How to Choose a Wedding Photographer

Your wedding day is one of the biggest days of your life - a day you’ll want to treasure forever. When speaking to your married friends, lots of them will tell you how fast the day goes, which is why it’s important to make sure your wedding photographer is able to capture those all-important moments you’ll want to look back on in years to come. 

However, choosing a wedding photographer can be tricky business! And, it might leave you thinking, “where do I start?”. So we’ve put together this guide to ensure you have everything you need to find the right photographer for your special day. 

Choose a budget and preferred package for your wedding photographs

First, we recommend having a rough idea of how much you’d like to spend on your wedding photos. After your wedding venue and wedding dress, your photographer is often the next biggest expense. 

How much does a wedding photographer cost?

According to hitched.co.uk and National Wedding Survey, the average cost of a wedding photographer in the UK is £1,300. However, how much your wedding photographer charges will vary depending on factors including, but not limited to:

• Demand
• Experience
• Equipment
• Travel costs

As a result, more experienced photographers often cost upwards of £3,000. 

Wedding photography packages

Most photographers offer different packages with different options to suit a range of budgets. Choosing the right package for your wedding is a key consideration. If you’ve found your dream photographer, but a full day of coverage is out of budget, it’s worth checking the price of other packages. For lots of couples, the ceremony to the first dance is a healthy compromise between price and coverage. However, it’s your big day, so it’s all about your preference! 

Engagement shoots, second shooters and videography

Lots of couples value a package that also includes an engagement shoot, as this allows you to get to know your wedding photographer and for them to get to know you before the big day. Perfect if you’re a little bit nervous in front of the camera. 

Other budget considerations include the number of photographs you receive and whether you want a physical or digital copy of your wedding photographs. For a big wedding, it’s often worth paying for a second shooter for increased coverage. 

Choosing the right wedding photography style

Picking a photographer that suits your personality as a couple makes all the difference for your wedding photos. Every wedding photographer will have their own distinct style that makes them stand out. However, there are a few different approaches to wedding photography that will help you pinpoint the style of wedding photographs you’re looking for. 

Traditional Wedding Photography

If you imagine your parents or grandparents' wedding photographs, you’ll most likely picture posed shots of you as a couple, plus group shots of all the key guests at your wedding. These wedding photographs tend to be fairly formal compared to some of the other styles of wedding photography. Traditional wedding photographs will never go out of style and will stand the test of time. However, it’s worth remembering that traditional wedding photography can be quite time-consuming. Therefore, it’s important to either book a second shooter or provide entertainment for your guests while the photographs are taking place.  

Fine Art Wedding Photography

Fine Art Wedding Photography is characterised by its intentional feel. Each image should be able to be enjoyed as a work of art - often this style of photography is described as refined, sophisticated, and timeless. These wedding photographs are meant to be displayed, perfect for a printed canvas or framed and treasured.

Editorial Wedding Photography

If you’re looking for wedding photographs that look like they’ve been cut straight out of a magazine, then an editorial wedding photography style is for you. Editorial wedding photography is characterised by its creative style. Editorial wedding photography tells a love story of your wedding day. The look and feel can vary from edgy and cool to glamorous and sexy. Importantly, it should capture your desired look and feel of the day. 

Documentary Wedding Photography

Documentary wedding photography is also known as reportage or a photojournalistic style. A documentary style is characterised by unposed and candid photographs. This evokes a feeling of spontaneity and is a popular wedding choice. Documentary wedding photography is ideal for an unintrusive approach.

Alternative Wedding Photography

Your wedding photography style should suit you as a couple, so if you’re aiming to achieve an alternative, gothic or quirky aesthetic, picking a wedding photographer that can bring this aspect of your personality out is important. An alternative wedding photographer is the polar opposite of a traditional wedding photographer, as alternative wedding photography focuses more on your style as a couple. 

Aerial Wedding Photography

Aerial wedding photography consists of using drone footage to take pictures of your ceremony and venue from a high vantage point. It offers a unique perspective on your special day - especially if you choose an impressive venue like Eastnor Castle. 

Choose your shortlist of photographers

Once you’ve nailed the style and budget for your wedding photography. It’s time for the fun part, time to create a shortlist of wedding photographers. If you don’t know where to start - we’ve collated some of our favourite photographers who’ve got a wealth of experience photographing weddings here at Eastnor Castle. 

A good place to start creating your shortlist is on social media. Whether you start with a Pinterest board for inspiration, or bookmarking your favourite photographers' work on Instagram. 

What should I ask my wedding photographer before I book them?

Finally, before you book your wedding photographer, it’s a good idea to book a consultation to ensure they’re a good fit for you as a couple and have the capacity to make your vision a reality.

Wedding photographer availability

It might be an obvious one, but you need to make sure your wedding photographer is available on the day of your wedding. This is why you should book your photographer after you’ve chosen your venue and secured your wedding date.  

Wedding photography costs including any extras

Cement the costs for your chosen photography package, including any customisations or add-ons such as:

• A second shooter
• Photo albums
• Express editing
• Engagement shoots
• Travel

Ask about your wedding photographers’ approach

Are you looking for your photographer to take charge and direct you and your guests in order to get the best out of your photos? Or are you looking for something more unobtrusive? Ask your photographer about their approach and make sure it’s in line with your vision for the day. 

Past experience

Ask to see reviews and testimonials from previous clients and ask them about their experience with shooting at the venue. If your photographer has not been to the venue before, will they schedule a visit to plan the shots and assess potential lighting or framing challenges before the big day? How do they deal with any technical issues? Do they have backup equipment?

What is your policy on hiring out wedding photographers?

Some wedding photography companies consist of several professionals, meaning the person you’re enquiring with and the photographs in the portfolio are all taken by different people. Make sure to ask if the person you’re enquiring with is the same person who will photograph your wedding to avoid any disappointment on the day.   

Make sure your photographer is covered legally

Make sure your photographer provides you with a contract for your wedding photos. Without a contract, you have nothing to fall back on if you aren’t happy with the service or in the unlikely event your photographer cancels last minute. Your photographer should have public indemnity and public liability insurance to ensure they can cover the costs should anything go wrong. If your wedding photographer does not offer a contract or is not covered by insurance, you should not consider them, no matter how much you love their artwork.

When will you get your wedding photographs?

It’s a good idea for your photographer to manage your expectations as to when you should expect your photographs. Typically, online galleries take less time to produce than a printed album. Some photographers provide a sneak peek as quickly as the day after your wedding, whereas in peak wedding season, it can be quite normal to wait up to 8 weeks for your final wedding gallery to be delivered. 

Book your wedding photographer

The final stage of choosing your wedding photographer is making the booking. Once you’ve consulted with your chosen wedding photographer and are happy with them, you should progress to the next step – confirming the booking, signing the contract and paying the deposit.

Choosing your wedding photographer is an investment, and it takes careful consideration. By following these simple steps, you should have a better idea of what to look for in a photographer and how to choose one. For more advice on how to plan your wedding, take a look at our list of suppliers. Find out more about weddings at Eastnor Castle, or contact us with any questions today.