Choosing a wedding photographer

Choosing a wedding photographer is a very important part of your wedding planning. You should research a number of different photographers and decide on whether the style and approach they have matches what you would like on your wedding day.

A wedding photographer is an investment worth researching because you will only have ONE chance to have the photos of wedding done correctly! A photographer will spend most of the day with you, and there are no second takes for your photos, so unlike some areas of your planning it's definitely something to get right.

Ask around

One of your best resources for where to start is people you know who have recently been married. Ask around, find out who they used and whether the experience they had with their photographer was a positive one. If you can, look at their wedding album and any reprints or enlargements they purchased. Do you like the photos and the album style and construction? Do they have any 'wow' shots? Is the style and general feel of the photos what you like? From a technical point of view are the photo colors bright and clear and pictures in focus and dust free? Are the group photos nicely composed? Do the poses look fake, unnatural?

Get personal

Another thing to consider is the personality and nature of a photographer. You want someone whom you can relate to, feel realxed around, and get on well with because you'll spend a lot of your wedding day with them! In fact, a photographer's personality can make or break your wedding and a good experienced photographer is patient, professional, friendly, and always smiling. Only this type of person can keep things moving during the day and get the best from you for great photos. Someone who makes you stressed or doesn't have a good personality won't bring out the best in you and this will show in the photos.

Also be aware that a wedding photographer often does more than just photos: they can be the time-keeper, transport planner, organiser, coordinator, and even nervous breakdown advisor! They will interact not just with you and your bridal party but all your other guests and also the church and reception organisers. They need to be able to motivate a large group and keep everything under control. group into action.

Plan your day & locations

Once you have met a photographer you like, you should then sit down with them and plan your day. It pays to have a photography plan because the wedding day and the photography will be much more relaxed and memorable if you space things out and allow yourself time to enjoy it all while still getting the photos that you want. Talk with them about different places, dramatic back drops, beaches, parks, and even city scapes for your location photos. Let them know what sort of places you both like, things you like doing, what suit you as a couple, and then aim to include some location photos at these kind of venues.

A good photographer should be able to suggest a number of great photo locations, but be creative and think of areas that might work for you and your wedding. You might like to photograph where you met, first date, or something else unique to you as a couple.

In your plan you should take into account things like sunset times, travel time to and from photo locations, traffic, and the booking times you've made for the end of the ceremony and the start of the reception. Remember that even if your ceremony is planned to finish at say 4pm, if you have group photos or if things run late you might not be ready for location shots until 5pm.