Five things you should know about wedding photography

When you start planning your wedding a wedding photographer is going to be one of the top things to consider. With so many about, it can seem daunting when looking for the perfect wedding photographer. This article is here to help you understand what is out and offer some tips in the quest of finding the perfect photographer for you.
Finding and booking early
Once you start looking around, it is often best to start right at the beginning of the wedding planning. If you start looking early and find a couple of wedding photographers you like, then you need to be sure that the date you set is fine with the photographer as sometimes they may have a busy schedule.
If you are to start looking as the wedding date gets closer and closer then chances are the chosen photographer is booked and you will have to start again, with less time and with stress levels rising. The first thing you should know is the best photographers are often your first choice, so finding them early is going to increase the chances of them being available on your date.



Know the different styles
As wedding photography is a big business with many photographers offering different things you need to be certain and clear on which style to go for. The popular four styles are reportage, traditional, contemporary and artistic. Each differ greatly, with reportage being a more relaxed approach. When compared with traditional that is more involved and can be intrusive on the guests. Know what you want out of the pictures, do you want to be surprised or do you know exactly what you want?
Your budget and the packages
Having an idea of what sort of price you are looking to spend helps when looking at the packages on offer. If you are looking to spend as little as you can on the photographer then there are packages available that cater for this. Usually the lower end of the scale only provides you with the photographer to take the photographs and that is it.
There are many types of packages on offer that range in price and sometimes quality. If you expect a complete wedding album full of high quality handpicked photographs then you should be expecting to pay a lot more than just having a wedding photographer in attendance. Having an idea on what you expect to see helps when looking at the different packages on offer.
Reviews and experience
Have you ever looked at a review of a product online? A photographer is almost like a products that you are shopping around for. Many photographers have their own website, with their own reviews and their own work. By reading what former clients had said about a photographer can really help you understand if the photographer is trustworthy and delivers.
You can find out a lot about a wedding photographer by looking at their website. You can get a grasp on their experience and can look at some other weddings the photographer has illustrated, if you like their work and what they offer, then the photographer is probably right for you.
Finally, get to know the photographer
The photographer that has impressed you the most is almost certainly going to be the one for you. But it is always best to meet face to face, to see if you get on well. Remember, the photographer is going to be picturing one of the most important days of your life. You want to be certain that you feel comfortable with the person who will be at your wedding AND that their own work is up to the standards you expect for your wedding day photos.

About the Guest Author:
Michael Smith is a keen photograper residing in London and has many years experience with helping people and giving advice with photography.