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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
You said yes, you’ve booked the venue and are now starting to think of the next step in planning your wedding day. One of the first will hopefully be your wedding photography<\/a> and choosing the right photographer to ensure those once in a lifetime memories are captured and preserved forever.\u00a0<\/p>\n Your wedding photographs and album will be one of the few tangible items you’ll have left to remind you of your wedding day so choosing the right wedding photographer to capture those details and brief moments in time is an important and big step in the planning process.\u00a0<\/p>\n Did you know that one of our stunning storybook wedding albums with 120 photographs would account for freezing less than 1 second of real time from your full wedding day. 1 second of brief expressions, glances, love and memories captured in what could easily be 12 hours.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Top Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Photographer<\/strong><\/p>\n Read on for more details and my guide to help you choose the right wedding photographer…..<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t What style of wedding photos have you enjoyed looking at over the past weeks of wedding planning? \u00a0You may not have\u00a0realised there was a style to the images but as you delve deeper into wedding photography you’ll come\u00a0across words such as Traditional, Contemporary Documentary and Reportage.\u00a0<\/p>\n What’s My style?<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0I’d label my style as being contemporary, mixing the documentary and classic look with my distinct lighting and\u00a0editing style. Working with a second shooter we are able to deliver even more of the documentary images and include multiple angles for all the key moments.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t By now you will probably have read that you need to ask to see at least one full wedding album, ideally more. A website will show you the highlights, the signature shots that demonstrate their style and competency in creating such images, but these only tell part of the story of the wedding day. A wedding album will tell the whole story and demonstrate how the wedding photographer has managed to tell a story through stunning photos, a consistent level of quality and each photograph from the candid to the posed look exceptional. <\/p>\n A blog on a website like this one<\/a> will usually include a number of photographs from the whole day and let you see the variety of images and creativity of the photographer, the album will usually feature more photographs and also let you see up close the quality of not only the photographs but also the book itself. <\/p>\n You wedding day will be over so quickly, from waking up to finally going to sleep in the early hours the day will fly by as a blur. Photographs throughout the day will help trigger those memories and will tell the story of the whole day. <\/p>\n Preparation photos – This may seem like your worse nightmare but it’s such an important and fun part of the day it’s got to be included in your photography coverage. I usually try and wait to start photographing close ups only when make up is complete, before this I concentrate on the details and the wider scene setting photographs. It may also be possible to photograph the two of you getting ready, working at either multiple locations or with a second photographer to capture the action and images in both locations. <\/p>\n Ceremony and Drinks reception – This is the bare bones of coverage and will be included in all wedding photographers packages but offers little opportunity for real story telling and documenting your day. <\/p>\n Speeches – Seeing the whole picture and not just concentrating on the speaker, speeches are a superb opportunity to create candid and natural photographs as you and your wedding guests enjoy the speeches. These can often fill between 4 and 6 pages in your wedding album and a key part of the day not to be missed. <\/p>\n First Dance and evening party – The day doesn’t end when the toasts are finished, extending coverage into the evening will allow several more opportunities to create amazing wedding photographs, there’s a chance between the end of the meal and first dance you’ll have the opportunity for some relaxed couple photographs, the pressure is off and it’s a great opportunity to capture further relaxed photographs of you and your wedding guests before you take to the dance floor. <\/p>\n Twilight and evening photographs – I love photographing after dark, creating signature wedding photographs at night allows me to become even more creative, often we’ll use sparklers, champagne and even smoke bombs. If you have fireworks these can be included too. Twilight photographs are the perfect end to your wedding album and story of your day. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Always a good place to start. Your wedding venue will have a list of recommended suppliers they have built up a working relationship with over time and who they trust to work at a high standard. As a wedding photographer in a saturated market, being on a recommended supplier list is a privileged position and\u00a0I’m fortunate to be recommended by some of the regions most exclusive wedding venues.<\/p>\n Being a recommended supplier means you have shown yourself to be trustworthy, professional and most importantly of course, the ability to create amazing wedding photos. I would suggest having a look at, but not limiting your choice to, the wedding venue\u2019s recommended supplier list first.<\/p>\n You may have a\u00a0friend or a sibling that has\u00a0recently\u00a0married and choosing their photographer maybe a safe and easy option, you’ve seen the quality of work and seen them at work so it may seem an\u00a0obvious choice? It is, but again don’t be limiting your choice and options, look around and choose the photographer\u00a0that’s right for you.\u00a0<\/p>\n Most photographers will also\u00a0have a review or\u00a0testimonial section on their website, \u00a0I pride myself on my level of service and the end product, both the photographs and the wedding albums. My reviews and testimonials<\/a> reflect this. As should your chosen photographers.<\/p>\n Your wedding day is a once in a\u00a0lifetime day, a series of brief moments\u00a0and\u00a0opportunities that can’t be\u00a0repeated. Choosing an experienced\u00a0wedding photographer will help ensure these crucial moments are not missed and\u00a0regardless of the the situations, weather, lighting, locations your wedding photographer will be able to overcome the issues and\u00a0deliver album worthy images in any situation.<\/p>\n There are many, many unknowns about weddings. Church ceremonies are very different to civil ceremonies, and different Churches have very different rules. Experience of the different scenarios and the ability to think on your feet when you\u2019re told you can\u2019t use a flash is the difference between having photos or not.\u00a0<\/p>\n Are they going to stay calm through the pressure of capturing your big day? If something goes wrong, the timings slip or the weather takes a turn for the worse, will they have the coping mechanisms and experience to deal with it, Will they have the flexibility to change and not panic? Will they be assertive enough to get the attention of your guests and\u00a0manoeuvre them in position without taking forever and annoying them? Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life and you definitely don\u2019t want to waste time worrying about your photographer.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t A well made wedding album is a family heirloom, something to look at and share with future generations. On this page I’ve talked about memories and how precious they are, I’ve been married for over 15 years and our wedding album brings back so many memories, not just how we looked and what we were wearing \u00a0but also of \u00a0family members and friends and sadly people no longer with us. Had we have had the option of just digital files would we still have those memories, would we have a quality wedding album to look back upon? Probably not.\u00a0<\/p>\n Wedding Photograph Albums vary in quality. We take pride in using what is probably the highest quality album producer in the world. The albums are hand finished and quality checked before leaving the production process and shipped to the UK from northern Italy. They even come with a genuine lifetime guarantee for the binding process.<\/p>\n Your wedding photographer will spend more time with you on your wedding day than anyone else.You also need someone who loves what they do, someone who will expand on your ideas to make them truly unique. You don\u2019t have to meet up, you should be able to garner enthusiasm over the phone by zoom and even an email should make you feel like you\u2019re the only person in the world that the photographer is interested in right now.<\/p>\n Also think of your wedding guests and the experience they’ll have on the day, will the photographer be\u00a0friendly,\u00a0approachable and able to get the best from the guests and ultimately your wedding photographs, creating more relaxed smiles rather than forced and staid images.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t, and don\u2019t let it be, a deal breaker. Having extensive knowledge of a wedding venue<\/a> is a great and certainly can make it a little easier to pan for all\u00a0eventualities\u00a0but at the same time I love working at new venues. I am out of my comfort zone but this will make me more creative, make me work harder and challenge myself to create\u00a0amazing\u00a0wedding photographs that are much better than the examples that I found during my research into the new venue.\u00a0<\/p>\n On average each year\u00a0I\u00a0photograph weddings at between 4 and 10 new wedding venues,\u00a0some of these quickly go on to become\u00a0favourites and they are often used in\u00a0the display albums I have here in my office for couples to view.\u00a0<\/p>\n If I am booked for a venue which is new to me I usually try and include a complimentary pre-wedding shoot so we can explore the venue together.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t You may not enjoy having your photograph taken so the idea of two photographers could be the stuff of nightmares, however think of the possibilities having a second photographer can bring. <\/p>\n Extra coverage and extra photos aside, the second photographer will be able to work in different locations, capture events and moments you’d didn’t even see and of course offer an alternative angle to those key moments. Where typically the main photographer will be near the front for the ceremony and be able to photograph you walking down the aisle, the second photographer located near the back will catch the first look backwards and so together create photographs of this first looks of you both.\u00a0<\/p>\n Adding a second photographer will increase the cost of the package but will add more value than the cost alone as those extra images, extra angles and brief moments captured will live on forever. – That sounds really cheesy but it’s so, so true.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sometimes during the initial meeting\u00a0I’ll be asked ” What happens if you’re ill?” It’s not something I’ve had to worry about but just incase I always have a back up plan, any self respecting wedding photographer will have the same and a number of\u00a0professional they can call on should the worse case\u00a0scenario happen.\u00a0<\/p>\n Your wedding photographer should also have back up\u00a0cameras, lenses and lighting, it’s not uncommon for\u00a0cameras to fail or be damaged on the day\u00a0and a photographer working with just one camera (or even two) is just asking for trouble. Back ups for the back up are key to ensuring you get the full coverage you have booked and the photographer\u00a0isn’t distracted by worries about their kit breaking\u00a0down.\u00a0<\/p>\n An established professional photographer will also have insurance, both\u00a0liability and indemnity, if they have a\u00a0second\u00a0photographer working with them they should even have employer liability\u00a0insurance too, don’t be afraid to ask and often your wedding venue may even ask for a copies of the photographers public liability insurance and if they intend on\u00a0using. drone a copy of their drone insurance maybe asked for.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Although the photographs and memories will be priceless, almost everyone has a budget and there’s no point falling in love with\u00a0your dream photographer if you can’t afford them or\u00a0manoeuvre your budget to\u00a0accommodate their\u00a0prices.\u00a0<\/p>\n Experience and quality does come at a cost and whilst you will easily find a photographer for \u00a3500 offering the world and more the quality of work, products and experience will almost certainly be lacking. There’s a reason why I’ve left budget so far down the tips, it’s because although yes it’s\u00a0important, you need to look beyond the\u00a0actual price and focus on the photographer, their style, their\u00a0experience,\u00a0editing, and quality of both photographs and albums.\u00a0<\/p>\n The old adage is true…You get what you pay for.<\/p>\n When choosing your photographer look for all inclusive pricing <\/a>and check for extras such as album design, additional photos in the album, travel expenses\u00a0and VAT.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Drones have become the latest must have tool for wedding photographers and open up a whole new level of creativity and opportunities for new angles and photographs that otherwise wouldn’t have been feasible. Professional drones now carry high quality cameras and we regularly use drone photographs as double page spreads in our wedding albums.\u00a0<\/p>\n There are some legislations in operating a [professional drone and insurance cover is a must, check these details and also remember that in adverse weather, strong winds and rain, drones can’t operate safely.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nervous\u00a0in front of the camera or\u00a0perhaps you’d just like a practise run through before your wedding day, a pre-wedding or\u00a0engagement shoot<\/a> is a great way to get to know\u00a0your wedding photographer, build confidence and practice those poses and smiles. It can also be a great way of exploring your wedding venue with the photographer, looking for your\u00a0favourite locations and\u00a0creating a must have location shot list for the day.\u00a0<\/p>\n Check if the photographer offers a pre-wedding shoot and the cost for this with what is included. If\u00a0it’s new wedding venue for the photographer they may even offer this as part of their package for you, I do just this with all my new wedding venues, a great way to explore a new location.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Allerton Castle – North Yorkshire Exclusive Castle wedding venue<\/a><\/p>\n Hazlewood Castle – Hotel and Castle wedding Venue near York<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nDoes their style equal your style?<\/h2>\n
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View their Portfolio<\/h2>\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nCoverage – all day, part day or just a few hours?<\/h2>\n
Recommendations and Word of Mouth<\/h2>\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nExperienced Photographers<\/h2>\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nAlbums and Products
\n<\/h2>\nPersonality<\/h2>\n
Knowledge of your wedding venue<\/h2>\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nOne or Two Photographers?<\/h2>\n
Insurance and the other boring stuff<\/h2>\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nBudget and Cost<\/h2>\n
![\"drone](\"https:\/\/www.chrischambersphotography.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/drone-wedding-photographer-1024x683.jpg\")
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nDrones<\/h2>\n
Engagement Shoots<\/h2>\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nChris Chambers Photography – Proud to be recommended by…<\/h3>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"recommended](\"https:\/\/www.chrischambersphotography.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Hazlewood-Castle-300x208.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"recommended](\"https:\/\/www.chrischambersphotography.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Carlton-towers-wedding-venue-300x142.png\")
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