Advice on booking a Cardiff Wedding Photographer

This blog post is for couples that want to have incredible wedding pictures that reflect how kick-ass amazing their wedding day was. It should set you off in the right direction in finding your ideal wedding photographer.

There are a few common mistakes that couples make when booking their wedding photographer. This blog will help to avoiding those pitfalls and put you on the right track to finding a photographer who will meet your needs and will take amazing photos of the most memorable day of your life.

This blog post isn’t intended to promote my photography, I will certainly use my experience as a starting point but at no time am I declaring that I’m the only photographer you should consider. My style may not be suitable for you.

As an example, I’m certainly not a professional photographer who shoots the kind of magazine style shots that look vogue, if that’s your thing then I’m not the photographer for you.

But, by following these suggestions, you’ll discover the photographer who is right for you, and will end up with wedding photographs that really tell the story of your day , and showcase how you look.

How to select the Cardiff wedding photographer of your choice

Tip 1

Have you liked them? do they sound like someone you would have at your wedding guest? You want the person you choose to book to feel like an individual rather than “the help”.
It is the most crucial aspect to think about because they’ll be there to capture some of the most precious moments in your life. The more relaxed you feel with your photographer, the more relaxed and natural your wedding pictures will look.

If you don’t like them as individuals or you are unable to be able to connect with them, regardless of matter how amazing your wedding photos look, they will be forever associated with the bad event you experienced.

The best thing you can do when you feel you have found the photographer who shoots in the style you are looking for is go to the “about my” homepage on the website.

This page will provide an insight into them as a person and not as a wedding photographer.
If it’s full of stories about how they’ve been taking pictures of people since they were able to walk and have grown up with a camera in their hand it doesn’t tell anyone about themselves.

The statements you read here don’t provide any insight into how they’d be to be around. They can certainly take incredible photos and they know their gear by the hand but the question you’ll need to answer from this page is “Do I really like this guy or is he just a dick”?

Tip 2

If their prices seem too good to be true, it is probably because they are. This is obvious this one but you’d be amazed at the quantity of times buyers buy based on price alone.

If someone offers discounts of PS200 discounted price on a package that is already in the lower-end of the spectrum, you should ask why. If they think so little of their own work, would they offer a damn about the service they offer to you.

(There may be some instances where you may be lucky, but do you really need to rely on luck to get something that will serve as an everlasting memory about your special day)?

Tip 3

Beware of photographers who offer an “selection from styles” as well as “tailor the style of their photographer to your preferences”

It could be that they haven’t nailed down their own style yet and the wedding photos could end up looking inconsistent or even worse.

The old saying “jack of all trades master of none” generally holds true in these cases..

Tip 4

Wedding photographers can be booked up quickly. The majority of photographers will take reservations two years in advance The more popular weekends during high season will be booked up too.

It is likely that from the moment when you got engaged, you began seeking out wedding ideas and suppliers even before you set the date. You’ve followed that one photographer who seems to be capturing your attention and you can see yourselves in their images. You’ve enjoyed their work and also shared their tales.

If you’ve booked your venue and the wedding date is fixed and not just pencilled in your calendar as a possibility , it’s the time to call the perfect photographer.

As an extra tip and this applies to every wedding vendor you like the sound of If you like them book them straight away your intuition will never be wrong.
In the 80’s rom-com “When Harry met Sally “I was aware of the way you’d recognize a quality Melon”.

Tip 5

Photographers will always post or share pictures and showcase their most impressive work. Most likely, the first place you will see their work is social media, if they seem to be sharing the wedding photos you would want visit their website, and then check out their blog page , if they have one.

These blog posts typically show the whole day’s wedding. you may be lucky and find a photo of a wedding ceremony at the location you’ve chosen. You are looking for consistency in the pictures and the showcase shot is fantastic and will look beautiful in a frame, or as the front pages of your album , but should you find that the other images aren’t great or do not follow the same style be wary. A handful of amazing images will not make lasting memories.

Extra tip: Don’t be concerned if your photographer has not been to your wedding venue previously. Professional photographers always conduct a recce before the big day and check out the best locations for photographs. It’s uncommon for them to shoot in blind. Also, wedding photographers are extremely flexible (it comes with years of working weddings where the weather and lighting are able to change quickly, particularly when you’re getting married in Wales)

Tip 6

Review of real brides.
The majority of photographers have reviews available on their websites (I do), this is an excellent first step, but keep in mind that they aren’t going to post bad reviews.

Go through Google reviews, FB reviews to see if they’ve got them. One good idea to check is to see if the reviews that they post on their various platforms match up to the wedding they’ve blogged about so you can see how the wedding was executed and why it received such a rave review. Also, look out for reviews that say more than just “She/he has provided us with amazing pictures”.

If their reviews constantly comment that they can be a part of the day or help you relax and those are the things you are looking for beyond stunning images you will be onto an absolute winner.

Have your married friends ask you questions too they will be truthful about their experiences, but make sure that the photographer you choose is an individual who can meet the criteria you’re looking for. even if your best friend who loves vogue style photographs gushes about their photographer doesn’t necessarily mean that they are competent to take the relaxing fun pictures you’re looking for.

Tip 7

Speak to them, in the chaotic times that we live in, it’s unlikely to actually meet up with the photographer before you decide to book them. But, a phone call or zoom call could help you learn about your photographer a bit better and if nothing else confirm they are a real person.

Zoom calls may be at first a bit strange with, but many of us have got used to them in the past year. When you talk to them , do they put you at ease and make you smile, are they interested in your day and not just provide you with the biggest deal on the wedding price before being inquired about them.

One of the most enjoyable gatherings I’ve ever had did not even talk about weddings at all we just talked and enjoyed each other’s company. I had a chance to spend for the initial 10 mins of a conference talking about gaming and comics with the groom. At this point, I was pretty sure they would be the perfect fit for me. (They booked me too).
Most people know if they are a fan of someone in the first few moments of meeting them. Therefore, even if their pictures are stunning, if you don’t like them , they might not be for you.

This is not an exhaustive list of rules and don’ts. But by following these tips you’ll be well on your way to addressing the question of choosing your wedding photographer.

Every person’s needs will differ with regards to what they’d like from photographers, but remember to follow your intuition.

If you are comfortable with them and you seem to be on the same page, then reserve them prior to when someone else does.