Finding your wedding photographer - my tips

You want to find a local plumber, well of course you look online these days - Yell, Google, etc. There's a massive choice, and most charge the same and 99% are fully qualified and industry registered, so you sort of know you are safe with who you are getting.

Wedding photographers - well that's a different story! Again most couples will use the power of the internet and search online. Yes Google again is a good one, and social media - Pinterest, Instagram and the Facebook groups are a very popular place to look.

You start your search and you discover that there are suddenly hundreds around.

With glitzy - shiny websites, lots of special offers and deals, yes there's some talented people out there who can create a good impression - but can they really take good pictures and most importantly - can they be trusted with your most precious of days - your wedding?

Well, I can help you there, as there are basically two types out there -  the pro's and the not so pro's!

These are photographers like myself who are full time photographers whose full time job it is working every day of the week as a professional photographer.

Now I'm not gonna drone on and talk about myself here too much, but just to illustrate the above, I have worked 30 years now from the age of 18, gaining industry qualifications and more importantly on the job experience over the years. I work for media organisations such as the Daily Mail and BSkyB, corporate clients like John Lewis, Asda and local business too, where I photograph architecture, CEO's, food - I shoot a great variety. And of course I shoot weddings and portraits.

So there are many pro's like myself, doing similar work with a wealth of experience who you can trust basically to look after your day and create great shots, and also importantly create a relaxed atmosphere, as you don't want stress on you wedding day!

Of course they will have different styles and have different personalities, so you need to do your homework. It's all the usual - check reviews and just speak to them, as you'll soon gain an idea of what they are like even just by having a chat with them on the phone.

There are still pitfalls though!

I have heard many stories of pro photographers at weddings, with the main concerns being of how they've been over pushy and slightly aggressive with the couple and guests when they have been working. Some tend to take over too much, pushing this idea and that - wacky stuff like jumping in puddles (well I might be exaggerating slightly there- but you'd be surprised!)

And you will find lots that are shooting more for themselves than you - to extend their portfolios or enter another competition (yes some photographers are pure exhibitionists and love entering competitions!) At the end of the day it's your wedding and you are paying , so choose someone who is going to do what you want and not the other way around.

Now for the technical stuff.....

A professional should have the top stuff in terms of gear, the latest and most expensive cameras and lenses for the very best quality. And with top build quality too.

So if a slightly giddy Auntie Mabel should spill her sweet sherry over our camera gear it won't break, and we can carry on regardless as we have the best that equipment that is around.

And yes you are talking thousands, with my camera bodies costing around £5000 each and lenses in the thousands too, it's not cheap but we need the best, and you deserve the best!

Insurance -  Yes we should have it. Public liability insurance, with cover for usually a couple of million at least. So if I was to accidentally trip over and knock a Picasso painting off the wall at the wedding venue, then yes I have it covered! Not done it so far too (don't speak too soon!)

Progress, technology and the internet has a lot to answer for?

Yes it's great I suppose? It has many advantages like online shopping (we all love Amazon!) and smart phones (must try not to spend too much of my time on them!).

But then with the dawn of the internet, websites and cheaper digital cameras we now have a type of wedding photographer around with maybe a great looking website and an okay quality camera?

They probably spend all hours perfecting the perfect looking website, as people are very computer savvy now of course. (As a pro - my website looks clean, informative and presentable and is okay I suppose, but I'm too busy working most of the time to keep polishing it all the time!) (Note to self: keep on top of the website - tick)

So yes us pro's call these type of photographers - 'weekend warriors' or 'wombles' - we all like to label people don't we- we're not being nasty-honest?

But these are pure amateurs let's not beat around the bush here. Typically they might be students or people with full time jobs during the week, who then like to dabble with a bit of photography on the weekend  - and they are looking for you - BEWARE!

So 'Jim the teacher' (just an example) likes photography and is an amateur, and has now bought a decent - ish digital camera and lens for a few hundred quid, and has thought it might be good to start doing weddings. They start with a mates wedding and provide a selection of snaps. "Great this isn't it" -  "I might start doing this more" they think.

They set up a webpage and Facebook site, and then they start targeting social media and the FB group pages. They'll usually be very cheap and have some great offers.

They'll probably charge you peanuts and offer to spend all day at your wedding snapping away. They might even offer to bring their partner along too to help, I notice looking on FB that it's the special offer at the minute for some reason -  'husband and wife teams'?

Here's the big BUT

They might be able to manage some snaps - you know the usual wedding ones but nothing that creative. If the church is dark like they mostly are, they will most likely struggle with the light with the quality of their digital camera- sometimes it's hard for us too but we have the know how to sort it.

They can sort of do your group shots but they'll probably stand their a bit nervous and ask your family to gather everyone together, and they'll just likely just plonk you all there - sort of tidy but not great at all?

It's the first dance and they'll snap away with the flash blurring out at you - so you'll get some sort of pics with a very dark background - but nothing stylish or atmospheric or with any thought put into it?

And if a curve ball swings - and god forgive it might rain for example - and yes we mean pour down  - then oh no - their nerves do really kick in as what do they do?

Well as pro's we'd be okay as  (a) we don't panic  - we've seen it all before, it's not a problem to us  - just chill - we always have a Plan B in mind. And (b) we probably (well I do) have a full range of studio lighting in the boot of the car for us to quickly set up indoors for those classy, elegant images which look just as good.  No panic for us guys. Suppose I'm trying to say that as professionals we have masses of experience and always have a Plan B or C or D....we have it covered.

Insurance - they probably won't have it or even though of it. Too much of an outlay.

Cameras - as mentioned probably a few hundred quid and they like to keep them dusting them and keeping very shiny! They have probably spent hours reading the manual, or watching You Tube tutorials on how to use them - so let's hope they have some clue how to use it properly!

If they don't turn up to your wedding - well never mind - they don't have a reputation to behold and a full time business to keep like the pro's.

I'm not being mean but this is how it really is - this is the difference.

So there is your choice  - I might make it sound clear cut  - but as I've said it's not an easy one?

Most people want the best for their big day and want to pay the going rate, which is fair for a professional photographer, who can come along and create a relaxed environment (no panic), to be friendly and courteous, merge into the background whilst covering all the bases and much more, with that creative eye.  (well that's me anyway!)

Some people are limited on cost, but you can negotiate with professional photographers and tailor a package to suit you. We don't all charge thousands? (Well that's maybe another blog?)

Basically with a professional, they are charging you for the time they spend at the wedding, which can add up to long hours with traveling. And then also practically another full day in time editing the final selection, and then albums, photobooks, etc. Then there are the costs of running a professional business too to include.

- Do your homework and try and spot the pro's from the wannabees. If the price or deal is too good to be true then it generally is.

- Check reviews and look out for professional qualifications.

- Take a long look at their work as we all can generally spot the snaps from the professional creative images. There is a difference.

- Put together a shortlist then call them and chat and ask lots of questions. As above ask what happens if it rains and if they have lighting for example? Are they insured? Are they full time photographers? How long have they been going? Can they show you some more photos or a gallery from their last wedding? Can I create a shot list to stick to? What's your style - "I'm a bit shy and don't want lots of set ups" - so are you more reportage style for example?

- When you think you have your one then ask to meet up over a coffee or a tea, as you then just by meeting them can pick up an idea of what they are like and if they sound like they know what they are talking about?

Author of this blog -

Richard is a Professional Photographer with 30 years experience.  Starting as a keen amateur as a teen with his trusty film camera and b&w film, then becoming a qualified photo-journalist for a local daily newspaper in his early twenties. Richard then went on to work at national press agencies working for the national and international newspapers, magazines and broadcast before setting up his own company ImageNorth and Richard Walker Portraits. In his career so far he has covered news and politics, royals, fashion and celebrities, and high profile features for newspapers and magazines across the World. Covering Premiership Football, Wimbledon Championships, Rugby League and commercial work too for global brands such as Virgin, Nestle, McDonalds, RBS, Cancer Research UK. NCTJ qualified and a UK Press Card holder and member of the British Press Photographer Association.

www.richardwalkerportraits.co.uk

www.imagenorth.net

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