Always Check your photographer's work and other tips! →

Oh No! Not again!

This unfortunate couple not only paid peanuts for their photographer but clearly did not meet them before the ceremony to look through their portfolio and as a result got a bunch of the worst photos I have ever seen.

These were clearly not taken by anyone with even a basic understanding of photography, which is such a shame for true professionals like me to hear.

So how can you avoid this type of calamity folks? Easy - be prepared:

(Is it all about spending lots of money? Not necessarily, but anyone who prices themselves ‘incredibly’ low has not understood the full task ahead of them and should be avoided. Booking someone cheap is a huge risk.)

• Meet a selection of photographers in person, look through their work, this will allow you to compare quality and style of photography.
• Do they have nice albums, print prices, parent albums, pre-wedding shoots and other bits and pieces to sell? If so, this is a good sign that the entire wedding photography business has been considered and developed, showing a business maturity.
• Does the photographer do a venue visit with you? I always offer this, and it is important to research any venues that I may be unfamiliar with, as well as to find out what the couple like about the venue, after all it is their wedding!
• Ask them what cameras they use for the photography (note the plural - I never leave the house without a backup camera and backup lenses), and if you don’t know the models, then google them when you get home - amateur camera means amateur photographer.
• Ask them how they will present their images to you and how they will be backed up. Albums, DVDs and online galleries are the minimum you should expect.
• Ask how many photos they will give you from a full day’s coverage. Experience has shown me that a modern wedding shot in the reportage style, with a blend of some traditional group shots will result in 160-200 images. Any more than this is a clear indicator that the photographer cannot exercise proper quality control and again has not thought through their business model. I have seen up to 800 images presented to couples and this is obscene. More is definitely not better in this instance. View 800 images on a slideshow at 10 seconds each and you have a 2hr epic to sit through! Basically, you end up having to filter out all the duff shots - which is not only unfair, but is is a huge task (possibly the hardest, which I suspect is why these amateurs try to pass the buck onto the couple).

Follow these tips (or even easier - just come to see me ;) and you will end up with a wonderful set of wedding photographs to remember your day by.

Philip Stanley Dickson

23rd April 2013

www.psdphotography.co.uk

New FAQs →

I’ve been updating my frequently asked questions section on my wedding photography website and there are many more additions and changes to come over the first part of the year. I think I am in Spring cleaning mode already! The link above will take you to the site, just click on FAQ!

It’s off to the Dalmahoy again this weekend for Rachel and Stuart’s wedding reception. I love the venue and with the sun shining (it’s looking good guys!) it has so many options for photos that I will be spoiled for choice.

TIPS FOR BRIDES - 7

Use those heirlooms!

You will often be wearing rings, necklaces and other pieces of clothing or jewellery with emotional significance, but if they can’t be incorporated into what you are wearing, why not do what one canny bride did and put your family heirlooms into the bouquet! Carrying it round for the day is just as special as wearing it and always tell the photographer, who will happily oblige and capture the memory as well.

One thing though - don’t forget to remove it before you go throwing that bouquet over your shoulder!

For more tips, scroll down this page (you may need to hit archive at the top of the page to see older posts).

Ruth and David’s wedding was a lovely one to shoot at The George Hotel and I was delighted to receive a very warm, kind testimonial from them:

“Thanks to Phil for giving us some wonderful memories of our wedding.  Phil was excellent throughout the day, making sure neither of us were bothered by minor details regarding our photographs and helping to coordinate the larger groups and making sure we got all the shots we wanted.  He really captured some great moments throughout the day as well as some fab ‘posed’ photos.  Phil is so down to earth and calming and couldn’t recommend him highly enough. Thanks again Phil, for everything! David & Ruth :)”

To see more of my work and to see my wedding prices, please visit my website here:

www.psdphotography.co.uk

My wife Heather and I at our stand at the Corn Exchange Wedding Fair. Come and see us to chat about your wedding photography! We are on stand 82.

TIPS FOR BRIDES - 6: GROUP SHOTS

This always comes up as a ‘hot topic’ at every wedding meeting I have. It’s mentioned in all the magazines and photographers all have their opinions too, with some even going as far as having strict limits on how many can be shot.

While I would never go that far, it’s not in my nature, I think that there is a need for young couples to understand the implications of the group shots on a few aspects of their day.

Timing is the most important aspect. Once you sit down and actually plan out what is happening when, you may be surprised by how little ‘breathing space’ there is in the schedule. It’s a big important day and you want to strike the right balance between formalities, enjoying yourself and spending time with your guests, as well as setting some time aside for the professional photographs. I am often approached to chat about groups when the schedule is nearly complete and the list for groups can be up at about 15 shots, all with different people, to fit into a 30min slot. Even working as fast as I do for groups, this would present a challenge.

Small groups take an average of 3mins per shot. So 10 groups will take 30mins. If everyone was waiting at one place at one time, then I could knock them off in 10mins, but this is real life and people are always needing rounded up from various places. While I employ the ushers or bridesmaids to round people up while I am shooting, it still leads to the 3mins figure being more or less right.

Large groups are a law unto themselves, but I always plan 10mins per large group - particularly when they are of indeterminate size - such as All the men, All the Women, All the men in kilts, Everyone. Often they have to be shot in a different location from the small groups for purely logistical reasons and people are always missing for a few minutes - and it is always someone critical to the shot, like the groom!

So 10 small groups plus a couple of big ones may take 50 minutes out of your schedule. If you know this and those groups are important to you then all you need to do is set this time aside in your schedule and discuss the logistics with your photographer in advance. I always do a venue visit before the ceremony with couples and we agree which groups will take place where and when they will be done.

Two small but important factors to be considered in the schedule, but never added in are the ‘real’ start time of the ceremony. I don’t think I have had one wedding start exactly on time yet, you brides do like to keep your partners waiting! This has a small knock-on effect to timings. Then there is the 15min period after the wedding ceremony and before the photographs where you can bask in the glow of being newlyweds with your family and friends. This is a lovely time for all and can lead to some wonderful photos.

Other than the timing, you need to be clear what you liked about the photographer’s style in the first place and think about which photos of his/hers you loved. I am betting that is was the spontaneous, mood-capturing, funny, tender ones and not a family group. The more time taken up by formal shots, the less time will be spent on those candids. And how long do you really want to be spending standing around posing? Would you rather be chatting to your guests and relaxing?

So, I am fully aware of all the decisions for your day and hope this guide helps a little. You will find me more than co-operative when we shoot the groups and I almost always get told how easy I make them, which is always a pleasure to hear. I work very hard to ensure that this is the way things happen and ultimately you get the photos you want.

To check out my wedding packages just click here.

It’s going to be a busy weekend at the Corn Exchange Wedding Fair. Come along and chat to us on Stand 82.

Don’t forget to check out the PSD Photography wedding website here too.

CORN EXCHANGE WEDDING FAIR →