Luxury Wedding Photography - How to book a photographer that feels right.
Organising a wedding is a huge undertaking, and choosing the right suppliers can sometimes feel overwhelming. Having been through it myself when I got married, I thought sharing a little of my own experience might be helpful for couples planning their big day.
I had minimal experience with weddings, and my only real point of reference was the films Father of the Bride and The Wedding Planner. Both films exceptionally unhelpful in the real world
So I got married before the dawn of social media, but websites helped me get a feel for what style of photography was available. It seemed to me that all wedding photography was dramatically staged bride and groom shots, often by gates, with moody skies and public displays of affection. I started to feel uncomfortable.
During this time, I was working as a photographer for OK! Magazine. My other point of reference was celebrity weddings. Spectacular events with overflowing flower arches and cakes as tall as the ceiling. You might imagine I would have been making mental notes of what I should have at my own big day, but I wasn’t. I suppose they seemed so far removed from my life that I didn’t stand around debating whether I would make the same choices as Mel B at my wedding. When it came to choosing suppliers, I felt lost.
So when it came to choosing a photographer for my own wedding, I honestly didn’t really have a clue. I worked as an editorial photographer for OK! Magazine and knew that world inside and out, but I didn’t know the wedding world at all.
I needed a date and a venue, and then I could book suppliers. I rang some potential venues and went to look at Avington Park and then Lainston House in Winchester. We chose Lainston.
I think you have a gut feeling about your wedding venue. I just saw Lainston as we drove up its gorgeous drive, and I knew it was perfect. I absolutely loved the way it looked. So why did I choose a December wedding? The service was at 2.30 pm, when we left the church in Twyford, and everyone got to the reception, it was dark. So no photos of us and the outside of our venue. None of the grounds at all. The reason we booked Lainston is that we loved the way it looked. I mean, I’m a photographer, what was I thinking??
Venue booked, and I knew I should book a photographer. I thought I’d explore what wedding photographers offered. I was amazed at how expensive wedding photography was. I was about to spend a lot of money.
I didn’t research lots of photographers, and to be honest, I think I made enquiries with photographers whose websites I liked. The style of photography must have been a factor, but I just felt like I didn’t know what I liked. I wanted to be led through this.
We met with a photographer and talked through her approach, what was included, and what we would receive afterwards. I was really surprised to learn that the package only included 40 images from our wedding day. If we wanted access to all of the photos, we’d need to pay an additional fee. It just felt overly complicated and far less straightforward than I’d expected.
I decided this kind of old school, traditional Wedding Photography wasn’t really my style, so I asked OK! photographer Tony Ward, with whom I had worked many times, and he was very happy to shoot our wedding.
But I remember the process and how challenging it felt. I felt like it was a lot of money, and I was taking a potluck choice of who to have with us on our big day.
My key takeaways when choosing your wedding photographer
I honestly didn’t really know what I was doing.
I’d never planned a wedding before, and I know many of my couples feel the same. There are so many photographers out there, and it can be hard to tell the difference between them all. For me, one of the most important things is choosing someone you genuinely like and feel comfortable around — someone who’ll bring a calm, reassuring presence to your wedding day.
At first, I didn’t know what style of wedding photography I even liked.
Now that I photograph weddings regularly, I understand the moments you’ll treasure most. I like to help plan the flow of the day and the key photographs so everyone feels relaxed and knows what to expect. Of course, there’s always space for natural, candid moments too — those are often the most special. I’m also very aware of when couples need guidance and support, and when they simply need space to enjoy the moment together.
I was surprised by how complicated some photography packages felt.
A lot of them seemed designed to encourage you to spend more and more. I prefer to keep things simple and transparent. I’ll be there to capture your whole day, from beginning to end, with no hidden fees or unexpected extras.
When I was looking for a wedding photographer, I didn’t initially think about whether I actually connected with them as people.
But your wedding photographer is with you during some incredibly personal moments, so that relationship really matters. I meet couples beforehand — whether on Zoom or in person — so we can both feel completely at ease. The best wedding photography happens when everything feels relaxed, natural, and we’re all on the same page about the atmosphere and memories you want to create.
If you would like to book a Zoom to chat about your wedding photography requirements, please get in touch.
