Why even have a professional wedding photographer? My friend has a great camera!
It can be very easy to think about cutting a corner here, and shaving a cost there, but if you're not careful you run the risk of jeopardising the memories of the day you're working so hard to create.
A great camera does not make a great photographer - and especially not a great WEDDING photographer! Wedding photography is one of the most varied and fast moving photography assignments out there - you have to be able to deal with changing lighting, changing locations, changing weather, organising lots of people, subjects who might rather be at the bar, and the frequently delicate family relationships that can bubble over after a few glasses of Buck's Fizz.
Before giving the job to your friend, ask yourself these questions -
If you can truthfully answer 'yes' to all of these things, chances are friend is a professional wedding photographer anyway, so go for it!
If you answer 'no' to any, ask yourself what happens when one of the above goes wrong. Is it worth it? Your fee to a professional photographer is like an insurance policy against terrible amateurish photography, or in some cases, no photography at all. A professional knows that wedding photography is about much more than just the photography itself.
I'll go anywhere for a good party! I am based in Urmston, Manchester and mainly cover the North-West of England - Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire - but I am definitely prepared to travel further afield too! This may require a small additional cost to cover the extra miles and travel time involved.
Specific towns which may be covered include (but not limited to): Accrington, Alderley Edge, Altrincham, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Bakewell, Birkenhead, Blackburn, Blackpool, Bradford, Burnley, Bury, Buxton, Cheadle, Chorley, Chorlton, Clitheroe, Congleton, East Didsbury, Ellesmere Port, Flixton, Glossop, Hale, Halifax, Huddersfield, Hyde, Irlam, Knutsford, Leigh, Leyland, Little Hulton, Liverpool, Lymm, Macclesfield, Manchester, Northwich, Oldham, Prescot, Preston, Rochdale, Rotherham, Runcorn, Sale, Sale Moor, Salford, Skelmersdale, St Helens, Stockport, Stockton Heath, Styal, Trafford, Tyldesley, Urmston, Wakefield, Walkden, Warrington, West Didsbury, Widnes, Wigan, Wirral.
You can have as long as you like - the last thing you want to be worrying about is whether the photographer is about to disappear for the day when there are still moments that need capturing. You tell me when you would like me to arrive, and when you would like me to leave... simple.
Yes, and lots of it! Backup equipment is essential so that if anything goes wrong, I do not miss a thing. I bring more cameras, lenses, flashes, memory cards and batteries than I have ever needed. So whatever happens, from a dropped camera to a cracked lens or a dud battery, I know I have a replacement easily to hand. Any wedding photographer without these backups is running a huge risk of missing the images from your day. And once they're missed, they're gone forever.
I supply Folio Albums to all my wedding clients. They are quite simply, amongst the most elegant albums available today. Some photographers have different package options where they use lesser albums for their cheaper packages, but I never want my clients to have anything less than the best - so all my clients get a Folio Album.
Folio Albums are 100% British made, use archival quality materials and carbon neutral shipping, and are just the best way to remember your wedding day.
You can see further details and pictures of the Folio Albums here.
I try to be as unobtrusive as possible - generally, I will drift around the wedding and try and capture things as they happen - I want to catch the genuine, relaxed and fun moments of your day. There are certain parts of the day that require some organisation in terms of photography, and I tend to find that being firm but keeping things light-hearted and relaxed works well for these situations too.
Oh no! Luckily, I have a network of trusted photographers in the area that I can refer you to, so I know you will be in safe hands.
You can have as few as zero, but I would strongly recommend no more than ten. You have to strike a balance between preserving the day and actually enjoying the day - you could spend hours shooting every single formal group imaginable, but you would lose a few hours which you could spend enjoying your day! I will provide all the help and guidance you need in finding the right balance.
That would be lovely! A wedding day is a very long day for a photographer, as I am constantly on my feet, holding a very heavy camera up to my face for most of the day. If you could arrange for something simple - a plate of sandwiches or a bowl of chips is fine - then that would be fantastic. I would normally have this at the same time as you and your guests are eating their wedding breakfast; not many people want to have their picture taken when they're eating anyway!
Engagement shoots are a great way to get used to having your picture taken, giving you confidence that the photography aspect of your wedding ISN'T going to be a hideous ordeal! It gives us a better chance to get to know each other, which is key in ensuring that everyone is relaxed on the wedding day. It can also give you some fantastic images to use for things like 'Save the Date' cards and Signature Photo Mounts for your guests.
The editing process takes time to get right, and the amount of time it takes is obviously dependent on the number of pictures taken, and the length of coverage on the day. We will arrange a time for your viewing, and bring everyone together at your place - parents, bridesmaids and anyone else you would like there - and we'll present your wedding photographs to you. Typically this is around 4-6 weeks after the wedding.
YES! I will publish a blog post a few days after the wedding with a few sneak peek images to keep you going until the rest of the pictures are ready...
You can either be involved in the image selection for your album or leave it completely up to me. For a 30 page album I would recommend you choose 60 images - any more and you have to start 'cramming them in', which is not a good look. Extra pages can be added if you just can't whittle them down any further.
In my opinion, definitely yes - that is why my packages include albums. Whilst we may be in the digital age, there is simply no substitute for a well-designed, beautiful photo album filled with your favourite pictures. I guarantee you will look at an album more than you would ever look at digital copies on a computer.
Absolutely! You decide what you would like - large canvas, prints etc - and I can arrange a webpage that you can include on your gift list for those items, where people can buy either all or part of the products (you don't have to choose the pictures until after the wedding, of course!).
Even if you don't know what type of products you want, you can ask for Keep Shooting Photography gift vouchers to choose once you've seen all the photographs.
The fantastic Rob Finney Photography - an easy choice as he is married to my wife's cousin!
The amount of coverage you have on your day is entirely up to you - whether you want to include bridal preparations in the morning, the reception at night and everything in between is your choice. Some people prefer to let the photographer go before the wedding breakfast to help everyone 'relax', and that is absolutely fine. However, I allocate the full day for each wedding regardless, so unfortunately I do not reduce package prices for part days.
I dress smartly - it is a wedding after all!
No!