booking your wedding photographer
Top 5 tips on booking your wedding photographer
Weddings can be a pretty stressful experience. With so many things to consider, every decision you make is vital. However, one of the most important decisions you’ll be faced with, is choosing your wedding photographer. The photographs will follow you for a lifetime and your wedding album will surely become one of your most treasured possessions, so it’s got to be spot-on. But how do you book the right wedding photographer?
It goes without saying, you have to like their work. This will be what catches your eye in the first place. But it’s also worth considering these five things before booking your wedding photographer.
Check their experience
Experience doesn’t always equate to time. Wedding photography is highly specialised and requires a varied skills set. For example, a photographer may have 20 years of experience, but have only ever shot two weddings. In this instance it’s likely they wouldn’t be the right fit.
Have you seen any weddings they have done in the past? You should only be checking out photographers who have an up-to-date portfolio of their work, without this you’re taking a big risk. You need to have a clear idea of their standard, so be sure to scour through as much of their previous work as possible.
As well as taking amazing pictures, it’s important that your photographer can communicate well, work under pressure and adapt quickly. Ideally, you want your chosen photographer to have captured many weddings, so that these qualities come naturally.
Consider consistency
Hand in hand with experience, goes consistency. To successfully book weddings, photographers need to have a beautiful catalogue of images. Your wedding photographer should have a collection of their work readily available to you, whether that’s via a website or social media platform. By studying different examples of their work, you should have a pretty accurate measure as to what your photographer can do. You’ll also be able to see if they can consistently deliver, the quality that you’re after.
Secondly, it’s great that they they’ve shot loads of weddings but if the last time was ten years ago, it slightly changes things. Weddings are constantly evolving, each season you are guaranteed a bigger and better trend. As a photographer you’ve got to stay in the loop and understand how to remain an expert within your field.
Evaluate prices
We’ve all heard the saying ‘you get what you pay for’. Bargains definitely do exist but there are some things you have to question, if the price is too low. The average cost of a wedding photographer in the UK, is estimated to be between £1,500 – £1,800 at minimum. If you’re being quoted anything too far from this, it’s possible you won’t get the best standard of work. Although rates vary and specialist wedding photographers can charge much more than this, it’s crucial to do all your checks. Though it seems like a large price to pay, remember your wedding photos will be the main thing you have left after the big day. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Confirm they are professional
With the chunk that you’re likely to spend on photography, you want to be certain you’re getting a professional service. It gives peace of mind knowing you have a photographer who knows exactly what he/she is doing and has the extras taken care of to. This is where it might be necessary to do some digging. Before booking your wedding photographer, it’s worth asking the following questions:
- Are they insured in the event of unforeseen circumstances?
- Do they have all of the equipment needed for the day including back up?
- Do they have a clear process of how everything works, beforehand and on the day?
- Will they wear smart attire?
- What happens if they are ill or can not make the wedding?
- How have they overcome challenges at past weddings? For example, bad weather.
- What happens after the day?
Doing so will avoid the chances of an unwanted shock, later down the line.
Build a relationship
Your photographer plays a huge role in your big day. Remember, they’ll be with you from start to finish, so it’s worth having someone you actually like. Try and meet your photographer face-to-face well in advance, to get a feel for their personality. Are they friendly and approachable? Do they work well with you? Having a genuine relationship with your photographer, will not only improve the overall atmosphere but should result in better images to.
Believe it or not the wedding industry is pretty small, so vendors tend to be acquainted with one another. Reputation is everything. Ask around about your photographer to find out how others have found their experience. You can also check out their business page on google, to see if any reviews have been posted. No doubt, you’ll quickly learn about the relationships they’ve had with previous clients.
Weddings and everything around it can be a lot to take in. But exhale, take your time and enjoy the process. Believe it or not, despite all the time it takes, the day flies by. Then, you’re left with what really matters – the marriage.
