Did You Know?

Brides spend five time longer looking for their wedding dress, which they will wear only once, than they do looking for a wedding photographer who's photographs they will look at for the rest of their lives!

So what's the secret of getting great wedding photographs without spending

The secret of great wedding photography is the marriage of minds between the couple and their photographer. Great Wedding photographs don't just appear, the bride and groom are part of the process with your photographer. There are several simple things you can do which will improve your wedding photographs. However there are some important things you need to know about your photographer and whether his or her photographic philosophy works with what you want.

Remember this: When you open your wedding album and go WOW! You do that for two reasons. First your photographer has given you something you just didn't expect. Secondly and arguable more importantly, your photographer just gave something you were expecting. You must have both if you want the wow factor when you look at your wedding album. Here are some things you can take on board to do yourself and to think about when choosing a wedding photographer:

1. Look at each other

Bride and Groom looking at each otherPlease remember you are marrying each other not the minister or the registrar. I took ten years out of professional photography to become a Baptist Minister and I 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 is your back of your heads - 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

Bride and Groom Dancing

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.

Dance in bare feet, jump off (low) walls so your dress goes woosh, grooms literally sweep your bride off her feet…

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. Look at samples of photography. Colour photographs should be either subtle or vibrant never wishy washy. Make sure you get both in your album. Ask what the mix will be, I usually do 70% black and white for intimate shots and 70% colour for group shots. Ask the photographer which they prefer and why?

4. Do it for real NOT pretend

Mock Beware the part-time wedding photographer who will want to do MOCK cake cutting and MOCK first dance so they can get away. Very soon they will want to do mock marriages! 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 wedding breakfast and that special moment when dad kissed aunty Sally. 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 so when they ask you to do something or pose in a particular way, its going to make a great photograph. Chemistry between the Bride and her photographer is crucial, the alternative is tension and that’s bad news for everyone.

6. Style and approach

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

7. Listening

The first time you meet your photographer, check whether you feel they listened to you. As we said the beginning you want to open your album and get the wow factor, that happens when the photographer gives you something of what you are expecting, with things your were never expecting. However to know what you are expecting requires your photographer to have a trained ear to your preferences, likes and dislikes.

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. Here is my package, take it or leave it. Best bet is to leave it!  One thing you need to know about your wedding is that its UNIQUE. Therefore, you need a photographer who appreciates your uniqueness. If a photographer is not flexible to your desires before your wedding day, guess what, they will be even less flexible on your day.

9. To be seen or not to be seen

Listening

There's a big difference between being seen and being noticed. It's 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. I've even known a photographer stop the ceremony because he missed a shot.

Remember it's your day and your photographer is there to guide you NOT dictate to you. One thing that gets photographers noticed is the size of their flashguns. Perhaps it's a man thing, sadly it's not, just as many women photographers use flashguns. 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. This means, especially in churches, that you can take far more photographs during the wedding ceremony instead of just the one or two set poses.
Also we live in a world of shades and shadows. That’s what makes photographs interesting, that’s the detail that makes you search a photograph to find out more.

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

You can never guarantee the weather, especially in the UK. When the sun is out photography is easier because there are usually lots of places to go with the bridal party to get great photographs. But when its raining it's a different story. Space is usually limited and locations likewise. Without exception make sure your photographer checks out the wedding and reception venues if they’ve never photographed there before. If a photographer is
using only available light they will do this as standard practice at the same time they can decide what to
do in case of a rainy day.

With these 10 simple steps in mind you can just sit back and let your glorious wedding day unfold beautifully in front of you. Confident in the knowledge that you will end up with some great wedding photographs.

About the Author:

Keith has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Oxford University. He picked up his first camera in 1976. Since then he has taken ten years out to become a fully accredited Baptist Minister. Conducting numerous marriages has given him a unique understanding of wedding photography. He and his daughter work as a team producing unique, vibrant and emotional wedding photography.

Web site : www.imaginethat.uk.net
Talk : 07771.778.350
Email : imaginethat@talktalk.net