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Joe's Diary: Choosing a Photographer

Found this in my Wedding Organizer and yep, pasted it in. Pete thinks I'm becoming obsessed but I know good advice when I find it...

"Choosing the right wedding photographer could be one of the most important decisions you'll make when planning their wedding. After all, your photographs are your one lasting reminder of your wedding day. A really good wedding photographer will have the skills and experience to create a beautiful collection of photographs in a way that seems effortless and does not disrupt or take away from your enjoyment of the day itself.

The question is, how do you find the right person to trust with these precious memories?

Firstly, start looking early! Most successful photographers get booked up early and will be taking bookings for next year and the year after.

Most photographers now have a website and it's a good idea to take a look before you contact them. This will give you a chance to see some of their work and give you an idea of their style.

Meet with a few photographers as this will give you an idea of the different styles and approaches available. Some photographers are very traditional and some are more relaxed, slipping into the background and taking natural, unposed photographs. Some will offer to bring a second photographer with them which is a great way of ensuring you get a mixture of the two and is ideal if you are inviting a lot of guests that you'd like to see in the photographs without spending hours having group photographs taken.

Also, take time to get to know the photographer. Do you like them? Remember, they're going to be a big part of your wedding day so if you wouldn't invite them as a guest at your wedding, don't ask them to be your photographer! When looking at the photographs of couples and their guests look at the expressions on their faces: do they look happy or do they look bored and fed up? What is the photographer's attitude towards the guests, will they be courteous and good fun or will they be bossy?

When looking at sample albums of previous weddings make sure you can see a full wedding from beginning to end. Just seeing a selection of the photographer's best work will not give you an indication of how well they will cover a whole day. Make sure you see lots of different types of photographs to ensure that they will do a good job of every aspect of the photography from the bridal preparations to the group photographs to cutting the cake. It's also a good idea to look at more than one wedding. This will give you an idea of whether the photographer takes into account the taste and personalities of each individual couple or whether they approach each wedding in the same way, taking more or less the same traditional photographs each time.

Remember that it's YOUR day and the photographs should reflect this. Don't be afraid to make suggestions or even show your photographer examples of things you like and don't like. Make sure they're not going to be taking photographs that you think are a bit cheesy or asking you to do anything you think is daft. If you feel ridiculous then you'll look ridiculous in the photograph!

Don't be afraid to make emotional decisions about the photographs you see, imagine they're your wedding photographs: would you be delighted with them and want to show them to your family and friends?

Pay attention to the albums themselves but don't let this be the deciding factor when choosing your photographer. Albums vary greatly these days from the very traditional to the modern "storybook style" with many photographs per page. Most photographers use the same suppliers so will be able to find the right album for you but check this is the case before you book. Think very carefully before choosing an album that seems very fashionable, remember you're going to be looking at it for a long time to come, will it look a bit dated in ten years' time?

When it comes to discussing the price and the service offered make sure you get an indication of the whole cost, including attendance, proofs, final photographs and your choice of album.

Once you've chosen your photographer, expect to meet with them again nearer to the wedding day, at your reception venue if possible. This will give you a chance to talk through the details of the photography and where it will be taking place and to draw up a rough itinerary, so that the day itself goes smoothly and you can be confident that the photographer won't take longer than the allotted time for any formal photography.

By the time the big day arrives you will, hopefully, have got to know your photographer and be as relaxed as possible with them. A great wedding photographer will put you at your ease so that the photography is as much fun as possible.

When it comes to the timing take into account the time of day and the time of year you're getting married. If your ceremony is at 3pm on a January afternoon then the photographs will be taken from about 4pm onwards, when it will be getting dark.

The best results will be achieved if they can be taken outdoors in daylight. Also consult with your photographer beforehand about the length of time he'll need to take your formal photographs. The key to reducing the amount of time you are away from your guests being photographed is to be organised beforehand. Agree with your photographer where he will be taking photographs of the newlyweds and how long this will take. Arrange to take only those group photographs you know you will want to put in your album and try to limit the number of people in each group (the more people are in a photograph the smaller each one becomes and this can lead to a disappointingly dull photograph). The Best Man or an Usher should be employed to gather each group of people together to avoid wasted time standing around waiting for that one guest who's in the loo!

Lastly, really great wedding photographs are taken when the bride and groom are completely relaxed and at ease with their photographer. So, once you're confident you've chosen the right person for you, relax and enjoy the day, they'll do all the rest!"

By Courtesy of Samantha Hook of Samantha Hook Weddings, Newark on Trent, Nottinghamshire