Get the right wedding photographer
A wedding photographer is not to be underestimated by any means. Imagine being asked to encapsulate one of the most important days in any couple's life with just a few wedding photographs... Talk about pressure.
The wedding photographer is entrusted with making the special moments on your wedding day last forever in print - it's not about pointing the camera and telling people to say "cheese", you know.
So, when you are starting to look for a wedding photographer, you need to spend as much time looking around for the right one as you would for your wedding dress. Although you probably wont have to spend 3 hours in the fitting room with a wedding photographer!
So how do you find out what makes a great wedding photographer? We thought an award-winning wedding photographer would have a good idea, so we went and spoke to one...
A portrait of the 2005 UK Wedding Photographer of the Year
Ewen Forsyth was crowned the 2005 UK Wedding Photographer of the Year at the British Professional Photography Awards in October last year.
The awards night is the point of the year when the industry's two main bodies, the BIPP and MPA (the British Institute of Professional Photographers and the Master Photographers Association) join forces. This makes the awards by far the most prestigious in the photographic industry and certainly the highest accolade a wedding photographer can receive.
It's easy to see why Ewen won the award. Even just by talking to him, his passion for the job is unmistakable. He's a cheeky chappy who loves what he does, but his career path wasn't actually leading towards life as wedding photographer until about eight years ago.
Ewen used to work in the fashion industry and when invited to a wedding by one of the models, it was the following words that struck a chord -
She simply said: "I just want you to be there and photograph me at my wedding."
It was such a straightforward request - but with so much meaning. It stayed with him ever since. And as he'd never done weddings before, Ewen went into it with an open mind and did everything his own way - perhaps that was the best way.
So Ewen, what makes a good wedding photographer?
"Getting on with the Bride's mother for a start! If they're happy, you're happy, but I also think that a good wedding photographer will make the couple feel totally relaxed and completely at ease.
"I'll meet up with the couple a few months prior to the wedding, have a glass of wine with them and talk over a few things. I'll also take an informal photo of them beforehand, in a setting they choose, and I'll frame and present it to them on the day. I like to think that's a unique touch from me and something special for the couple to keep."
Ewen likes to make sure he gets on with the couple. It's not just about them liking him either - he has to like them too. Once both parties are happy, then it's the right time to progress with the arrangement.
Couples should meet up with their wedding photographer first then?
"Absolutely. You need to make sure your wedding photographer loves their job - otherwise the wedding photographs won't reflect the same kind of passion.
"A wedding photographer should be smiling and enjoying himself, if he's not - he shouldn't be there."
Don't worry if you're using a bigger company that has more than one wedding photographer. In this type of scenario, the couple may only meet the Studio Manager beforehand, and wont meet the actual photographer until the day itself. So it's the Studio Manager's job to make sure the couple know what to expect and tells them a bit about the wedding photographer so they know a bit about them before the day.
Are you normally given a lot of artistic licence?
"They choose me because they know what I can do, so they generally let me take the pictures. They will often have certain types of shot in mind, and that's fine, but ultimately it's the photographer with the experience and the couples should trust them to do the job."
Do you see the venue before the wedding?
"Seeing the venue isn't as important. I know most of the main venues in Scotland anyway, as well as a few others nationally. But I'm taking pictures of the couple, not the venue.
"There is ample time for me to check the place out when everyone moves from the church to the venue. While the bride & groom have a glass (or three!) of champagne and relax a bit I'll have a wander around and get a feel for the place. I'll be taking pictures of guests, finding any particular spots that will be good for more pictures, and generally making sure I'm not interfering with proceedings. I like to let everything happen naturally."
On the day itself then, do you try to blend in like you're not there?
"It's a bit hard to blend in when you're wearing a kilt and standing on a stepladder! I love what I do, so I just be myself and let it happen."
All wedding photographers vary, so it's another good reason to meet up with them first and find out if you are both on the same wavelength in terms of their level of presence on the day.
What happens if your camera breaks?
"It's not a problem - I have plenty of back up. Accidents can and do happen, I've dropped a camera before. So I usually carry two cameras on my person, with three or four lenses strapped on too. I'll have another two backup cameras in the car. Most of my gear will be made up of digital cameras, but I'll have a manual one too - you never know..."
Any other advice?
"Make sure your wedding photographer is insured, and especially make sure they have indemnity insurance to cover for disasters such as the camera being stolen with all the images stored on. Anything like that is bad enough, but if the photographer is insured, it will make the recovery process a whole lot easier.
"You should also make sure the photographer has the appropriate photographic qualifications - look for BIPP and/or MPA after their name.
"Another good thing to remember is that a contract is there to protect you just as much as the photographer. By drawing one up and agreeing everything beforehand, everyone knows where they stand and it gives them peace of mind.
"I also tell the couples to do what they want to do. Don't let anybody tell you what to do. It's your day - you're paying for all the services so you should have everything exactly how you want it.
"But my biggest piece of advice to couples is to enjoy yourselves - don't worry about me or the photographs. Trust me to do a great job and get on with enjoying your day."
And as for Ewen's services:
Ewen uses his skill and experience to produce the album for the newly-weds, and he didn't become the wedding photographer of the year by luck. Couples only see the finished article once he's gone through them all and used his know-how to select the ones that work best.
For his work as a wedding photographer, Ewen's service will include his work on the day and producing the full album afterwards. The album will have anything from 90-170 pictures, and you can see more of Ewen's work on his website www.ewenforsyth.co.uk
So now you know more about the role of a wedding photographer, click here to go back to the wedding photographs articles homepage - where you can find out all there is know about wedding photographs. All photos by Ewen Forsyth
