Say Cheese…
With the venue booked and the date set, the next thing on my list of priorities is the photography. As a journalist I’m fairly used to having my picture taken and seeing professional results so I must admit to being quite picky about this.
I really want someone who can compile a great set of reportage shots of the day and also capture a few key images of us as a couple and of groups of close family and friends. I’m hoping for one or two wall-worthy pictures plus lots of great photos we can put in frames and put an album together with.
To me, capturing the day is one of the most important things – after all, apart from the rings, what else do you actually have left after the wedding itself besides the photos? Certainly not the flowers, favours or centrepieces…! And so, I’m finding it really, really hard to decide.
We’ve got it down to two and, having already blown the budget on this, aren’t too worried about the slight difference in price between them. Our main concern is how they will be on the day – we need someone we can get on well with and who can fade into the background to put people at ease but still leap forward when a particularly photogenic moment occurs.
Our two potential photographers are David Jones and Martin & Karen Plant. Both work in pairs (David works with a woman called Lucy who we haven’t met) and both offer enough coverage on the day – from Doug’s morning round of golf to well into the evening dancing. Both are also very professional, very friendly and very experienced. So how can we choose? Martin & Karen know Coltsfoot well having photographed there before but I’m not sure how much this matters as David would visit the venue in advance anyway, and both offer an engagement shoot so we can get to know them before the big day.
This is definitely the toughest decision so far and I’m conscious too of how personal it is selecting one over the other. Any thoughts or advice greatly appreciated!
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I’m sure you’ve already had a look at these but Randall’s got some very sage thoughts and questions to ask on his blog – http://www.iamstaggered.com/category/blogs/randallmurrow
I’d ask both if you can speak to previous customers, and see which get the most glowing report. Always good to get referrals with wedding photographers I think.
Go for the ones that you think will be the most fun on the day. I’m not convinced that having shot a lot at a venue counts for too much as a decent photographer will see shots wherever they are.
The ones that can spend a day with you laughing, smiling and generally making things as fun as they should be, that’s the ones to choose.
All things being equal (I’m assuming that albums etc are on a par with both options), you like their images and the prices are right – so which do you like more on a personal level? That should be your choice.
I think you have narrowed it down to a couple of great photographers so cant really go wrong, but here’s my thoughts anyway.
+1 for what Guy has said, its no big deal if a photographer hasn’t shot the venue previously, some couples actually seek out a photographer who hasn’t shot their venue before to ensure their wedding photos look different to every other couple that got married there previously and used a venues recommended photographer.
Definitely the relationship with the photographer on the day is the most important thing so going with whichever one you “clicked” most with wouldn’t be a bad decision at all.
As I already said both are great photographers but as a photographer myself I admire David Jones work more out of the two you have chosen, as well as Guy Colliers work of course!
Thanks for all your comments on this – it’s such a big part of the day and we really don’t want to get it wrong! We have decided to go with Martin and Karen Plant and I’ve also agreed to do a boudoir shoot with them as an engagement present – watch out for my post on that soon.
Similar advice to other comments – go with the person who you feel most comfortable with, as they will be with you the whole day. Other extras may sway the balance – do they provide web-versions of any digital images you receive – ie for Facebook etc, what about an online gallery and or online proofing? Finally check prices of things like parent albums and canvas prints – which one is the best value.
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