Essential Photography

01 June 2007

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Photography is an area where money is usually well spent. Choose your photographer carefully – personal recommendations are often best. It is worth investing in a professional; relying on friends can be risky. Specialist wedding photographers are not essential; many couples choose a professional with experience.

Reportage – or ‘fly-on-the-wall’ – is a natural and more interesting style than the traditional posed, formal shots. Ideally, the photographer should be able combine this with some selected formal shots. The couple also need to decide if they want black and white or colour images, or a selection of both.

Many photographers keep portfolios of selected shots from a variety of weddings. The bride and groom should request to see a whole set from just one wedding to make sure that they are of a consistent standard. Be sure to view the pictures as prints, not just online.

Check at the outset if the photographer works with film or uses a digital camera. Many couples like to upload photos online for guests to access. If the photographer works with film it can be costly and time-consuming to upload photos, since each print will have to be individually scanned.

Pricing is usually based on the length of time the photographer is required, how many pictures the couple want and how they would like them presented. Some top end packages offer a photographer for the entire day, arriving early to capture the bride getting ready and staying until the guests leave the reception. A standard package offers one photographer, who begins by taking shots at the ceremony, and stays until the first dance. If extra photography is required, overtime will be charged at an hourly rate, which is often very expensive. The couple should check timings and think about what parts of the day they want captured on film.

The couple will be offered a range of albums of varying sizes and quality to choose from. On average, the bride and groom will choose anywhere from 200–600 photos, depending on the agreed package. Quite often the package will include a set number of photos, for example 50. The couple will then be charged for each extra photo chosen – this can be very advantageous to the photographer!

It is worth considering buying the copyright for the photographs at the outset. The couple can then pick and choose to print as many photographs as they want. Most couples end up with an album of up to 150 photos.

It is essential that the photographer does a site visit before the day and is fully briefed about any special requirements or unusual situations. They should be provided with a list of the wedding party, family and close friends, and a copy of the table plan. The best man or chief usher should be given a list of the groups to be formally photographed so that he can call them together when required.

Some key reportage moments:

Getting ready: informal family portraits and shots of the bride, her mother, bridesmaids and pages getting ready; still-life shots of the bride’s dress, shoes, jewellery and accessories. It is a good idea, if possible, to arrange for the photographer to arrive one to two hours before the bride’s departure. Black and white is recommended for at least some of these shots.

At the ceremony venue: the groom’s party arriving, guests arriving, the groom and best man waiting for the bride, the bride getting out of the car, the service and vows (if photography is allowed), the signing of the register, the bride and groom walking out and guests milling around after the ceremony is over.

The reception: any formal posed shots should be taken as soon as the bride and groom have arrived; the photographer should then take a series of unposed shots of the wedding party and all guests. Still life photos of the food, canapés, laid tables and behind-the-scenes shots of the caterers will record another dimension of the day.

The speeches and cutting of the cake: this provides an opportunity to capture natural shots of the guests listening and reacting, as well as individual pictures of the wedding party.

The first dance: another chance to capture the bride and groom. Many photographers leave after this point, unless it is arranged that they will stay later.

Going away: the bride throwing her bouquet and the couple leaving.

Adapted from Debrett’s Wedding Guide, available now, priced £17.99. www.debretts.co.uk

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