Imagine That  
10 Things to think about with Wedding Photography

1. Look at each other - Please remember you are marrying each other not the minister or the registrar. As a former church minister I just want to assure you its okay to face one another. You have spent a small fortune on wedding photography, but at the crucial moment all that anyone sees in your backs - talk to whoever is doing the wedding and TELL them you want to look at each other.

2. Do, do crazy things on the day - Please do act on the spur of the moment. Spontaneous things can work really great on wedding photographs and a good photographer will lap it up.

3. Colour or Black and White ?

Some will say what goes around comes around. But the reality is that black and white and colour photography are very different. Black and white is much more atmospheric and dramatic. Colour should be either subtle or vibrant never wishy washy. Make sure you get both in your album. Ask the photographer which they prefer and why. And see some examples.

 

4. Do it for real NOT mock

There are lots of part-time wedding photographers today who will want to do MOCK cake cutting and first dance so they can get away. Don't accept MOCK anything. If your photographer is not there when you actually cut the cake, then they've missed the speeches, and the meal and the... You want your photographer by your side all day.

5. Can you trust your photographer?

Trust is important. You have to feel you can trust your photographer, after all they will see you all made up and completely un-made. You have to feel you can trust your photographer to take the best photographs and make you look great everytime.

6. Style and approach

A photographer can't be all things to all people. Ask what their photographic philosophy is - reportage, traditional, journalism. Does their approach agree with your's?

 

7. Listening

The first time you meet your photographer, check whether you feel they listened to you. At the end of the day you want to open your album and get the wow factor, that only happens when the photographer gives you something of what you are expecting, with things your weren't!.

8. Flexibility

"Customer is King" is a true saying, or in this case " Queen" and being flexible is essential. I guess all wedding photographers go through the "Packages" stage in their career, I know I did. If a photographer is not flexible to your desires before your wedding day, they will be even less flexible on your day.

9. To be seen or not to be seen

There's a big difference between being seen and being noticed. Its your day so do you really want a photographer taking over? - And it happens in so many ways - from telling the couple what to do - to making everyone wait for their meal. But the one that annoys me most is the photographer with the big flashgun. With the right investment in high speed lenses and a proper understanding of exposure 95% of photography can and should be taken with available light. In the last 12 months i've only used flash once.

10. Know what's going to happen in case of bad weather

 

You can never guarantee the weather in the UK. When the sun is out photography is easier because there are usually lots of place to go with the bridal party to get great photographs. But when its raining its a different story. Space is usually limited and locations likewise. Without exception I always checkout the wedding and reception venues if i've never photographed there before. Because I try to use only available light I need to see where the light is good - but I also check out where we can photograph on a rainy day.