Sophie and James are actually having their wedding reception in Hull as I post this blog! Now it doesnt get much faster than this! Lovely wedding day and the rain has stopped so were going out to play when the coffees been drunk….
Sophie made her own beautiful little speech that had the room in tears. www.kingstontheatrehotel.com is looking good with helpful staff and good food. Two lovely families and a privilege to be capturing it. ps neil, if your reading this, mines a lager and Ill see you in two minutes!!
Ask the person who you are meeting if it will be them who is taking your wedding photographs on the day. Also ask if the portfolios and albums (there should be many!) are the work of the person who will be capturing your day and not mixed together with the companies various other photographers or franchisees. If the person selling the work is not the possible photographer for your wedding day, ask to meet them and if they too are a full time professional. Getting on with your photographer is one of the most important things on Your day, dont leave it until the wedding to find out the chemistry isnt there!
All of my weddings (portraits, PR and commercial shoots!) are photographed exclusively by myself to ensure the highest quality and service. Its also me you will chat to when drinking our lovely coffee and viewing my work!
The lovely Laura and Tony married at the very photo friendly www.cavecastlehotel.com . Great group of friends and family made for a relaxed wedding photography shoot ! Many thanks (as usual) to Debs and the staff at Cave Castle. Ive taken wedding photography at this venue over 150 times and still find new and different places and photographic styles to shoot! All images live on here at end of the week. Enjoy
Ask if they are a PROFESSIONAL wedding photographer, then check that they really are! Not a graphic designer, builder or beautician etc taking wedding or portrait photography “on the side”.
In my eyes, a professional wedding or portrait photographer is somebody who is a full timer and earns the majority, if not all, of their income from that trade. How would you feel about the butcher offering to rewire your house as hes done a two day wiring course and has some nice tools but can only see you inbetween dealing with his real customers!
If they are members of an organisation, that also doesnt mean they are professional. Ask if its a professional photographer only organisation and if they are qualified.
I have been a professional photographer for over 20 years and am a QUALIFIED member of the Master Photographers Association. Being a qualified member of such an organisation shows higher levels of photographic skill have been achieved and gives the client a professional photographic body to approach in case of issues.
Part 2 of my series of questions you may want to ask your potential wedding photograper. All are in my opinion.
Number 2
After paying your deposit for your wedding photography (in my case only £250), ask when you have to pay the remaining balance. In my case , we only ask for the rest of the fee two weeks AFTER your wedding day when you have had time to enjoy them and my service provided. I have the confidence to know you will be completely happy with my work as with over 1200 wedding couples before you!
What other service or product asks for the full money up front (sometimes up to 3 months before!) I believe this came from when we wedding photographers had to pay for film, developing and preveiw album straight away (I remember it well!), but as you know, the vast majority of wedding and portrait photographers shoot digitally with no outlay. Getting your money back if you are not happy with the service your wedding (or portrait) photographer can be an expensive and heart breaking process.
As part of my blogs, Im hoping to give some advice and questions you may want to ask your potential wedding photographer to make sure you aren’t disappointed. All advice is of my opinion.
Number 1
Remember, as in life, you will generally get what you pay for. Unfortunately the old advice of ” buy cheap,buy twice” doesn’t apply here as you will only get one chance of getting your wedding photographs right. You will usually be paying more for the photographers experience so check how many weddings they have actually done (not as a helper or a guest) but the first photographer. Ask how many times ,if any, they have worked at your wedding venue. Knowing those special places to work on a rainy day and knowing the staff can be invaluable for an easy going , flowing day. I have actually photographed over 1200 weddings from Hull to Barbados. The photographs are usually the one thing you will remember your wedding day by, so try not to scrimp!!
