Top Tips!

"I said Yes" to a Professional Photographer!

With all the excitement of your forthcoming wedding please take a little time selecting your wedding photographer.UK Bride, Get Hitched, You & Your Wedding and Tickled Pink Magazine surveying wedding couples after their wedding  reveal one of the couple’s  biggest regrets of their day,  without doubt, is  the couple’s choice of photographer on price alone.   Quality and the ability to work under all conditions and always get the shots is often overlooked until it is too late.

Why?  You might ask…

…it is worth while remembering that once you’re wedding day is over;  when your guests have gone home; all you will have left apart from the memories will be your photographs?

Preserving those memories; not only for you, but also for future generations will be your  carefully chosen professional photographer, he or she will have experience and expertise  to be able to capture your special day.

Qualifications?  What are they…

Check out what your photographer’s letters are for and in which area of photography he or she qualified in.   An Associate qualification shows that he/she are a specialist in that particular field of photography.  The same applies for Fellowship.  If a photographer achieved his/her Fellowship in Landscape Photography then he/she should state that on their website.   Sadly photographers are not disclosing the area of photography that they qualified in and therefore misleading the general public.

Both Janet & I are proud of our Associate qualifications as they are in Wedding Photography.

Wedding Albums

Norwood Park, Southwell, Nottinghamshire

Presenting the memories in a beautifully crafted wedding album? An experienced professional photographer will be able to capture your day with beautiful, stylish, contemporary photographs of your wedding day; however, the truth of the matter is not always that simple, if you choose a wanabe photographer looking to make a few extra pounds on the side to bump up his monthly pay packet please be aware that he or she is simply not interested in your wedding but only how much money he or she can put in their back pocket.

A true professional wedding photographer will capture your special day in the best possible way, working before, during and after to ensure that your wedding photography captures the fun, the romance, the laughter, the tears, the emotion and atmosphere for a lifetime to show your children and your children’s children.

When you first talk to your potential wedding photographer, imagine spending the day with them, do you think they will blend in naturally with your guests?

One of the most important things to watch out for is that the images shown are actually that of the photographer and have not been taken by another photographer working with them previously or set up by another photographer.   All too often photographers show display work that is in a generic display album provided by a company, and some cases so-called ‘professional photographers’ display work and try to pass it off as their own when it clearly has been taken on the side of the Professional.

Be wary of the photographers who will do anything to undercut, give price breaks at any price?   These photographers are desperate for work and willing to undercut at any price.

 “I will guarantee to beat any other photography quote by £175….    for the same stills photographic coverage, albums and other products as offered elsewhere!.     Simply provide me with your quoted cost in writing from any other full-time professional photographer and I will provide you with the same deal…………..   

  ……the same or better quality wedding album and exactly the same or better products.

Seriously, would you want to have a photographer at your wedding so desperate to get work he or she will stop at nothing to get the wedding booking?  Simply using it as a tick in her/his diary.   They care  more about getting one over another photographer to get the booking.  Do they care about you, I really don’t think so.

Jon & Donna's Wedding, Prestwold Hall, December 201

Choosing a photographer can be like walking through a minefield.

Talk to the venues, the florists, the car hire etc and get recommendations from them, speak to your friends, family and work colleagues and you will soon hear about the good and bad wedding photographers.

Make a shortlist, view the websites and then make appointments to meet with your selection.  Do not be pushed into booking at the first initial appointment.

WHEN CHOOSING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER…

Please do not base this selection on price alone, and above all remember that…   Owning a Camera does not make anyone a PHOTOGRAPHER,  it simply makes them A CAMERA OWNER!!!

Top Tip:  Ask questions and then more questions!

Choosing the right wedding photographer should not be a last-minute decision, or based on a figure  of a few hundred quid, good, experienced, qualified wedding photographers with experience have the ability and will capture your special day whatever the weather conditions, venue, location especially during the winter.   Buying cheap, buy twice, is an old saying, but very true.

Bridal Portrait

Good wedding photographers do get booked up many months in advance and especially during popular months, and some a couple of years in advance.

Finally, have a great wedding day!