Choosing and booking a photographer is a crucial decision you should make well in advance. It is important to get the right photographer for your wedding so here are some handy hints and tips to ensure your get the best results for your photographic personality.
One of the best ways to choose a photographer is simply to meet them. Your instincts will tell you if the photographer is on your wavelength, if you get on well and seem to have similar ideas about how your photographs will turn out, then maybe you are onto a winner. Consider whether you want traditional posed shots or a reportage/documentary style, for example.
Talking over what you have in your head as your ideal wedding album with a potential snapper will usually give you an idea of whether they are right for you, but this could be difficult if you are dealing with a large company who send a salesperson rather than a photographer for your initial meeting. Sometimes, they will have a set idea about what works; if this is matches your requirements, fine. But the photographer should take the pictures using your guidance and ideas, not the other way around.
There are a few different styles of wedding photography to choose from:
Reportage/Documentary/Photojournalistic
All different ways of describing the same thing! The photographer will blend in and mingle with the wedding party, taking shots to ideally capture the mood, expression and atmosphere as a record of the day. This style of photography is quite difficult and fast-paced, requiring creativity and ingenuity from the photographer, all while trying to remain invisible.
Traditional
Keeps the parents happy, and provides the usual collection of posed pictures you would usually associate with a wedding. This form of photography is relatively risk free, will provide excellent posed and smiling shots, but can be time consuming, invasive and not very imaginative.
Illustrative
Much like commercial photography, the shots are like magazine shoots - effective, choreographed and staged to look their best.
Creative
Only for the brave! Using different lighting techniques and angles, the photographer will be really creative in creating an artistic and individual album that really would reflect your personality.
Ideally, your photographer would be able to incorporate all of the different styles into your album - traditional shots to use for framed pictures to give to the in-laws, and the more contemporary shots for yourselves.
When it comes to presentation, there are as many different types of albums to choose from as there are photographers. Some photographers specialise in a quality photographic service and others offer a 24hr turnaround.
Some photographers use a mix of traditional photography and reportage photography so you can be sure you get the exact group photographs you want but you will also get those "caught in the moment" images too.
At the other end of the spectrum, there are photographers who can offer bespoke wedding albums to treasure, including glass-fronted, embossed and inlaid creations where the photographs are actually imprinted into the pages. These really are beautiful pieces of work which make stunning coffee table pieces; however, you will need to have a fairly robust budget.
Communication is the key to making sure the pictures are what you want and are there to treasure over the years and show your grandchildren one day! Make sure that the photographer knows exactly what you have in mind so you are not disappointed. You wont get a second shot at it!
At the end of the day, you will take months to organise one of the biggest events of your life and whilst you will always have your memories, your wedding album will allow you to look back on your big day and share it with others for years to come. So, it is important that when you look at your photos they are a true representation of the wonderful day you shared.
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