I'd like to share my top wedding photography tips with you.
You will go to a vast amount of trouble (let alone expense!) to have everything perfect for your wedding.
You want to have great photographs to remind yourselves of the day for ever and ever.
So when you are old and grey and sitting by the fire, you can take out your album and remember everything in detail!
When you are choosing your wedding photographer get them to show you some of their past work so you can see their style.
Choose wisely
If you want funky, contemporary photos you don't want to hire one with a conservative style, no matter how much experience he/she might have.
Find out up front what the pictures will cost you, how many shots you'll get and discuss with your partner how you want to use them - digitally, print, albums etc.
Will there be those extra pics taken to fill up an album and remind you about the details of the big day?
You could ask a family member with a good camera and a good eye to take these for you if necessary - things such as the flowers, table settings, menus, favours, and some style pics like shoes, jewellery and hats.
Fail to plan and you plan to fail!
One of the best wedding photography tips I was ever given was to plan some of the shots in advance. Give your photographer a list of the key shots that you want, before he is let loose to capture everything else.
This is particularly important in the case of family pics. There is nothing worse than getting the photos back only to realize that there is none of you with Aunt Sally and Uncle Sam, who traveled hundreds of miles to be with you that day!
It's also a good idea to designate a member of each family, in advance, to assist the photographer in gathering people together for the family photos.
This takes the pressure off you, while making it much easier for the photographer, who will then remain calm and get better shots for you. Otherwise this part of the wedding can seemingly take forever or easily become chaotic.
Two is twice as good as one!
Another way to avoid chaos is to choose two photographers who work together, rather than one on his/her own.
This avoids one having to move about too much during the ceremony or speeches. Perhaps one can concentrate on the more formal family pics while the other captures those "off camera" shots.
Please let me know
If I am doing your wedding hair/makeup, then one of my most important wedding photography tips is to let me know if you want your photographer to take photos of you and your bridesmaids getting ready - dress, make-up and final hair shots for example. By the way please upload them later at your wedding photographs.
That's because I need to plan an earlier start. Otherwise the photographers rush me because they want to get off to the church/venue in time for the arrival of your groom and guests.
Photographers I recommend
for the UK and Europe:
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