Choosing a wedding Photographer shouldn't be rushed into. Here are just a few questions that you definitely need to ask!
- Do we need to have a meeting with you before our wedding day?
This is something that you should consider doing before booking a photographer if at all possible. You are going to spend a substantial amount of time with your photographer on your wedding day and you need to be 100% sure they are the right fit for you and your partner. It is no use having a photographer that fits the bill on paper but you really don't get along with on a personal level - it will show in your photos and you won't get the amazing shots that you are expecting! Please try to meet your prospective photographer for a coffee and a chat before booking them to see if they are the right fit for you.
- Can you replicate this amazing wedding photo that I've seen on Instagram?
Over the last 10 years, wedding photography has changed massively. In the past, you booked any respectable local photographer, paid your fee and they would then turn up on your wedding day with camera in hand. The photographer organised various formal poses for you and your relatives, took the required pictures and then went back to the studio to print off your photos to put in your wedding album.
Nowadays, with the surge in popularity of social media, we are seeing more and more stunning, artistic and less formal wedding photo's that couples would like for their album. Any high end photographer should have the knowledge, experience and any of the professional equipment to enable them to fulfil your special requirements and get you that "must have" shot for your gallery.
- What happens if you are sick on our wedding day?
It is the photographers duty to make sure you're not left without a photographer on your wedding day. Make sure they are able to provide an alternative if they are sick or they have an accident. At Mercer Green Photography, we work closely with other local wedding photographers and in the very unlikely event that one of us is unable to make your wedding day, we would ensure that a replacement professional photographer is able to stand in for one of us. We would still do 100% of the editing so your photos will still look exactly like you would expect.
- Have you shot at our wedding venue before?
We have shot weddings at many venues but if your venue is new to us, we always make sure we visit beforehand to plan where the best places are for your portraits and group shots. The visit will also enable us to get an idea of how light or dark the venue will be so we can plan what lighting equipment we may need on your wedding day. Sunset charts will also be studied to enable us to plan which direction and at what time the sun will set on your wedding day to give us some really amazing evening sunset shots.
- We feel awkward being photographed! What can we do?
Let's face it, not many people are professional models so we are bound to feel a bit awkward in front of the lens. Even with the friendliest of photographers, couples will still feel a bit funny about posing together. This is where engagement sessions are super beneficial. On booking Mercer Green Photography, we would love for you to take up our offer of a free engagement shoot even if its just to chat and take a few test shots to put your mind at ease. We can start off simply with you both just holding hands and chatting. We guarantee that you will go home wondering why you felt so awkward. You never know, you may actually love being in front of a camera by the end of the session!
- Is it true that we have to feed you?
Of course not! We won't say no if there is spare food but we are happy just to bring sandwiches with us!
Some photographers do have it written into contracts that they require a full hot meal during your wedding day so you would be best checking with your photographer beforehand.
- Do you have insurance?
What a boring question to ask but nevertheless it is one of the, if not the most important question you should ask your photographer. The chances of anyone tripping over a camera or photographer and hurting themselves may seem very slim but the problem lies with certain wedding venues. Some venues will ask the photographer for proof of public liability insurance before the ceremony starts and if the photographer cannot produce a certificate they will not be allowed to photograph your wedding! Imagine getting to your venue and being told that no photos will be taken of your wedding day even though you've booked and paid someone! Please ask to see proof of their insurance - the photographer shouldn't mind in the slightest.
- Can we see past client reviews and testimonials or speak to a past client?
Your wedding photographer should be able to provide written reviews and also give you the details of past clients for you to get in touch with to get an unbiased testimonial. Sadly, there have been some instances lately of wedding photographers going AWOL after the ceremony, never to be seen again. Luckily, it hasn't happened in the North West so far but you can never be too safe! Your photographer realises that you want everything to be perfect so they shouldn't mind you asking for references.
- How much does it cost to have a second shooter?
Having a second shooter on your wedding day is a brilliant idea. They are able to get alternative shots that you wouldn't normally see. For example, the second shooter could get coverage of the guests while the primary photographer is capturing the wedding couple portraits or the second shooter could be getting shots of the bride walking down the aisle from a rear perspective while the primary photographer is getting shots from the front.
Some photographers include a second shooter as part of the advertised package but a second shooter for some photographers will incur a further charge. This could be anywhere between £150 to £300 depending on the duration that they are required and experience etc. Your photographer will be able to let you know of any further costs that are required.
At Mercer Green Photography, myself and Fiona make sure that we are both available at every wedding that we photograph and this service is already included in our packages meaning that we can cover lots of different angles during your day without any extra costs.
Thanks for reading our latest blog post and we hope that you check back soon for our next instalment,
Chris & Fiona
www.mercergreenphotography.co.uk
info@mercergreenphotography.co.uk