Choosing Your Photographer
TOP TIPS FROM A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
Sarah from Bear and Butterfly Photography was kind enough to give me her top ten tips on how to get the most from your wedding photographer to share with you:
1. Your photographer will be your cheerleader and your best friend rolled into one. They will be there every at every step of the day to capture all the moments from very intimate and personal to the big celebrations. You want a photographer that you will connect with so that they can help keep you calm, reassured and excited so you can show the best version of your self on your big day. Make sure you meet with your photographer and pick a photographer you connect with and trust.
2. When your dress is boxed up, the food has been eaten and your cake has been cut, your photographs are all you have following your wedding day so make sure you love your photographers work. Spend time looking at portfolios, websites and social media to get a sense of your photographers editing style and the kind of images they capture. Do you want candid, relaxed, formal or something else?
3. Your wedding day is the one of the most important days of your life after all you have been planning and saving for it for so long so remember it’s not about being with your photographer every minute of the day. Choose one who will understand the importance of you spending time with your guests enjoying your day whilst getting everything you should from your photographs.
4. Ensure your photographer is aware of the style of photographs you like whether it’s entirely posed, relaxed and natural or a candid story of your day. After all it is YOUR day and your photographs. The last thing you want is to look back on your album and not recognise the people in it as it’s overly posed. Different photographers will have different or preferred styles so make sure you have a look at past work to really understand how and when they do their best work and decide if this will work with the celebration you have planned.
5. Relax. Have fun. Your photographs shouldn’t be a stress or worry on the day. I cannot stress how important this part is. Your photographer should make you feel relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera even the most confident of people can become a little camera shy at times!
6. Never look at the camera. It will force a ‘Chandler Bing’ smile where you not only feel but look uncomfortable. Come up with ideas to make you laugh on the day, like whispering your favourite cereals in a sultry voice to each other to make you laugh. This is the most natural type of photographs you will ever get and I promise it will be so worth it!
7. Ensure you tell your guests to take advantage of a professional photographer being there and to ask for photographs to be taken of them as a couple, or a family etc. It’s not often people get to have nice professional pictures after spending all that money on their new outfits.
8. If your photographer allows, ask if it’s possible to take advantage of an engagement/pre wedding shoot. It’s a fabulous way to get to know your photographer and to gain the experience of being in front of the camera which will give you peace of mind for on the big day.
9. Consider including your prep/ getting ready shots. Having prep/ getting ready images from your wedding day gives your other half an insight into all those little moments of the morning they have missed. It’s a wonderful surprise when looking at your finished gallery. Also, the day can feel like it goes very quickly so photographs throughout the entire day will help you remember all the good memories.
Photographs: Paul Budzinski Photography, capturing bridal prep.
10. Trust your photographer. Now this is a big one. By all means give a heads up of certain people you would like photographed that you feel your photographer may miss, though have trust that if you love your photographers work that they will capture the most important parts and people of your day without an added list.
Below are some photographs from real weddings at Folkerton Mill. All of these photographs are amazing and if you scroll through you will see that each photographer has a unique style and way of editing the photographs (please note that some of these photographs have been cropped slightly differently to the original to fit them in the grid). You can see examples of other photographers on our socials @folkertonmill on all platforms.
Key Takeaways
All photographers have a style and a personality, pick the one you click with and makes you feel comfortable, and the one whose work you fall in love with!
