What to check when booking your Preston wedding photographer
Struggling to decide between Preston wedding photographer A and Preston wedding photographer B? Here’s how to make the decision easier.
Look at the portfolio
I don’t mean flick through and look at how lovely the images are. Any professional wedding photographer worth their salt will have a great looking set of images to show off – so all the galleries you view should look pretty impressive.
I mean really look at the images. Ask yourself which are the images that make a real impression? When you switch off the iPad, which photographer’s images stick with you?
Check the person
A wedding photographer’s website can tell you a lot more about them than simply the quality of their shots. It can give you an insight into what they’re like as a person.
So don’t skip the About page. It can give you an immediate feel for whether this is someone you’d want to work with.
Experience?
Experience matters. I don’t mean in terms of composing a great shot (although it certainly plays a big part in that). I mean in terms of managing the shoot. You see, there’s more to being a Preston wedding photographer than snapping away from behind a lens all day.
You need to know that your photographer has the experience and confidence to marshal a large group of people so that you get the photos you want – and that they don’t take all day doing it.
That means being able to work with people – with venue staff, elderly relatives, young children, friends who’ve hit the bar early and hard, and that bolshy aunt/uncle who always causes trouble.
Being able to do that takes humour, a degree of friendly firmness and a whole lot of experience. So check that portfolio again. This time, look for the breadth of their work. How big is the portfolio and blog? Do they show a variety of weddings, venues and imagery or are you being asked to make a decision based on a tiny sample?
Because if your Preston wedding photographer doesn’t have a lot of weddings under their belt, how do you know they’ll have the experience to manage your wedding?
More for your money?
All Preston wedding photographers price their work slightly differently. That’s not an issue, but it is essential that you know exactly what you’re getting for your money when you book.
Ask how long your coverage lasts. Some photographers will shoot the ceremony and the ‘standard’ set of reception shots and then disappear. That’s fine provided you’re happy with the fee you’re paying for their services.
Other photographers (like me) will typically start shooting during the morning’s bridal prep, and stay with you until first dance.
Then there’s the matter of what happens afterwards. Do you want digital images you can share, physical images you can put in a frame or a mix of the two? Again, all Preston wedding photographers will offer a slightly different package – but it’s important to know what you’re getting from the outset, so you can meaningfully compare prices.
So, take a look at my portfolio and blog. Check my About page and what you get. And give me a call on 07766 385 515 if you need any more information. Then, once you’re happy that I’m the right Preston wedding photographer for you, I’d love to hear from you.