Is Price the Key to a Great Wedding
I’ve been photographing Weddings since 2007 and Yes we all have to start somewhere BUT the main thing I have learned over the last 15 years or so is you need to hire an experienced photographer.
What does that mean - Well that does NOT mean someone who has just come out of college or University - they may have a diploma to say they now have a qualification in photography BUT it does not mean that they have any knowledge of what to do to help ensure you are provided with some great memories of your wedding day..
Other considerations for a photographer to hire for a successful wedding
An experienced photographer will / should know the benefits of being DBS Checked & Insured - very often things that newbies may not have the budget to get or they may not know that you need to have these.
What most people do not realise is what really goes into a Professional wedding photographers preparation for the day - Recce of the Wedding Locations & the Reception - looking for things that may not work on the day looking for ideas for key Photographs, speaking to the organisers at each of the locations to double check what they allow & how they may expect you to act on the day. As an example many Vicars & Registrars do not allow photography during the ceremony, many don’t allow Confetti to be used & some don’t allow flash photography. And guess what this all takes time - & when there may be 1 to 3 different locations for a wedding ( sometimes more ), this involves the Photographers time and costs to travel to each location to meet the organisers and go through a jouney of discovery with them to help ensure everything works on your day.
What do many couples think - Wedding Photography Tips
Many couples just see the photographer working on the day - pointing the camera and hoping that they have some great shots - And I’m sure that many think that may be all that they are paying for - Most people don’t realise what effort it takes to prepare for that wedding and how much work it actually takes. And that’s nothing to the many hours of Editing that will happen in the days after your wedding - Hour upon hour sat in front of a screen helping to conjour the best images and memories of your day.
Please realise that once your wedding day is finished the ONLY thing you will have to remember it all will be your Photographs.
I understand there is a cost to everything BUT given the statement above it is amazing how many people spend hundreds on wedding cars and items that will not mean a jot after the Wedding day BUT will only have a small budget for the most important memory maker of your whole event.
Summary & Hints
Get yourself an experienced photographer - Think about the budget for them early in the process so you have a good memory maker available rather then it being an after thought - when you’ve already committed most of your budget..
I’m not trying to tell anyone what to do - Every Wedding is different - every couple is looking for something different and special to them - I get it BUT a good photographer being an after thought may be a BIG mistake. - And a cheap inexperienced photographer an even bigger one. Happy planning and Happy Weddings…
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