Although most of my wedding bookings come from a
venue or previous client recommendation, which is fantastic, some people do
find me via Google. Competition is
obviously hot but it’s still an important way to pick new clients up. Deborah and Rupert are just such a couple and
I’m so glad they found me!
Rupert is from the UK and Deborah from Brazil. Their wedding was an intimate and stylish affair
held at the Mayfair Library in London and this lovely couple are planning their
full celebration in Portugal next year.
Fingers crossed I can do it for them!
Mayfair Library is to be found in a quiet location
between South Audley Street and Mount Street Gardens and is a hidden gem of an
open space which means you can escape the hustle and bustle of London and get some stylish wedding photos.
This led me to thinking about how a couple go about
choosing a photographer for such a special day amongst so much competition and
what help I could give in this area;
here are a few tips on how to get the very best from your wedding
photography.
Firstly the most important message is PLANNING!
Your wedding photos are something you will hopefully
treasure for the rest of your lives so make sure you’re going to be happy with
them. The key is communication with your
photographer so definitely find someone you think you can get on well with!
There are 4 main styles of wedding photography – firstly
decide which one works best for you.
Traditional/Classic
–
Lots of intervention and direction from your
photographer, mostly posed shots. Your
photographer will usually work from a “wish list” of shots you have worked out
you would like.
Reportage
or Documentary Style –
This style aims to capture all those impromptu
candid moments of the day. Less posed
shots and more purely natural shots.
Your photographer will be busying himself in the background and will
intervene less in your day’s proceedings.
Fine
Art –
The creation of stand-alone images that can be used
as wall art. The style of capturing
these is often reportage, although photographer controls the pose, lighting etc
and then the image is treated by the photographer in post-production to create
a piece of fine art.
Vintage
–
Very on trend, the photographer hones in on certain
vintage elements of your wedding and may use film or special filters to create
a “vintage” feel.
I guess my
style is all of these but maybe a bit more fine art and reportage rather than
classic. If a wedding is styled in a
vintage way then it's great to use some effects in post-production. However, I have been asked to supply vintage
style when the styling is classic. It
does not work with stately homes and top hats and tails and can look a little
bit strange! Anyway it seems everyone
has jumped on the “classic” bandwagon which is now getting quite tired. Most important thing to remember is you have
to live with your pictures for life.
There
are some important questions you should ask your photographer when selecting
the right one –
What is your photography style?
Do you have a gallery I can see?
How much of the day do you cover?
Describe your working style?
Do you know/have you already worked at my chosen
venue?
What is included in the package?
What is your “fall back” position in case of illness
on the day?
How
to look good in your photos –
Don’t get too drunk!
Don’t hunch - stand with your shoulders back and
head up (slightly forward and chin up prevents the dreaded double chin!)
Engage with the camera – use your eyes to show your
happiness
Avoid pressing your arms against your body, instead
leave a slight gap
Relax and enjoy your day – this WILL come across in
your photos
I hope this has been helpful. Have fun planning your wedding and enjoy these photos!
Best wishes,
Roger
