I’m a wedding photographer, so you’ve every right to doubt my motives for writing this. But, honestly, I don’t expect what I’m about to say to lead you to my door. That will depend on how you feel about chocolate…

Our story – Elspeth’s and mine – is that we asked a camera-competent friend to take the photographs of our wedding in January 2001. She used our equipment, and she did her very best, but it didn’t turn out well. Taking great photos at a wedding, especially in wintry Scottish light, is a real challenge. And that, I’m afraid, is that. We can’t go back and change it. The moment has passed. Sigh…

Anyway, based on that experience and my observations as a professional photographer, here are the three most important things:

1. Decide truly and honestly what value you place on photos. How important are they in your life? When you look at your photos and recall the moments they capture, how do you feel? If you had a choice between a chocolate (aha!) that set your senses aflame for an intensely enjoyable minute, or a photo that gently reminded you of a special moment for the rest of your life, which would you choose? Everybody’s different. Some live for a passionate explosion, others for a slow burn. When it comes to budgeting for your wedding, knowing what you prefer can help you decide what to prioritise.
2. When you’ve decided what you can spend on photography, make sure your shortlist of wedding photographers are worth what they charge. Don’t assume a photographer’s Best Shots Portfolio is an automatic reflection of what they will produce for you on your wedding day. After all, you’re not buying just a few dramatic or romantic poses – you’re paying for high quality coverage of your whole wedding in all its different moods and lights. Ask to see a representative set of images from a couple of recent weddings. Does the photographer maintain a high standard throughout?
3. Make sure you feel at ease with the photographer you choose. One of the most important things about wedding photos is the quality of emotion you see in them. If you’re not as relaxed as you’re able to be in front of a camera, it will show in your images. And no matter how creative the shots, if you don’t look yourself in them, and if they don’t remind you of a happy moment, those images just won’t appeal to you.

Hope that helps. If you have a wedding coming up, and photos are above chocolates on your list of favourite things, get in touch!

This entry was posted on Friday, 21st March, 2008 at 12:30 pm and is filed under Weddings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can add a comment, or trackback from your own site.