Find Your Wedding Photographer

If you've booked your wedding venue, now it's time to find the right photographer to capture your special day! As soon as you've confirmed your date and paid your venue deposit, you need to start the search for your photographer. The best wedding photographers tend to get booked up between 15-18 months in advance, especially for popular wedding dates.

Remember, in the vast majority of cases your photographer will only be able to photograph one wedding per day. So, to give yourself the best chance of getting your first choice photographer, you'll want to be organised.

There are lots of really incredible professional photographers out there. Finding one that makes you both feel comfortable and who takes photos in the style and manner you want can be tricky. While you need to act fast when sending enquiries, take your time to ensure you find the right person. Most photographers will hold the date for you for a week or two while you make your decision, as they know how important it is to choose the right photographer.

It can be tempting to just accept an offer of free photography from an amateur photographer - perhaps a friend or family member, but this is something you should think carefully about. Professional photographers, particularly those specialising in wedding photography, have spent years perfecting the art of getting great natural shots of you and your guests. Most importantly, they have the editing and presentation skills to produce a wedding album you will treasure.

Eleven points to consider when choosing a wedding photographer

• Do they offer full-day coverage, from wedding preparations until after the first dance?
• Are they familiar with your chosen venue? Have they photographed weddings there before? If they haven't, would they go visit before your wedding?
• Do they work alone or do they have a second shooter?
• Do they shoot in a documentary style? If they do, will they also do some traditional wedding photos?
• How many photos do they expect to take for your chosen coverage time?
• Who has the copyright of the proofs and does the photographer retain the right to use images of your wedding in their brochure or on their website?
• How soon after the wedding will you get your photos? Do they give you a sneak peak of a few photos the next day?
• Does a wedding album (or a digital version) come with your wedding photography package?
• What is included in their basic wedding package and what extras do most couples opt for?
• What are the charges for additional prints or extra albums for parents?
• Do they have public liability insurance and professional indemnity insurance?

Bonus point: It is not essential, but you may want to find out whether your photographer has been recognised through any awards, such as the Guides for Brides Customer Service Awards. Looking out for those who are members of one of the professional photography associations such as the BIPP, MPA or SWPP is also a good idea.

Wedding photography on a budget

Good quality wedding photography comes at a price. When budgeting for your wedding, cheap photography can seem like a good idea. However, from our experience in talking to people who compromised on their wedding photography, they said they had been disappointed with the results.

There are a number of photography studios who specialise in touching up disastrous wedding photos taken by well-meaning amateurs, the total cost of which far exceeds the cost of hiring a good photographer in the first place. Some have even been too embarrassed to show their album to their friends.

Some photographers will be able to offer you ways of spreading the cost of your wedding photography with a payment scheme, particularly if you have booked well in advance. If your budget really is tight, discuss the best way to minimise costs without compromising quality. For example, you could reduce the coverage time. This would mean the photographer only attending for 3-4 hours to cover the ceremony, couple shots and group photos rather than a 10-12 hour package covering the entire day.

Some wedding photographers will give special offers for couples planning a mid-week or winter wedding or for those planning last minute. So, if you are looking to save or get more for your money, investigate special offers from wedding photographers.

Advice for camera shy couples on their wedding day

It is natural to feel self conscious, and added to being in front of a camera, most people are not used to the constant attention they will be getting from their photographer. However, after the first few shots you will find that you naturally relax and start to form a relationship with the photographer, and even their dreaded camera.

Enjoy yourself, and the attention. Many couples say that they felt like film stars by the end of their wedding day. And remember, if you feel happy you will look happy and your wedding photographs will look great!

Top tip: Based on our conversations with top wedding photographers in our recent podcast panel, photographers recommend that camera shy couples build their confidence by having a pre-wedding or engagement photo shoot. The main aim of this is to help you feel relaxed in front of the camera prior to the wedding day itself.

Engagement shoots helps your photographer get to know you, how to make sure you are comfortable on the day and you get a beautiful selection of photos to share with friends and family prior to the wedding day itself.

Are you a wedding photographer? Help engaged couples to find you for their weddings by joining Guides for Brides.