Where would you start with regard to picking a marriage photographer that you could trust to capture the very best day of your life? Follow our step-by-step guide and you’ll end up getting dreamy wedding dress photos that you l treasure forever.

After deciding on the date and picking the ideal venue, among the to-dos towards the top of your wedding ceremony planning list ought to be ‘choosing the wedding photographer. Getting an ideal photographer for you personally as a couple is much more important than you may imagine in the beginning.

While fitting dresses, sorting the catering and deciding on the flowers may appear like they ought to be the planning priorities, you should know that the wedding day is a complete whirlwind, so using a professional available to capture every special moment without getting into the way, is one thing you should invest research some time and budget in. After all, when your big day has ended, the images (as well as your memories, obviously) are what you’ll need to treasure for a long time. The most sought-after photographers frequently get booked up months as well as years ahead of time too, therefore it pays to obtain your favourite wedding photographer secured at the beginning of your planning journey to prevent disappointment.

Important factors

But, where would you start with regard to choosing a marriage photographer if photography is one thing you’ve never really considered before? There are lots of items to think about, in the practical elements, such as the wedding photographer’s cost and type of service they provide, towards the personal aspect, like what type of style of wedding photography both of you love and whether you get on good enough with the photographer to allow them to become a fundamental element of your day.

To make sure you receive mantlepiece-worthy pictures that you simply have a fascination with for decades of wedded life to come, we’ve covered all of the important points you have to consider with regard to choosing an ideal wedding photographer for you personally.

Step 1: Choosing the wedding photography style

Style is everything with regards to photography and choosing what suits you like a couple will stand you in good stead around the journey to finding your perfect wedding photographer. If you’re one who likes natural, captured-in-the-moment photos, you don’t wish to hire a photographer who specialises in posed and staged images. And, should you be camera-shy, you don’t wish to hire a contemporary photographer, who’ll treat the wedding like a magazine shoot!

Here would be the main types of wedding photography that you have to consider when searching for a wedding photographer. Bear in mind that many photographers don’t just stay with one style religiously, to help you have a mixture of these styles without hiring multiple photographers:

Traditional – because the name suggests here's your classic wedding photography style, that you simply have experienced in many wedding albums right back to your parents’ and grandparents’ big days. The focus here's on posing for pictures, with various groups of guests being called in to stand using the happy couple. Most photographers now combine reportage and traditional shots to ensure there’s an attractive mix of formal pictures and candid pictures during the day.

Reportage/ Photojournalism/ Documentary – these are all of the same styles, however, many photographers use different terminology. The underlying feature of this type of photography is natural-looking shots that aren’t posed. Essentially the photographer will capture the wedding ‘within the moment’ just as it happened. This style is known as reportage or photojournalism since the photographer will inform the story of the wedding, including all of the raw emotions, and also the result is a series of candid pictures of you as well as your guests. Reportage is definitely a popular wedding photography style since it's unobtrusive and means you will get on with enjoying your entire day without constantly needing to pose for pictures. If you don’t much like your ‘camera face’ or feel shy while watching the camera, this is actually the style for you personally. If you select this style, you are able to still possess a few posed pictures for that mantlepiece, just ask your photographer before the special day to make sure you don’t forget during the excitement of the event.

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Fine Art photography– Fine Art wedding photography is really a style which means the photographer treats your special day photos like a form of art, so rather than capturing your day as it unfolds, the photographer will spend some time and effort taking into consideration the composition, texture, colour palette and also the quality and direction of light of every photo. Light is especially important with this style – consider those dreamy golden hour sunset couple shots that appear to be almost too beautiful actually were and you’ll have an idea of the items this style is.

Contemporary/ editorial – Contemporary wedding photography is much more trend-led and changes based on what is cool and inventive at the time. Your photos will appear like something from the magazine editorial shoot and become much more artistic and inventive than your traditional shots. This style works particularly well if the wedding is quirky or unusual. Your photographer will appear for fun and dramatic backdrops for the images and could experiment with unusual angles and different lighting.

Film/digital – Whatever style you select it’s vital that you ask your photographer whether or not they will be capturing your entire day digitally or on film. Fine Art photographers might perform a mixture of both, as, despite the fact that digital photos are a lot more modern, the film can make that dreamy artistic look they're trying to create thanks towards the softness, warmth and grainy quality. The film is generally a more expensive option because the editing and processing costs tend to be higher for that photographer. Bear in mind you’ll probably receive fewer photos too and it'll take a long following the wedding to get the images. A mixture of both digital and film is really a good option if you wish to cover all bases!

It’s not just about the design and style the photographer uses around the day. Be sure to take a look at how they edit the pictures as well. If you are a fan of black-and-white photos, for instance, look for a photographer that has nailed this method. Most photographers will just edit to make sure you look the very best versions of yourself – so removing creases in clothes, editing out shut eyes, lightening up photos that appear to be a bit dark etc. – however, many might give a specific filter just like a vintage/ retro look, a dark and moody vibe, or desaturating certain elements. Editing styles appear and disappear like most trends, therefore it’s worth asking your photographer the way they edit their work before selecting them.

Don’t know what type of style you want? It’s time for you to spark some inspiration looking at real weddings online can assist you to narrow down your photography preferences. Get on Instagram and Pinterest legitimate weddings and editorial-styled shoots too; they’re your brand-new BFFs through this wedding-planning journey. When you find a marriage picture you'd love to hang in your house, enjoy it and pin it for your photography board – you are able to then show these to your photographer as well as get in contact using the photographer credited to determine if they're available to capture your special day in the same way.

Step 2: Think about the photographer’s experience level

Your choice of photographer will, like everything else within the wedding world, rely on your budget and also the more experienced your photographer is, the greater they usually cost. Sit down together with your partner and discuss how much from the budget you think you are able to spare for the photos before you begin contacting photographers. Ideally, you would just like a reputable photographer

If you’re focusing on a tight budget, you’ll either need to compromise and cut back on another aspect of the wedding or take a chance on the novice photographer, but this depends upon how you as well as your other half feel about getting a beginner within this field. While you could find an amazing fashion or nature photographer, that has recently turned their hand towards the wedding industry, remember this is really a whole different ball game. But all of us have to start somewhere, right? If you do choose a novice wedding photographer (more to invest in champagne which amazing band you’ve got your heart set on!) create a list of all the images you would like captured to make sure they cover all of the important bits of your entire day – from all from the family group shots towards the more personal images, for example, close-ups of the wedding perfume and jewellery. It is really a live event, without any reruns, so make sure you’re both around the same page using the level of photographer you wish to hire.

You can understand how experienced a photographer is by using a look online, blog and social networking. Experienced professional photographers must have plenty of real weddings displayed on their website, too as testimonials from the couples they've worked with. Many photographers may have worked on editorial shoots too for magazines and blogs. When you meet up together with your potential photographer, keep these things and bring some sample albums of weddings they've done too as their favourite shots from past weddings to help you get a sense of the items the finished product will appear like for you personally.

Photography prices range a huge amount from photographer to a photographer which usually depends upon how experienced they're. Have an idea before you decide to approach any photographer about the kind of budget you've for this element of the look process. There’s no reason to meeting track of a world-famous photographer in case your budget doesn’t stretch to even an hour or so of their time!

Step 3: Read the photographer’s reviews

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Check the photographer’s social platforms – testimonials speak volumes. If they're a great photographer, that’s an incredible sign they’re reliable and able to capture your personal day. Many photographers become near to their couples after having spent probably the most incredible day of their lives together, to help you always ask a photographer if you are able to email or talk to one of their previous couples for additional feedback.

A review from a fellow supplier is another good way to look for a photographer you are able to trust. If you’ve got a marriage planner aboard, they'll have lots of photographer contacts, but florists, caterers and venues will also be good sources of information on good local photographers, as they may have met many and seen them work on various weddings. You’ll find many suppliers interact over and over at weddings and be a dream team. It’s always nice to possess suppliers who know each other because they will work very harmoniously together and may have lots of great advice and tips to make your entire day perfect.

Step 4: Make sure you meet your photographer

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This may be the person you wish to capture among the most important days of your life (no pressure then!) – to help you'd create a HUGE decision such as this just by scrolling through someone’s grid on Instagram. Before you even consider booking them, you need to make an appointment using the photographer whose style you’ve fallen deeply in love with, for more information about them.

You would like them to be able to cause you to feel comfortable; nerves could be high around the day, which means you don’t wish to miss any amazing photo opportunities because of feeling uncomfortable around them. You must have an instant rapport together with your photographer, as they are going to be with you all day long and so you have to like them around any of the other guests!

A Taster Session

It may be worth using a little taster session; it will not only allow you to definitely experience working using the photographer, but you are able to also find out if their style is consistent (you wish to make sure the photos they’ve taken previously, that you simply liked, weren’t just lucky shots). Engagement shoots in many cases are included within the price a photographer quotes nowadays and is useful practice runs, plus you’ll acquire some gorgeous romantic pictures from an engagement shoot that is a lovely reminder from the exciting run-up to your special day. An engagement shoot will even help you to exercise which couple portrait poses you like the very best and feel you prefer the most with regards to the special day. You could be as lavish as you want with your engagement shoot (budget depending!). Some couples fly their photographer abroad for any romantic overseas shoot, while for a lot of others it’s a lot more personal to possess the shoot both at home and on their favourite local walk.

When you meet the wedding photographer, it's also the perfect time for you to show them things like the wedding photography Pinterest boards and discuss every other image you'd love to create on your personal day. It also really helps photographers to possess a sense of the type of wedding you plan, so let them know your colour palette and decor ideas and let them understand what your venue is because they may have shot there before and also have some good ideas for photo backdrops.

Step 5: Do They Know Your Venue?

Another way to make sure you possess the right wedding photographer, for the wedding date is as simple as asking if they've had previous experience shooting a marriage at your chosen venue. The photographer’s portfolio may already demonstrate this, or even the venue will possess a list of recommended photographers.

If the photographer comes with previous knowledge from the venue, they might also know the very best place to seize those detailed shots and become able to let you know how many hours they will have to capture ideal moments.

Step 6: Make sure you ask to determine full albums

As we’ve discussed earlier, let's say the photos you’ve fallen deeply in love with were just lucky, once-off shots. The photos you’ve set your heart on when browsing a photographer’s website, are highlights from a marriage they’ve previously shot – so remember, they’re the photographer’s favourites.

Ask to see several completed albums whenever you meet; this is how you are able to check for consistency. Do they always capture your daughter's groom crying because the bride walks down? Or how concerned is the father by the bride’s reaction when he sees his little girl for the first time in her own dress? Do you want their composition and editing style? And then look out for such things as: are people’s eyes closed within the shot? Are the images too dark? Did they miss key moments? You get why we’re choosing this, question everything and ensure you love absolutely everything regarding their photography. A good wedding photographer may have no problem showing you their album of photographs.

Step 7: Find out what's included in the photography package

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There’s no one-package-suits-all with regards to choosing a marriage photography package. The package you select will ultimately be determined by your financial allowance and how important the photography element of a marriage is to you. Factors like the number of albums you would like, whether you wish to have canvas or framed images, and if you would like a second shooter (that’s another photographer, don’t worry!), will all have an impact on the overall price. In 2019, the typical price for a marriage photographer within the UK was £1,560, but you will get some packages as little as £500. As with everything though, if your price seems too good to be real – then you need to probably stay away!

The Type of Package

When you’re interviewing for the photographer, ask what packages they are doing and the things they include. Some photographers automatically incorporate a whole day’s price of shooting, plus editing the images and also the album for you personally. Some albums are expensive more than others too depending on the quality of the materials used, so inquire about this. Others might just give you the choice to shoot your day and supply you having a set of digital images from which you are able to create your albums. Packages will often state a period that the photographer works from and until (from bridal prep towards the first dance and my way through between), if you go down the no-package route, you wish to check if they possess a flat rate for that day or if they have an hourly rate. You will wish to check if your second photographer is roofed and should you be using a large wedding (250 guests or even more) you may also want three shooters to make sure no guests or activities are missed.

Remember, should you’ve chosen a photographer who doesn’t live near your venue, then you definitely will need to pay travel costs too, including mileage, overnight hotel stays and airfare tickets if you’re asking a UK photographer to photograph your destination wedding. You should also ensure that you ask your photographer when they would like to possess a meal during your day or if they'll provide their very own. Some photographers even like to possess a place among the tables throughout the wedding breakfast to allow them to photograph the food and also the proceedings from the perspective of the guest.

Step 8: Know your rights

When you are looking at wedding photography, some photographers may have contracts which stipulate they own the rights to all of the photos taken throughout the wedding – regardless of should you’re inside them or not (crazy right?). This does mean they are able to use them in advertisements, on social networking and on websites to advertise their services. You don’t wish to land yourself in hot water, so make sure to inquire about your rights with regard to sharing wedding images online. You may be able to perform it, however, it might simply be possible when they’ve got a watermark. If you want to obtain images developed yourself, you may have to buy the rights towards the photos.

Step 9: Ask concerning the post-wedding timescale

Don’t expect your photos back a week following the wedding. Your photographer is shooting pretty big files and can take hundreds, otherwise, thousands, of pictures throughout your day, so as much as you'd love to revisit your personal day ASAP, remember Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Photographers will expend on average 40+ hours editing a marriage shoot, so expect a six-eight week wait before you receive your hands on that beautiful album containing all of your favourite memories of the day. In peak wedding season this can be even longer and it’ll be longer still when the photographer has utilized a mixture of film and digital. Your photographer knows from previous wedding seasons how quickly they are able to turn around albums and digital downloads, so ask them in the off which means you’re not disappointed following the wedding through the long wait.

Recently married friends can also be able to counsel you on just how long their wait was, using their photoshoot along with other photographers’ waiting times. If you've asked for any particular artistic style or personal style it can possibly reflect within the waiting times.

Step 10: Be organised on the big day

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Make sure the marriage party is all around the same page because the photographer everyone knows where they’re supposed to be around the day otherwise your carefully laid plans for several pictures go awry. If your photographer is coming to capture the bridal prep, make sure everybody knows not to go striking the snooze button – as tempting as it may be, we’re confident the excitement (plus several nerves) can get you up nice and early. Work using the photographer within the weeks before the wedding to ensure they are aware of order during the day and have the ideal list of wedding photos and then you are able to just relax into the wedding day, knowing they’re doing their thing.

Don’t forget: you need to let your photographer know in case your parents are separated or every other special family/ awkward circumstances with regards to capturing group photos. You want this very day to go off with no hitch, so share just as much information about exactly what the photographer can get from guests as you possibly can. It’s also really handy for the photographer to determine if there are important guests outside of the bridal party that you would like them to focus on a lot more than others – a stepparent for instance, too as your grandparents and godparents should you’re near to them. A good photographer is going to be able to focus on all of the important people on your personal day and capture those special memories.

Step 11: Book the ideal photographer!

Now you’ve covered each one of these steps you’ll have found an ideal photographer for you personally, so ensure that you book them in before another couple snaps them up!

Can I cancel my ball gown wedding dress photographer?

While hopefully choosing your photographer and becoming your images back is really a wonderful part of the wedding planning process, sometimes things do fail and it’s vital that you know where you stand when the worst should happen. If you have to cancel the wedding photographer unconditionally (you’ve found another photographer you want, you’re not receiving married anymore, you’re ill and need to cancel the wedding…), generally you’ll lose the deposit paid whenever you booked them (usually around 25% from the overall package price). If you’re rescheduling, later on, you are able to speak for your photographer and could be in a position to agree. If you cancel your photographer close towards the event (this is often anything from 3 months to 28 days before the special day depending on every individual) many photographer’s contracts will incorporate a clause which means you still need to pay entirely.

Remember cancelling means an enormous loss of earnings for them because they won’t be able to obtain booked for an additional wedding at such short notice. However, photographers are human beings and when you need to cancel due to something out of your control as an illness or tragedy, make certain you explain this to them because they may be in a position to be flexible.

Can I sue my wedding photographer?

If things go wrong as well as your photographer doesn’t supply the service you paid them for or breaks the terms from the contract you've signed in every other way, you have rights. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 states any service you have to pay for – like photography – should be provided with ‘reasonable care and skill. So, when the photographer doesn’t supply the service you would expect and discuss together, you’ll be able to obtain a partial or 100 % refund depending on the situation. If the marriage photographer does a really awful job causing you to be emotionally distressed and breaches anything you may have grounds to file a lawsuit against them.

Completely insufficient photos, really low-quality photos, or simply not turning up and providing no alternative may be grounds for you personally to wish to sue, but make certain you try to speak for your photographer first to ascertain if an agreement could be reached/ to provide them with the opportunity to rectify the problem. Make sure to thoroughly read through anything you signed too, to make sure the photographer did breach the terms before you decide to head down this potentially costly and frequently distressing route.

Wedding photographer checklist

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Research your chosen photography style – traditional, reportage, artwork, and contemporary – by taking a look at real weddings.

Discuss your financial allowance and decide whether you would like a seasoned pro or perhaps a novice photographer.

Look at the preferred photographer’s reviews from past couples.

Set up a face-to-face meeting together with your photographer before you decide to book.

Ask to determine entire albums from the photographer’s work.

Find out exactly what's included in the photography package price.

Check your rights with regard to copyright.

Find out just how long the editing process takes before you decide to book.

Set up a photography agenda for your special day and make sure all of the key people learn about it.

Book your photographer!

Questions to inquire about your photographer

What is the photography style?

How long perhaps you have been a marriage photographer?

Do you've insurance?

How many weddings would you shoot every year?

Can I see a current full wedding album?

Have you photographed at our wedding venue before? If not, are you able to visit beforehand?

What different packages would you offer?

What may be the payment schedule?

What would you need us to let you know to get the very best from our wedding?

Do you offer engagement shoots?

Can I talk to former clients?

Can I provide a summary of photos I want you to definitely capture?

How long are you there around the day?

Do you offer another shooter to capture both of us preparing?

Do you need to do first-look shoots?

Do we have to provide food for you personally?

What travel costs will I need to cover?

What would you wear to weddings?

Can we pay out per hour as we decide to possess your stay later than previously listed?

Will you be ok to work having a videographer simultaneously?

What is the backup plan if you are able to’t make our wedding?

How long does it take for that digital picture/ album to reach?

Here is our finest choice of wedding photography suppliers over the UK to assist with wedding planning.