Wedding Photographers
Wedding photographers have a very important role in capturing the events and candid moments of your wedding day. Beautiful wedding photographs are one of the most special keepsakes from your wedding day that you’ll cherish forever.
Choosing a wedding photographer is one of the first things you’ll need to organise when planning a wedding after booking your wedding venue. Each photographer will have their own unique style and making sure that it matches your unique wedding style is essential.
To help you choose your wedding photographer and make a decision you’re completely happy with, we’ve gathered some helpful tips, answered some of the most frequently asked questions about wedding photographers and given our recommendations for wedding photographers in Cumbria.
How to choose your wedding photographer
Budget
The first step to choosing your dream wedding photographer is sitting down with your partner and discussing how much you can legitimately spend. Lots of Cumbrian wedding photographers have a list of prices on their website as well as various wedding photography packages.
Alternatively, you could ask a few local wedding photographers for a quote to see if what you require is within your budget.
Style
The tone and style of your wedding will determine the style of the wedding photography you want. Most wedding photographers will be able to adapt to a range of tastes, but many will specialise in a certain style and have different approaches to how they capture photographs.
Start looking through a handful of wedding photographers’ portfolios to get a feel for their photography style and finish to help you determine if they are the right one for you.
Recommendations and reviews
One of the best ways to choose your wedding photographer is to ask friends and family for recommendations.
Other places to get recommendations from are your wedding venue. Heather Glen are lucky to be surrounded by many talented photographers in Cumbria and you’ll find a list of our recommended suppliers at the end of this blog post. You can also find reviews online or on social media.
Arrange a meeting
Your wedding photographer will be spending the whole day with you, so it’s important that you get on with them. Meet them face to face or schedule a teams meeting to have a chat, ask questions, go through their portfolio and see if you gel with them. Do they put you at ease? Do they understand your needs and requirements for the day?
The main thing to focus on is finding a wedding photographer that you feel comfortable with and that understands your vision and aesthetic for your wedding day.
Wedding photography FAQs
How much does a wedding photographer cost?
In the UK, couples spend around £1,400-£1,600 on a wedding photographer.
The price of a wedding photographer can vary on a number of factors including the location, the date, the complexity of the photography package, how long the photographer is needed, the level of post-production and the prices set by the photographer. Most photographers offer a range of packages for you to choose from, with optional extras that allow you to customise your deal.
It’s a good idea to discuss your requirements with a wedding photographer to get a tailored quote.
When should you book your wedding photographer?
A wedding photographer should be one of the first suppliers you book, typically 9-12 months before the wedding. Often a good wedding photographer will take bookings years in advance, so if you’ve got a particular person in mind, you’ll want to book them early on to avoid disappointment.
Before you book your wedding photographer, you need to ensure your wedding date and venue are confirmed and booked. If you don’t have a fixed date, the wedding photographer cannot provide an accurate insight into their availability and prices.
As you can imagine, the most popular days to get married are Saturdays in the peak wedding season months, between May and October. If you’re planning to tie the knot on a popular date during this period, you’ll want to book your wedding photographer even earlier in advance, up to 18 months before your wedding date.
What’s included with a wedding photographer?
Most photographers offer a range of packages for you to choose from. What’s included in the price will depend on the package you choose. A basic package may include coverage on the day and your photographs on a USB, whereas a premium package will include this and much more.
Depending on your choice, wedding photography packages may include:
- A pre-wedding shoot
- Coverage on the day
- A second supporting photographer
- Post-wedding production including photo editing
- A printed album
- Photos provided on a USB
What questions to ask a wedding photographer?
You’ll want to meet with your potential wedding photographer to discuss what you want, find out more about their work, and decide whether you feel comfortable with them. Below we’ve included 5 questions to ask your wedding photographer which will help you find the perfect one.
- Do you have my date available?
- Can I see some full wedding albums?
- Have you worked at our venue before?
- How would you describe your photography style?
- What’s included in the wedding packages you offer?
This list is not exhaustive, and you can tailor them to suit your specific circumstances.
Our recommended wedding photographers in Cumbria
It always helps if your photographer is familiar with your chosen wedding venue as it means they’ll have experience of the best locations and know the lighting conditions. Here is a list of wedding photographers in Cumbria that we work with at Heather Glen Country House:
- Jill Harrington Wedding and Portrait Photography
- Naomi House Photography
- Peter Ostrowski Photography
- Emma Stoszkowski Photography
Now you know how to choose a wedding photographer, it’s time to get them booked in! As we mentioned above, good wedding photographers can get booked up years in advance so it’s a good idea to get in there early to avoid disappointment.
At Heather Glen, we pride ourselves on creating tailor made intimate weddings where you have the entire country house and grounds to yourself to celebrate your special day. Whether it’s wedding photographers or wedding flowers, our team are here to offer our advice throughout every step of the wedding planning journey and are on hand to answer any questions you may have.
