Now that the Christmas holidays are over, it’s that time for planning and pinning down the details of your wedding… It’s the perfect moment for me to invite the gorgeous wedding coordinator, Heather Sadtler of Fiestasol Weddings to share some tips on choosing your photographer… Here’s what she has to say:
Wedding photography is the legacy of your day, and will be the one lasting physical memento that will be a part of your life forever. Your wedding album will produce tears, laughs and nostalgia and, as a result, should always be considered with a great deal of care and attention. As a coordinator, I always try and help my clients see the big picture, particularly when they are feeling overwhelmed and focused on the minutiae and practicalities of wedding planning. When it is all over, and the last guests have gone home, what will you still have to look forward to? The photographs, of course.
With these points in mind, this is my guide to choosing the right photographer for you:
The starting point is looking at websites. Many brides and grooms have little experience with photography and sometimes do not know what to look out for. I would say, look for images that make you feel something. It is as simple as that. Like falling in love, your emotional response is the key factor!
Picking your photographer is the beginning of an important relationship. Your photographer will want a personal introduction before the wedding, as you will need to feel comfortable with the person who is capturing this important day. Get to know your wedding photographer – you can see an introduction on their website, you can chat on the phone, you can correspond by email, and if you are so inclined there are many social media options too to help you see if this is a good match for you… The personality of your photographer will affect how comfortable you feel on the day and how your final images are… You know whether you are someone who is quite shy, or if you have an exuberant personality – well, photographers have personalities too, and you want someone who gets on with you, the bride, but also with your partner and family – someone who understands how to make you feel at ease.
A wedding photographer needs to be organised administratively as this is a business transaction. Be wary of those who do not offer formal contracts, ask for deposits or advise on the finer details such as copywrite, buying images and albums and seeing your images online.
Manage expectations – photographers may include a limited number of hours in their different photography packages. Your photographer can contribute to firming up your timetable in advance so everything is covered on the wedding day. A good relationship between photographer and wedding coordinator helps this.
There really is nothing worse than a bride and groom who are disappointed by their wedding photography – the chance has gone forever, so DO trust your heart – if a website of wedding photographs fills you with emotion, this is an important pointer, as you are likely to love the images of your own wedding day even more. And DO trust your head – Wherever possible, ask for references or advice from your wedding planner, other local suppliers or former brides.
The same thought process applies to wedding videography and is one of the areas that is most unwisely overlooked, I feel. Some clients have the mistaken impression that they will be made to feel self-conscious, but these days, this is far from the case. A good team will be discreet and capture the action in a natural way. Your videographer and photographer will work together to make sure that your wedding guests don’t notice any cameras, and yet the coverage is complete and misses nothing.
In my career, I have organised over 200 weddings, but never tire of looking at beautiful wedding images. There is nothing like an event like this to bring out the whole spectrum of human emotion, love and family dynamics. Relax and enjoy having your photo taken, most of the time you wont even realise it is happening!
Heather Sadtler is the Director of Fiestasol Weddings & Events www.fiestasol.com
