Your ‘don't forget’ wedding photography checklist

With so many things to remember, such as booking the venue, flowers, dresses, suits, Liverpool wedding photographer, catering, and music, the list can seem endless.

With some much to consider, and often everything snowballing as the actual date draws near, you can easily overlook asking that vital question, as you are swept up in the activity and excitement.

Every couple has their own priorities for their special day, but it is generally thought that there are a few elements where shortcuts should be avoided, with one being your photography.

When you book your Liverpool wedding photographer, or a photographer from a town or city local to you, here are a few things to make sure you ask:

Know your budget

No matter how many times you remind yourself, it’s easy to get caught up in checking out different wedding photographers.

After you have chosen the style that you would prefer for your wedding day photographs, the next step in narrowing down which photographers would ideally suit you is to work out how much you have to spend.

A couple’s wedding day budget is completely individual and the range of what people spend on their big day is significantly vast. However, cost savings can be made in very creative ways, including the choice of venue, having your wedding day mid-week, and making your own decorations and favours.

Wedding photography budget tips:

Most wedding photographers offer a variety of photography packages, which are often priced according to the number of hours spent shooting and any added extras that may or may not be included, such as an engagement shoot or wedding albums.

Be sure to delve in to the package

It is important to enquire as to how many hours of shooting are involved with each package available. You might want the photographer to be there all day, including into the evening celebrations, or you may just prefer for them to be there for the ceremony and group shots immediately afterwards.

It is generally considered more effective to have a photographer present for the whole day, giving them the opportunity to really capture all of the special memories and moments.

Set your wedding photography budget, stick to it and don’t spend more than you can afford, or less than you deserve.

Make sure you choose a professional

Everyone is a photographer these days, with many high-quality cameras being very reasonably priced and most people having mobile phones with inbuilt lenses. It could be tempting to ask a friend to take your wedding photos, but there are some serious considerations to make before doing this.

Is it fair to put this kind of pressure on your friend and does it mean they are going to enjoy the day less because of the responsibility?

Also, even with the best of intentions, an amateur photographer is not going to be able to capture the moments of your day as well as a professional. They are likely to be distracted with the celebrations rather than focused on the quality and quantity of the shots they are taking.

What the process entails & delivery timescales

Some photographers claim to spend approximately 40 hours on editing the images from a single wedding. Post production sometimes goes by a different name, including editing, processing or retouching, but they all essentially mean the same thing.

A photographer will take the images from your wedding day that have been captured normally and transform them into the final images that you will be presented with.

As such, before you confirm any booking with the photographer, you need to check the details of the post production involved. It is important to ask whether the images will be in high or low resolution, and whether or not you will be able to make any prints yourself.

It is also a good idea to find out if the proof images you will view will be the retouched versions or if the editing will take place once you have selected the photos that you like.

If you decide that you would like to print the photos yourself from a digital source or order an album to be printed from somewhere else, you will most likely have to buy the rights to the images in question.

View wedding photographer’s existing work

With the power of the internet, so much research can be done online, but it’s important to actually meet the photographer. Many now offer a pre wedding shoot, which provides the opportunity to get to know the photographer and ask to see some of their work that is not on their website.

Remember that the photographer will play an important role in your big day, so it is important that you get along and feel comfortable and relaxed in their company.

Classic photography or portraiture

This style of wedding photography revolves around a formal approach with highly posed pictures. With this style, a significant amount of intervention is usually required by the photographer.

The shots taken will include the bride and groom, as well as friends and family, in various poses. Considerations for choosing this type include the photographer having to be fairly strict during the day, in order to get everyone where they should be, and whether or not you would feel that the photos capture the spirit of the occasion.

However, many modern photographers can put a very creative twist on the classic portraiture style, so this is also something to consider.

Documentary snapshots

This style is all about spontaneous pictures of the people, the place and the activities during your big day, rather than posed ones. The photos are more likely to tell a story as the people in them are very rarely looking directly at the camera, which emphasises the feeling of having captured a special moment as it was happening.

There is much less intervention from the photographer with this style, as they usually like to move around in the background, so people are virtually unaware they are there. However, it is possible that you won’t be sure of who or what the photographer will capture until after the event.

Artistic images

If you choose this style, you are giving the photographer the chance to express their own artistic skills and preferences when taking photographs of your wedding day. The photos captured are often very dramatic and beautiful.

The amount of intervention from the photographer on the day all depends on their individual tastes, which is something that would need to be discussed in detail with them beforehand.

Many professional wedding photographers can combine the above styles. Whether you are seeking a top wedding photographer in the North West or elsewhere in the UK, you should find someone who can produce photographs using a specific fashion or combination in order to create the perfect shots of your day.

The must have wedding shots

An experience wedding photographer should have a sound idea of the different photographs a bride and groom are expecting from their special day.

That is not to say, however, that you shouldn’t be giving it some serious consideration, providing your photographer with a list of the shots you would like.

The photographs from your big day will be a lasting memory, so it is important that you can look back and see all of the moments that meant the most to you. The following is a collection of some of the most popular pictures that you may want to add to your list:

The wedding dress

Brides usually spend a considerable amount of time choosing their wedding dress, as well as lots of time getting excited about showing it off. Capturing a photo of it on its own, whether on a hangar or over the door, is a must, which is bound to be one of the bride’s favourite snaps when looking back.

Getting ready

Photos of the groom and his groomsmen doing up their ties, fastening button holes, and cufflinks usually appear as very natural, which helps to tell the story of the day. Equally, snaps of the bride getting ready, usually with her mum and bridesmaids, and often with a glass of bubbly in hand make for great photographs.

The wedding shoe shot!

Wedding shoes often get overlooked, but whether it’s the happy couple side by side or whilst getting ready separately, a photo of the footwear, often complete with funky socks on the groom, is lots of fun.

The wedding flowers

This obviously covers a number of poses, but essential ones are pictures of the bridal bouquet, preferably before it has been held all day long, and the men’s button holes up close.

The joyful parents

The wedding day is a very special occasion for parents of the bride and groom, so it helps to get them in the photos too. A classic shot not to be missed is of the bride being given away by her father.

Groom and guest reactions

If your photographer can get a shot of the groom’s reaction when he gets his first look at the bride, this is sure to be a favourite. Also capturing the natural reactions of guests, including tears and laughter during the day, can help to tell a beautiful story.

Cutting the wedding cake

Although this seems like an obvious choice, the happy couple are so preoccupied with the celebrations and guests by this point in the day that sometimes this traditional shot can be overlooked. Luckily, the photographer can help you not to miss it.

Think about your style and personality

Another important thing to remember when you are meeting with your potential wedding photographer, is what style of photograph you are looking for.

Budget is really important, but so is getting photographs you will love and treasure. Many people are so focused on their budget that they do not check out the photographer’s favoured style.

Consider your style, and the style of the photographer, and talk through your ideas. The best photographers are happy to accommodate the wishes of their clients wherever possible, as long as the quality of the photographs is not compromised in any way.

Work together

As the bride and groom, you will know what is going to be happening and when during the course of the day – after all, most of the time, you have planned it – but don’t forget to talk through the days running order with the photographer.

It will help them to be organised and ensure that no shots are missed if they know what the day will look like, and who will be where and when.

Make sure that you communicate with your wedding photographer, as while they are highly skilled in taking stunning wedding photos, they are not mind readers.

Make sure they know what you are expecting, clarify what you will receive as your wedding package, and find out how additional prints can be requested if other people want to order them.

How else can they help?

Often photographers will include an engagement shoot in some of their packages, which can be hugely beneficial to couples. Not only will you have the opportunity to have some beautiful, relaxed shots of you both in a surrounding of your choice, but it will also give you the opportunity to spend some time with your Liverpool wedding photographer.

During the shoot, you should be able to get a real feel for how the photographer works, which will hopefully put you more at ease for the shots on the big day.

There are potentially lots of extras available, but these may incur additional costs if you choose to go for a standard wedding package. It is important that you decide which of these add-ons you are going to want before you settle on a package to ensure you are getting the best deal.

These extras can include personalised albums, extra time taking shots, and digital copies of the photographs. Some photographers may charge extra for services such as editing, travel and food expenses, or for creating artwork for the front of your album. Make sure any hidden extras are included in the quotes you receive.

Have a small list of “Must Have” wedding photographs

Have a small list of wedding photographs you can’t miss on the wedding day.  An experienced wedding photographer will know most of them, but you may have some specific family photos that they would never know about.

There would be nothing worse than looking back through your wedding album and thinking “we never got a photo of x,y or z”. So, create a list, breaking down each part of the day, and then put down what snaps you would like captured at each point.

This can then be given to the photographer to use as a working document, and to make sure that nothing is missed out or forgotten. Assign one of the ushers or bridesmaids to support the photographer in identifying and rounding up the various guests.

Don’t give them a massive list, just a handful of those specific shots.

Don’t forget to meet your wedding photographer

You can usually get a fairly thorough feel for what the photographer has to offer from his or her website. However, it isn’t until you actually meet them in person that you are going to know if they are right for your special day. It might be a good idea to set up meetings with between three to five prospective photographers that you have your eye on.

How should the meeting go?

Not only should you be able to view the photographer’s work in more detail during the meeting and ask important questions, but you should also gauge whether or not your personalities mesh. Finding a photographer who you like alongside with their work is more significant than what many people think.

You are probably going to be spending a lot of time with this person on the wedding day, so you need to ensure that you hire someone who makes you feel at ease. A wedding photographer should also have a good grasp of social graces, while being confident enough to seek out those special, memorable shots.

What to ask?

It is important to consider what questions you want to ask the photographer before the meeting. Writing them down in advance is a good idea, especially if you are worried that you might forget them. Here are some important questions you might want to consider:

“How far in advance do we need to book with you?”

It is usually the case that the earlier you book, the more likely you are to get your first pick photographer. However, don’t feel under pressure to go with the first one you meet with just because they say they will hold the date for you. Most photographers require a deposit before they will actually confirm your booking, so it’s best to check what their policies are.

“How many weddings have you photographed?”

The answer does not guarantee the quality of photos that will be produced, but it does help you to have an idea of the photographer’s experience.

“Can we see a complete wedding overview?”

Some photographers only post a few of the best photos from certain weddings on their websites. If the professional has a blog then this is likely to give you a better overview, but don’t be afraid to ask to see an online proofing gallery example as well.

Feed your photographer

Weddings can be long days, often in excess of 12 hours, and some photographers will offer to bring their own food. However, from a courtesy point of view, you may find they are very grateful of a setting, which is usually away from the guests so that they can check through photos taken and take some more when needed.

This also lets them rest when needed while everyone else is busy eating.

Finally narrowing it down

It is generally thought that photographer fees, including the cost of prints, albums and digital copies, should equate to around 12% of the total wedding budget. Knowing this could help you to determine which professionals can go on your list of possible candidates.

Your research should now be focused on the style and cost of a photographer in and around the area that your wedding venue is located. Many professionals advertise their various package prices online, but then provide a way of contacting them to discuss quotes in more detail, which is what we do here at Matthew Rycraft.

Your wedding should hopefully be the best day of your life, but it will also most likely go by in an exciting, thrilling blur of happiness and celebrations. Once the occasion is over, the food will be gone, the flowers also and the dress will be stored away. The photographs, however, are a lasting memory of the day, which you will have to remember and share with friends and family for the rest of your married lives.

If you need any more advice please feel free to get in touch anytime. And visit our other wedding guides.

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