Choosing your professional Essex wedding photographer for your wedding photos

by David Court from

Court on Camera

Learn how to find your ideal wedding photographer and be armed with all the right questions when you visit your shortlist.

You've planned your big day down to the finest of details; you don't want to leave anything to chance. So, make sure you get the perfect record of your wedding - use a professional wedding photographer.

You only have one chance to get it right and a professional will have the experience and knowledge to cope with all possible eventualities and still turn out a great set of pictures, that you can treasure forever.

So, what are your options? You may first consider using a friend of the family, or other guest's to take the images. While the financial aspect of this may seem attractive, it's important to consider what experience they have and what they would do should it be raining, for example, and all the images had to be taken indoors. Also, how efficient will they be at organising people into groupings, if you should want them. A professional wedding photographer will obviously cost more, but it will be one less thing to worry about on the day.

Having ruled out a non-professional photographer, you may also consider a part-time (semi-professional) wedding photographer. They may be cheaper than a full-time professional, but will probably not have the support network that comes with a full-time photographer. They may not have undergone any training and also may flounder when it comes to demanding conditions, such as harsh sunlight, high winds, rain, dark skies, shooting into the sunlight, etc.

Using a full time Master Photographer for your wedding in Essex will be well worth the investment. Professionals also come in different levels of competence, but what is really important is that you a) like the pictures and b) get on well with the photographer who will be shooting your pictures on the day.

How do you know how good they really are?

They shoot amazing, creative pictures. This will jump out at you when you view a number of different photographers' sample albums.

A good professional wedding photographer will have professional indemnity insurance, should the worst happen. You may also take out insurance yourself to cover against photography failure.

They often hold a recognised qualification with one of the professional bodies such as the Master Photographers Association.

View samples of complete weddings, not just highlights of the best. This is very important, as most people would get one or two good shots from every wedding, but you'll want most of your pictures to look fantastic and make YOU look great on your wedding day!

Don't be fooled by wonderful presentation. Try to look at the pictures individually and judge them on their own merits and not necessarily on how they are presented.

Choosing a service to suit you for your Essex wedding

It's only natural that you'll want plenty of pictures taken on the day, that they'll all be great and took very little time to organise. However, please be aware that great photographs take time to be 'created'. Even the fantastic natural 'candid' shots you've seen in the wedding magazines are often 'set up' in some way by the photographer. So, consider that the photography will involve some time in your schedule - before, during and after the ceremony.

Also, volume is no substitute for quality. Today's professional who shoots with a pro digital camera will have the facility to shoot many hundreds of images. The skilled professional will shoot just one or two images of each completely different 'scene', meaning that they will use their skill and the available time to look for new and creative shots.

Also consider how many pictures you can afford in your album, or indeed, if money is no object, then how many images can actually fit in. Some albums now have the facility to have digital 'montages' of a selection of images on one page. This is a good way to include say 4 images, where just one conventional print would have been. These digitally produced albums are often more expensive, so speak to your photographer before the pictures are taken, to make sure you are happy with how your pictures will eventually be presented and the approximate quantity you wish to end up with, for the price that's right for you.

Shooting Styles

The last few years has seen a massive growth in the 'reportage' style of wedding photography. The popularity of this style came about due to their 'natural' look and also because it appears to be less intrusive.

True 'reportage' wedding photography has a great deal of creative and technical input - the skill of the photographer being to make the pictures look like they were totally natural, while they actually had a great deal of control over the lighting and composition. Great pictures in this style demand an experienced professional.

Be absolutely clear, both to yourself and the photographer, what style of images you will be happiest with. Also don't be afraid to make it known, before the day, who you do (and don't!) want in your pictures. Make sure the Best Man liaises with the photographer to help organise people for groupings. Always allow enough time for any formal or romantic shots. Your photographer will be able to accurately guide you on this. The catering manager at your venue will want to work to a tight schedule.

Make sure you get the actual wedding photographer you book. Some studios have 'wedding operators' who do some of the photography. Ensure that if you book a named photographer (make sure it is their work you have viewed), that it is they who shoot your pictures on the day. That said, in the unlikely event of illness, a professional can often arrange for cover by another professional wedding photographer at short notice.

After your wedding pictures have been taken and the day is over, you'll be away on your honeymoon and the photographer will be preparing your pictures for viewing and selection for the main album. Some photographers may place all the 'proofs' online for you to make your selection, often protected by a password. Guests can often order prints via this method, too. All photographers have different ways of handling your imagery at this stage, so discuss that you'd like before hand to make sure you are happy with what happens when it comes to the final stages

Can you afford not to employ CourtOnCamera to photograph your wedding?  - Your Memories are Precious!

CourtOnCamera provide a professional wedding photography service  throughout Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and beyond, we are also professionally qualified  members of:

 

Established in 1901, the British Institute of Professional Photography has gained international recognition as the leading qualifying body for professional photographers.  There are over 3500 members covering every type of photography from aerial photography to underwater photography. Use our search engine to find qualified professional photographers anywhere in the UK or overseas.

 

The MPA is the professional organisation for Master Photographers.  All qualified members adhere to a strict Code of Conduct and have undergone qualification to at least Licentiate standard. Established over 50 years ago, the MPA is unique in that it only allows full-time professional photographers to remain in membership. Each must have undergone a rigorous assessment of their work .

 

The Royal Photographic Society was founded in 1853 'to promote the Art and Science of Photography', a mission it continues to this day in the United Kingdom and through its considerable overseas membership.