Advice From Wedding Photographers!

Choosing a photographer to capture one of the most important days in your life can seem like a daunting task. We sent questions to three of our recommended wedding photographers; Steven McDonald, Charlotte Eve and Amy Katherine, to find out their expert opinion on what to consider when choosing a wedding photographer as well as top tips for getting the best photos!

Steven gave the following insight on how to begin the search;

A very common line I hear when couples contact me is “We’ve been scrolling on Instagram and have put together a list of photographers whose photos we love, and just wanted to ask you a few questions before making our decision.” I think this is a great way of doing it. Find the photographers you love, and do your research from there. Do their names pop up on many venue’s recommended suppliers’ lists? Do they get good reviews? Email or call them and get a feel for who they are as a person. I strive to portray my personality through my social media and that certainly does seem to attract lots of like-minded couples. Your photographer is a massive part of your day; do you want them with you and your family?

And Amy echoed this, giving very similar advice;

Once you’ve found a style of photography you like, I always say the key thing when picking your photographer is to make sure you feel truly comfortable around them. Your photographer will likely be with you more than almost anyone else on the day, so you don’t want to feel uneasy around them. Hop on the phone or arrange a zoom with them to have a chat through your day, your ideas, what you love. You want to book someone who is just as excited about your day as you are, but also someone you really gel with and feel you can be completely yourselves around – this is when your photos will turn out most authentically, and you’ll be able to feel the love, the laughter and the moment every time you look back at them!

Even if you have done your research before booking your photographer, it is normal to feel nervous about being photographed on your wedding day as it is unlikely that you have been documented in this way before!

Charlotte informed us that whilst it is a common worry, it doesn’t have to be as daunting as you might imagine;

I’d say the best approach is to find a photographer you feel really relaxed with to help you feel at ease and make it feel more like having another friend there on the day. A photographer that captures most of the day naturally, photographing all of the moments as they happen with perhaps only the family group shots being the more ‘staged’ shots will also mean that you won’t even notice most of the photographs being taken, while still having a beautiful gallery of memories from your day. Sneaking off for a few portraits of just the two of you is actually a lovely time for you to breathe and take in the fact that you’ve just got married! You can simply wander around chatting and catching up together whilst your photographer captures you, it really is as easy as that! Another good way to prepare would be to book a pre-wedding shoot with your photographer, it might help you see how easy it can be to have your photographs taken and take some of the worry out of that part of the day for you.

We also asked Charlotte if there are any specific shots she would recommend couples make sure they ask their photographer for;

Your photographer will usually chat with you before the wedding about any specific shots that you want, such as family and group shots, so that on the day they can make sure they are all ticked off and you don’t have to think about them. I’d always recommend taking a little time to go off with your photographer for some portraits of you both, so that you get time alone and also create some magic that you can frame forever too. If you choose a photographer whose style you love then you can relax and trust them to capture the vibe of your day for you without you needing to worry about an extensive shot list. Then your wedding photographs reflect your wedding day and all of the incredible moments that you created.

Choosing a photographer whose style you love is key to getting photographs that you will cherish forever, however, the setting for your photos plays into this too. We asked Steven what advice he would give couples when decided on a venue;

I would always look for a venue with lots of natural light flooding in. And somewhere I can imagine having photos taken if the weather is too bad to venture outside. The same principle applies for the room where speeches would take place. This is a great time for your photographer to capture all of your emotions as well as a big opportunity to capture some wonderful candids of your family and friends. I would also give consideration to the venue’s grounds: Can you see yourselves having photographs taken in them?

Naturally, we asked him if he had a favourite location for shots at Thirsk Lodge Barns…

I almost always prefer shooting outdoors, but I absolutely adore the Ceremony Barn at Thirsk Lodge Barns. The abundance of natural light, the twinkly lights and the fact that it’s not weather-dependent make this space perfect for both styled and candid couple and family portraits. I think it’s vital that a venue has an area that a photographer can use if the British weather doesn’t comply! 

Amy also had some very kind words to say about shooting at Thirsk Lodge Barns after we asked if she had a favourite photo from the weddings she has has with us;

This is much harder to answer as I could seriously give you a whole series for this one! Thirsk Lodge Barns is such a beautiful setting to photograph in; the lighting, the venue and the surrounding areas are all so gorgeous, and the coordinators do a wonderful job of keeping everything running smoothly (which really helps us as photographers focus on getting creative, and not running timelines!), so every photo ends up being a firm contender! 

However, I am always drawn to the moments and emotions, so this moment Becky’s Dad and Husband, Billy, unknowingly in sync placed their hands on her back to say “I’ve got you” during an emotional speech has to be a firm favourite for so many reasons. EEK, but the photos in the courtyard during golden hour have to be up there too!

We also asked Charlotte which part of a wedding day she enjoys the most;

The confetti is hands down my favourite part of the wedding day! It’s such a fun moment, you’re super excited and giddy that you’ve just got married and you get to walk into your reception and start the party! My top tips for confetti shots would be that you can never have too much confetti, biodegradable paper confetti takes longer to drop so it creates more impact and lastly, have fun, throw your flowers in the air, stop for a kiss at half way and just enjoy the moment!

We wholeheartedly agree with everything that Charlotte, Steven and Amy have said above. When choosing any supplier it is important that you do your research into whether they are a good fit for your day, and that you get on well with them.

It also adds to the smooth running of your day if you choose suppliers that have worked together before, this is why we have a list of trusted recommended suppliers that know the venue and our team well!

If you have enjoyed this blog post, keep an eye on our blog as we have plans to chat to more suppliers soon!