Your wedding day is one of the most important events in your life so selecting the person to record the event needs serious thought.

Things to take into consideration are

The style of photography you require .

Traditional or Reportage
or
A mixture of both styles recording the traditional family groups and also candid photographs.

Traditional Photography

Traditional photography is where everything is setup.

Family groups outside the church, Traditional Bride and Groom portraits to also include the Bridesmaids and pageboys.

The photographer normally works from a set list calling for various members of the family as required. This type of photography can be time consuming so be sure to allow enough time between leaving the church to arriving at the reception.

The photographs are then normally presented in a Traditional Wedding album with one photograph per page showing the day as it progresses.

Reportage Photography

Reportage photography has become extremely popular of late.
True Reportage Wedding Photography is basically a photographic record of your whole day to include preparations at home through to the reception celebrations.

The photographer will work quietly in the background photographing events as they un fold. There will normally be no formal family groups taken.

The advantage of the Reportage coverage is that you will not be standing around for ages “grinning” for the camera.

However Reportage Photography is not the easiest of styles to record so to be sure to select your photographer wisely.

A mixture of Traditional and Reportage styles

By far the best option in my opinion is to find a photographer who can record your wedding in both styles.

You will have the Traditional “record” shots of family groups etc and then a mixture of candid photographs through out the day.

A good photographer will always look for amusing and unusual photographic opportunities. For example the little bridesmaid playing quietly in the corner or even the mischievous pageboy sneaking a sip of his Dad’s beer!!!!!

Look for a photographer that also records the little details. The table decorations, the flowers, your shoes even!! Remember you have paid a pretty penny for all of these things and you will want to remember them long after the cake has been dismantled and eaten.

Type of Album

There is an enormous range of Wedding Albums on offer.

No longer are you restricted to the padded velvet cover with one photograph per page that our parents had when they were married.

There are Reportage albums sometimes holding 10 or so photographs on a page, showing your whole day not just the highlights.

You can choose to have Colour, Black and White and even Sepia toned images for your album.

Storybook and Coffee Table Style albums.

These are true works of art. Individually designed albums that look and feel just like a book.

Images only.

Maybe you feel you would not require an album. Many photographers today supply a CD with all the images for you to obtain your own copies.

How do I choose a photographer?

Start looking for a photographer as soon as possible reputable photographers are booked up to 18 months in advance
Spend some time on the Internet looking at as many photographers sites as possible. You will find styles and prices vary but don’t go for the cheapest, the old saying of you get what you pay for applies.

Narrow your choice down to at least 3 photographers and arrange to meet them in person to view their albums. Remember they may be the best photographers in the world but you will be spending the most important day of your life with them and if you don’t feel at ease it will show in the photographs.

Ask to see complete weddings they have photographed not just the best shots from a few weddings.

Ask what qualifications they have.

They should be members of the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP), The Master Photographers Association (MPA) or The British Institute of Professional Photographers (BIPP).