Choosing a wedding photographer can be a daunting prospect. There are now 1000s of part time photographers with little or no experience.
Many so called professional wedding photographers have little experience, are unqualified and have no insurance. With all the horror stories in the press it’s worth spending the time, effort and a reasonable portion of your budget on finding a professional photographer.
Advice on choosing a photographer
Look for someone who has a proven track record and can take images that reflect the sentiment of your day with a style that you personally like.
Have them visit you or go to their studio if they have one; look at examples of their work and see samples of the albums that are included in the packages they offer.
The most important thing to remember is that they will be sharing one of the most personal and special days of your life; you have to like them and feel comfortable with them.
Above all they must be totally professional in their manner as they will be around your family and guests for the duration and they will not have met them beforehand.
Professional vs Amateur
Just remember though you only have one chance to get it right. Imagine how you would feel looking at images that were out of focus, people’s heads cut off or just plain awful. If you are still not fully convinced just think about the finished product. A professional photographer will be an expert in image editing and creating albums, prints and products from your images.
Many amateurs have little or no skills in this area and will more than likely present your images on a CD just as they came off the camera. In a recent survey most couples with a CD of images had still not had any prints or albums created from it a year after the wedding ! What a disappointment.
How to choose a wedding photographer?
The most obvious is via referral, failing this wedding fairs are a good source as the photographer will be there in person. You will be able chat to them informally, see examples of images and get a feel for whether you like them without having to commit to buy.
The most effective way is to search on the internet but try to be specific in your searches, such as entering Professional Wedding Photographer – then your county in the search box.
Shop around locally, check credentials and track record and view images to compare styles. Professional photographers of any worth will be a member of a trade association, there are 2 main ones in the UK:
BIPP British Institute of professional wedding photography and
the MPA Master Photography Association
Lists of members can be found on their websites, Professional photographers are required as part of their membership to associations to have full professional insurance. Ask to see their certificate, don’t take the risk on behalf of your guests.
There are lots of advertisements in Wedding magazines but before contacting any of them visit their websites and look at any images they are displaying. Just remember these will be their best images so if they are of a poor quality then it probably gets no better. Look for the logos of any associations they claim to belong to and cross check on the association’s site to make sure they are listed as a member. This may all seem a bit tedious but really it’s just common sense, you want the best your budget can afford so make sure that is just what you get, it’s your special day after all!
If you would like to meet Paul to discuss wedding photography please do not hesitate to call him on 01702 602221
