Sydney Wedding
Photographer Directory

Great Tips for Planning Your Wedding Photography

Planning the wedding photography for your wedding day is very important. You should research a number of different businesses and decide on whether the style and approach they have matches what you would like on your wedding day.

1. How soon before your wedding should you hire a photographer?

In most cases you should start looking for a photographer almost as soon as you book your ceremony or reception venue. Keep in mind most of the better photographers are booked out a year or more in advance, and the warmer / summer months are very popular for weddings and book out sooner than winter / colder times of the year. In Australia September to April are very popular wedding months.


2. What is the advantage of hiring a professional?

A professional takes photographs for a living, and the difference between a professional set of weddings photos and what your uncle Bill can take is simply worlds apart! As a professional, you can be assured of receiving the highest quality in service and photographs. A professional photographer uses the best equipment and photo printing labs to assure you get the best possible photos from your wedding.


3. Where do I start my search?

There are many sources to check out when looking. Watch out for bridal shows, wedding expos, or events in your local area. Regional bridal magazines feature the best in the business. Of course, yellow page listings and other directories are a good place to start. Nowdays there are also a number of websites that provide a wide range of wedding planning information and business listings. Sometimes the best option is to ask a friend or relative about a recent wedding they have been to, or a photographer they have used themselves.


4. What questions should I be asking?

The first step is to establish if they are available for your date! Then you may wish to ask these questions:

-How long they have been in business? (experience counts!)
-Who will be photographing my wedding? (some larger studios use a number of different photographers)
-What kind of packages and pricing are they offering? (check the cost of re-prints, access to negatives/files, album pricing)
-How soon after my wedding will my photos be ready?
-How much time will you be spending at my wedding?
-What style of photography do they use? (digital or film?)
-Do they have back up equipment?
-Do they belong to any professional organisations? (in Australia the AIPP is the best regarded professional association)
-Have they worked at your ceremony and/or reception venue before?

These are just a few questions to ask, and it's best to write a list of questions and concerns before you begin your search. Decide what is important to you and what you want from the photos of your day - remember that you will have these for a very long time afterwards!


5. Do you feel comfortable with this photographer?

It is important that after speaking to the photographer that you feel confident in their ability to work with individuals and groups. You should get along with your photographer as you'll spend most of the day with them! A good rapport and relaxed approach will make your photo shoots go much smoother and you'll look more natural. A professional photographer can make the day go smoothly and help even in a crisis.


6. What about price?

Wedding photography prices can go into the thousands, so shop around and be aware of what is offered by each photographer. Everything depends on what services you require, and the finished products you will receive, especially if you want a wedding album. If you are after a top or "name" photographer then be prepared to spend even more. Research shows that good wedding photography costs between 10-15% of your total wedding budget, and that most couples underestimate the cost of a good photographer by as much as 40-50%. Remember, the photographs are only a portion of the services you receive from a professional photographer, and you should budget for albums, re-prints, enlargements, and other services.