Starting to plan your wedding is a very, very exciting time (#understatement). There are a wealth of wedding magazines, blogs, Facebook groups, Instagram hashtags, wedding showcases and Pinterest boards all dedicated to every imaginable aspect of your wedding day. It’s all too easy to get lost in them, and have your head bursting with ideas, before you’ve even thought about choosing suppliers for your day! That said, all of the above can be really useful in helping you figure out how you want your wedding to look + feel, which in turn helps you to choose which professionals you would like to be part of your day.

Out of all your suppliers, your photographer is the one (along with a videographer if you have one) who will spend the most time with you on the day, so it’s vital that you not only love their portfolio, but enjoy their company too! While many of us are photo ninjas who do their utmost to blend seamlessly in to your day, we do have to interact with you both (and your families!), so having a photographer who can keep things fun + relaxed makes it more enjoyable for everyone.

But how to choose? It can seem an Impossible task - there are literally hundreds of photographers, and it can seem like all the portfolios merge in to one big mass of confetti! Hopefully these tips will help point you in the right direction

KNOW YOUR WEDDING VIBE

The temptation after you get engaged is to book the ‘big’ things quite quickly, but don’t be afraid to take a bit of time to work out what the most important elements of your day are. Do you want to celebrate with 100+ friends or family, or have a smaller gathering in an intimate venue? Maybe you want to get married outside, or perhaps you want to sweep up the aisle of a beautiful church? Your wedding date itself can sometimes dictate how your wedding day looks, as can your venue. This is where your Pinterest board comes in handy in visualising an aesthetic - let yourself go wild! Once you have a ‘theme’ in mind, it makes a huge difference when sifting through photographers portfolios - does their style fit in with how you see your day?

KNOW YOUR BUDGET

After the wedding, all that is left are your memories + your photos. No one will really care if you didn’t have a photo booth, or elaborate favours, or chair covers, but you will care if you don’t have images that you love now and in 25 years time. Prioritise your photography and videography when it comes to that wedding spreadsheet. and think outside the box. If you can’t afford the photographer you adore for the full day (from preparations to dancing), then they may offer a prep to speeches package, or an hourly rate, so that you can still have them as part of your day.

TUNE IN

To your feelings….ok, I know that sounds random and ‘out there’. But when you look at a photographers portfolio online, how does it make you feel? Do the couples look happy + relaxed? Can you envision yourself in the sort of images you see on the photographers website? Does their portfolio reflect what you want from your wedding photography? Most importantly, if their images give you a good feeling/a smile across your face/even a tear to your eye if you’re a bit of a happy crier like me, then that’s reason enough to put them on your ‘to email’ list

STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

If you loved your friends wedding gallery, and you remember their wedding photographer being either a) lovely on the day or b) you can’t really remember being there at all (which is what you want if you are after a natural, unobtrusive style!), then ask your friend for their details - it may well be that they are already on your list, and if not, it’s another portfolio to explore without having to trawl through Google!

GET IN TOUCH

Once you’ve got a list of photographers whose work gives you the warm fuzzies, then it’s time to get in touch. An email is often quickest and easiest in the first instance, and it’s really helpful if you can include your wedding date, your venue, and a little bit about you and your other half + about your wedding plans so far. Don’t be afraid to ask any questions you may have either - I love a good wedding natter so I’m always happy to chat (ask me ALL the questions!), so even if you think it’s silly, ask it anyway! Some couples will book only ever having chatted via email (and that’s fine by me!) but it’s also great to meet in person so you can chat and really assess whether this photographer is the right one for you.

QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS

A quick Google will throw up a huge list of questions you can fire at a prospective wedding photographer, and I’ll answer every question you have (the more the merrier!). However, most of the time, I will offer you up the answers just from our general chatting over a cup of tea (and cake, there’s usually some sort of cake/scone involved). My aim is to make you feel comfortable, relaxed and confident around me. so that on the day we can just have the best time together and that will shine through in your images.

GO WITH YOUR GUT

Don’t let budget/an all singing + dancing package/convenience/your parents opinion/your partners parents opinion/a special offer be the factors that swing it one way or the other. Listen to your gut and choose the photographer that makes you feel a bit giddy, and if they are the right fit, they should be delighted to have you as clients too. I know that I still do a funny little squeak and yay dance when I get the ‘We’d like to book you’ email (no, you aren’t getting a video) because I feel very lucky to be a part of such an amazing occassion!

LET THEM KNOW

After you’ve decided, pop your chosen photographer an email and let them know! Once they’ve done their happy dance in private, if you don’t already have the information you need to book and pay your booking fee, then their reply should outline your next steps to secure your slot in the diary. Then you can relax, pour yourself a wine/cuppa and congratulate yourself on another task ticked off the wedding planning list!

You can find more information about my wedding photography style here and I really, really do love to chat - don’t hesitate to drop me an email (hello@vivienneelizabethphotography.co.uk) or get in touch here