How to choose your luxury wedding photographer

Your wedding day is the coming together of a myriad of ideas, hopes and dreams, creating your unique visions set within the framework of your venue, your location and the time of year. Whether you’re planning a large wedding at a grand country estate or a micro wedding at a chic, bijou location, the one element from your day which you will cherish the most, along with your own personal memories, is your wedding photography. Over the years, I have worked with a number of fantastic photographers but choosing the right photographer for YOU is a hugely personal decision.

I’m delighted that luxury fine art photographer Eva Tarnok has joined me today to share her tips for how to get the best out of your wedding photographer. Eva is a Fine Art wedding photographer based in London who has had the privilege of shooting weddings around Europe and Africa. Eva is also an advisory member of the International Weddings and Events Service Providers Association and coaches wedding photographers from around the world to grow their business. Read on for her top tips ….

DO YOUR RESEARCH 

It is a great time to look for a wedding photographer as there are so many brilliant and talented photographers out there, and you are really spoilt for choice. There are lots of different approaches from purely documentary to more editorial; different editing styles from romantic light and airy to a dark and moody, and lots of photographers who are somewhere in between. I recommend you give yourself some time to get lost in the world of wedding magazines, wedding blogs and social media like Instagram and Pinterest. Even if you think you know what you like, I recommend you spending a few days to explore the world of wedding photography. You will start noticing the similarities of the images you are drown to and once you established the style you like; you can start researching the photographers of that style. You need to find a photographer, whose work you really love and connect with. However, I believe it is equally important that you feel comfortable and relaxed with your photographer as he/she will be with you most of the day, sharing some truly intimate and emotional moments. There is no one size fits all, and for some couples it will be a quiet and introverted photographer the perfect choice, and for some, a fun and flamboyant one. You just need to ‘click’ and feel comfortable with each other. You also need to consider if the venue works with the photographer’s style. For example, if the venue you have chosen is dark, you need to make sure that you find a photographer who has experience in working in low light-venues. 

DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS 

Once you found your wedding photographer, he/she will prepare the wedding contract which will outline and list all the important details. The wedding contract protects both parties and it is important to ask and discuss any questions with your photographer before signing. The most important thing is that you communicate with your wedding photographer; they need to know the schedule of the day in advance and make sure that the timeline is realistic. For example, you need to allow 25-30 minutes for couple portraits after the ceremony and usually the same for the formal group shots. If you work with a wedding planner, they can assist with all these details and schedules. You also need to send the requested group shot list to the photographer and need to make them aware of any additional requests, special circumstances, VIP guests etc. In my experience group shots can be time consuming as guests can be challenging to gather and organise; and having dedicated helpers who know both side of the family can be a great help with this. If you have any concerns -something you don’t like, worried about the couple photography experience or some guests who don’t get along etc.  it is always best to discuss them with the wedding photographer in advance, no matter how big or small the issue may seem. The chances are that your wedding photographer has experienced similar situations and will be able to suggest solutions or ideas to try. Your photographer will have years of experience in the wedding industry, so feel free to ask them for any tips and advice. 

HELPING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER ON THE WEDDING DAY

The best thing is to check with your photographer what assistance they need on the day, to make sure that they can provide the best possible service. The bride and groom will be way too swept of their feet to worry about the photographer on the wedding day, however with a little organisation, things can run very smoothly. For example, you can ask the Maid of Honour to be responsible for tidying up the room the Bride is getting ready in, and make sure that it is as clutter free as possible. You can ask a bridesmaid to make sure that she hands the dress, shoes, invitations, rings and anything else needs to be captured to the photographer when he/she arrives. You can ask the hair and make up artist to make sure that you are ready 30 minutes before you need to get dressed, to capture some lovely getting ready shots. You can appoint helpers who know both side of the families to help with the formal group shots. And lastly, you can make sure that the caterers feed the photographer at the same time the guests are having their wedding breakfast, so your photographer is rested and recharged to capture rest of the day. These small things make a huge difference on the day and help you to make the most out of your wedding photographer. Again, when you have a wedding planner involved, they will be able to manage all these aspects for you.

ENJOY YOUR DAY 

Once you have discussed all the details with your wedding photographer and ensured that the photographer has what he/she needs on the wedding day, your only aim is to enjoy the day. Trust your wedding photographer that he/she will capture the day beautifully; and embrace the day however it unfolds. Stop worrying about things out of your control, like the weather -let’s face it, in London rain can come any time of the year and on any day, certain wedding guests, and if the floral decor will look exactly how you wanted and remind yourself of the meaning of the day. You are there to celebrate your love and commitment, and no matter what happens, it will be one of your most special days in your life.

You can find more information on Eva’s wedding photography services here: Eva Tarnok Photography | Fine Art Wedding Photographer