There are SO many options and things to consider in getting your wedding photography right for you.
We asked Husband & Wife Team - Bloom Weddings what they think new couples should bear in mind when choosing someone to capture their precious moments..
STYLE
One of the first things to decide is what style of wedding photography you like. The images you receive after the big event will be your all important visual memories of the day. Think about if you want to opt for the more traditional approach of group shots and posed photos or do you prefer more natural shots taken throughout the day – in a documentary style? Or do you want a mixture of both?
When you’re choosing the photographer make sure you LOVE what they do, these photos will be so important to you & close family members of your special day – it’s important not to settle unless you are 100% smitten with them and their style.
DOSH
Decide what your budget is?
Think about how important the wedding photos are to you in the scheme of everything for the day. Is it worth moving the budget around on other aspects of the day so you can afford someone that you love or someone with a little more experience. However that said, you can often find a new starter and gain some really lovely photos for a lot less cash, they’re likely to be a lot more expensive in a few years when they’ve gained the experience – they just possibly won’t have the portfolio to show you any previous work.
ENGAGING
When searching for your photographer - have a good look around their website and social media platforms, get a feel for whether you think they will be right for you, the setting and the things you want to remember your day by. You’ll get an idea just by the website, what they post about, their “about” section and how they describe their approach on a wedding day.
ARE TWO HEADS BETTER THAN ONE?
If you fancy more of a documentary style of images for your day - two photographers often can capture this better. One concentrates on group photos whilst the other opts for the more natural snaps. As a husband and wife duo we (Bloom Weddings) often know what each other is thinking when photographing, we both have different roles throughout the day. Working with each other every week day in and out gives us the understanding when to keep out of each other’s way in snaps!
With two photographers it’s also easier to capture both sides of the couples on the wedding day morning.
MEET
Before the big day try to meet up with your photographer in person and if you can’t do that for any reason, schedule in a skype call. The photographer will be there with you all day and it is SO important that you get on well and feel at ease. Build a rapport with them, follow them on social media and engage with their posts. We personally love to know what each of our couples are getting up to on the run up to the wedding – it’s important the photographer “gets you” as well as you loving their style!!
DAY & NIGHT
Check your timings – some photographers start early and finish late into the party, some only stay and capture half days. Think about which elements you would like to have captured on your wedding day (we all know it’s paramount to capture Auntie Jean on the sherry later!)
KEEPSAKE
As an everlasting memory of the day think about what format you would like that to be presented in, would you like a physical wedding album book? Find out before you sign on the dotted line with your chosen photographer this is covered as part of your package or do you need to pay extra. Do they also provide a memory stick with all the downloads on too so if you decide later you want to have some printed you have them at your fingertips.
DARK & LIGHT
If your venue is unusual or your wedding day is taking place from September to March it’s often useful to find out if the photographer has experience in winter weddings/dark/unusual venues. Some photographers will struggle in these situations but be great at outdoor festival style/summer weddings. Ask to see examples just to be sure if this applies, you should also get a feel for this when you check out their website too.
CONTINGENCY
And finally, find out if they have any backup equipment just in case for any reason their key components become damaged and broken. AND do they have a contingency plan if they cannot attend? Are they insured for this eventuality?
We hope that this helps a little!
Husband & wife duo Chris & Anneka began Bloom Weddings over some 8 years ago after both studying photography at university. Based near Leeds, West Yorkshire but travelling the length of the UK and further afield, their style combines creativity and technical skill to capture your day in a fun and stress free way. When they are not shooting weddings you’ll find them exploring the countryside with their cameras, walking their Miniature Schnauzer Luna. See more about Bloom Weddings via their website here.
For more information on Weddings at Newburgh Priory head over to our Wedding pages here.