How to pick a good wedding Photographer

The wedding photography industry is one of the most competitive professions globally.

Wedding Photographer based in South Wales

It would help if you had a great portfolio to be a successful wedding photographer in South Wales or elsewhere in the UK.

Therefore, you should spend time browsing their portfolios online before hiring them.

So here are ten tips for searching for the best wedding photographer in South Wales or elsewhere in the UK.

1. Know the Difference Between Photography Styles

2. Research Wedding Photographers Online

3. Read Wedding Photographer Reviews

4. Ask Wedding Photographers for References

5. Make Sure You Get the Best Value for Money

6. Look for Quality Wedding Photographs on their website

7. Ask Your Friends or Relatives for Recommendations

8. Compare Wedding Photographers Online

9. Know the difference between wedding albums and photobooks

10. Do your homework

#1 Know the Difference Between Photography Styles

Different photography styles will be available to you in the photography industry.

So, if you’re looking for an experienced and knowledgeable wedding photographer, you might want to find someone specialising in your chosen style.

Photography styles range from reportage to candid, formal, and even candid documentary photography. In short. There are so many styles of photographers. You better do your homework, or you will be disappointed. Ask your photographer about his style before anything else.

For instance, a formal style would be ideal if you are looking for an elegant wedding photographer for a traditional style.

But if you’re looking for a fun and spontaneous wedding photographer, a reportage, candid or documentary style could be better. (These terms are usually linked to the same photographer)

#2 Research Wedding Photographers Online

Once you have identified which type of photography style you would like, you should search for photographers who specialise in that kind of photography.

You can do this by searching for “wedding photographer” on Google or other search engines, and you can also search for wedding photography in South Wales or wedding photographers in the UK.

Suppose you want a local photographer, search wedding photographer followed by your town. For example, "Wedding Photographer in Caerphilly."

The best way to find out who specialises in a particular style is to check online reviews. After all, the best way to find a good product is to read online reviews. And in the wedding photography industry, plenty of reviews are available online.

Many of the top wedding photographers globally have a lot of online reviews. So you must look at the reviews carefully before hiring a wedding photographer.

The three golden rules in picking a photographer:

1-Know the Difference Between Photography Styles

2-Know the Difference Between Photography Styles

3-Know the Difference Between Photography Styles

#3 Read Wedding Photographer Reviews

Many people don’t realise that wedding photography is a highly competitive profession.

As a result, it’s only natural that there will be plenty of reviews of wedding photographers on the web.

However, many of these reviews are from people looking for work, so they may not provide a true reflection of the wedding photographer’s service or quality.

Therefore, you should always take online reviews with a grain of salt.

The best way to determine what you should expect from a particular wedding photographer is to read reviews written by actual photographer clients. For example Trustpilot

You can also visit wedding websites such as Wedding Photo Finder or Wedding Wire; to list recommended wedding photographers based on reviews from actual clients.

Although keep in mind that these are paid memberships for photographers to advertise. Not all photographers are members.

#4 Ask Wedding Photographers for References

Another good way to research wedding photographers is to ask them for references.

After all, if someone is willing to give you their references, you can trust that they are a professional wedding photographer with an excellent reputation.

So make sure to ask your potential wedding photographer for at least three references.

It would help if you tried to get at least five references.

However, there are many different types of wedding photographers, so if a wedding photographer doesn’t have any clients, it may be a sign that they don’t specialise in a particular style or area.

So make sure you find out the type of wedding photography they specialise in before hiring them.

#5 Make Sure You Get the Best Value for Money

If you are looking for a wedding photographer in South Wales, you want to ensure you get the best value for money.

After all, your wedding albums will last for a long time, so you don’t want to spend your money on a wedding album that isn’t last as long as you will.

Therefore, you must look at many wedding Photographers’ work.

Look at many wedding albums and compare the prices to see which one has the best value.

Many people assume that if you have an expensive camera, you can shoot better photos. But this is not necessarily true.

Some people may have expensive equipment, but this doesn’t automatically mean they have a great portfolio of high-quality photos.

So, if you’re looking for a wedding photographer, make sure that you take a look at their portfolio.

Check out the different photography styles they specialise in, and see what kind of wedding photographs they specialise in producing. This way, you’ll be able to get the best value for money when you hire them.

#6 Look for Quality Wedding Photographs on their website

Another good way to research wedding photographers is to check their websites or media accounts.

After all, people willing to share their work online and their stories on social media will probably have high-quality work.

Therefore, if you check out a wedding photographer’s Facebook account, you’ll be able to see how good their work is.

As a result, you’ll be able to tell if they’re a quality wedding photographer before you hire them.

#7 Ask Your Friends or Relatives for Recommendations

Another good way to find a great wedding photographer in South Wales is to ask your friends or relatives for recommendations.

After all, the best way to find out about a good product is to get your friends or relatives to recommend it to you.

So, if you know a friend or relative who is getting married, you can ask them for a recommendation.

They might also be willing to share their photos on social media. Just be sure your friend’s style of the photographer is what you want.

#8 Compare Wedding Photographers Online

You should also make sure that you compare wedding photographers online.

First, you should consider your prefered style and the budget you have available to spend, then start searching. Narrow it down to five, three, and then the one you want.

If you base photographers on price, you will be sorry. Write a list of what you want from them.

The secret here is knowing what you want. If you don't know what you want, ask them for advice.

Don't expect a £500 photographer to match your chosen £1,000 photographer. It's just not going to happen. I have often read about brides disappointed in their photographer because he didn't take many posed shots. So why did they hire a Reportage candid style photographer ??

Do your homework. Know what style you want before looking.

Always ask if they are insured. Professionals will be. Your venue will require a copy of their insurance certificate.

#9 Know the difference between wedding albums and photobooks

Wedding albums and photo books are sometimes essential to the couple, and they are usually considered a good investment. These are also a great way to remember your special day. It is necessary to select a photographer who offers these as part of their package.

Wedding albums are for memories and keepsakes. They are usually costly. You can make your own or have them made by a professional photographer. Photo books are more affordable, but the general opinion among wedding couples is that they are not as good.

Albums

Albums are specially made and usually matted. That's what it's called when actual photographs are slotted into the album. It's what we offer to wedding couples.

They are heavy, and the album is usually hand-made to order. The beauty of these is that they can generally be repaired if damaged. The photographs can also be changed if you desire a change in the layout.

Photo-book

Pretty much self-explanatory. These range from doing it yourself by using online facilities from photo-book printers or your photographer designing the layout and providing the book, often called the album, to you.

The book is a layout of images that are printed onto the page. The photo book can't be changed once it's published.

#10 Do your homework

Now it's your turn. The most important tip I can offer is to do your homework. Know what you want and your budget before you start looking. Aim for a photographer's fee of 5-10 per cent of your wedding cost.

e.g. £15,00 wedding. Aim for between £750 and £1,500 for your wedding photographer.

See how much wedding photographers cost blog page

Good luck with your wedding plans.