Wedding Photography & Videography Guide

Choosing the right wedding photographer and videographer is crucial for capturing the precious moments of your special day. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you select the perfect professionals!

1. Start Early:

Begin your search for a photographer and videographer as soon as you set your wedding date. Good photographers and videographers are often booked well in advance, especially during peak wedding seasons.

2. Determine Your Style:

Decide on the style of photography and videography you prefer. Do you want traditional, classic shots, or are you leaning towards a more artistic and creative approach? Understanding your preferred style will help narrow down your options.

3. Set Your Budget:

Wedding photography and videography can vary greatly in cost. Determine how much you're willing to spend on these services and look for professionals who fit within your budget. Remember that quality is paramount, so prioritise the skill and experience of the photographer/videographer over cost alone.

The average cost of a wedding in the UK was £24,710 for 2023 and it is recommended you allocate around 10% of your budget for wedding photography or videography. Running the numbers, that should put your budget at around £2,400 for the average wedding for each photography and videography. While this is how much you can expect a photographer or a videographer to cost, this isn’t necessarily how much you should pay.

You can expect to hire a videographer or a photographer for around £2,000 - £5,000 each, Assuming you want a photographer and/or videographer for 10 hours + of your wedding day.

4. Research and Shortlist:

Start researching photographers and videographers in your area. Look at their portfolios, read reviews from past clients, and check their availability for your wedding date. Create a shortlist of potential candidates based on their work and reputation.

5. Review Portfolios:

Take the time to thoroughly review the portfolios of the photographers and videographers on your shortlist. Pay attention to the quality of their work, their creativity, and their ability to capture the emotions of the moment

Some gear you might expect a professional photographer/videographer to bring to your wedding include:

  • Multiple Professional Cinema Cameras (Including backups)

  • Wide selection of lenses

  • Tripods

  • Camera stabilisation (Monopod, gimbal, glide cam etc.)

  • Professional audio (On camera shotgun microphone, lavalier mic, audio recorders, DJ hook-up cables)

  • Lighting for the speeches and reception.

  • Drone

A whole host of accessories to help support them doing their job.

6. Meet in Person or Virtually:

Schedule meetings with your top choices either in person or virtually. Use this opportunity to discuss your vision for the wedding, ask about their approach to photography/videography, and ensure that your personalities mesh well.

7. Ask About Experience:

Inquire about the photographer's/videographer's experience in shooting weddings. Your best to ask to see full day sample galleries of real weddings rather than individual shots as some will use images from styled shoots as examples of their work.

8. Check Equipment and Backup Plans:

Ensure that the photographer/videographer uses professional-grade equipment and has backup gear in case of technical issues. Inquire about their backup plans in case of emergencies, such as illness or equipment failure. Some lower budget photographers/videographers travel light with a single consumer lever camera, others may rock up with a full on production van full of high end professional gear. Well equipped photographers/videographers will usually cost more, they have invested in their gear, understand how to use it effectively and use professional equipment suited for the job and hand. They will also have backup gear “just in case”.

9. Discuss Packages and Extras:

Review the photographer's/videographer's packages and what they include. Discuss any extras you might want, such as engagement shoots, additional hours of coverage, or albums. Make sure you fully understand what you're getting for your investment.

10. Read and Sign Contracts:

Once you've chosen your photographer/videographer, carefully review their contract. Pay close attention to details such as deliverables, timelines, cancellation policies, and rights to the images/videos. Make sure everything is clearly outlined before signing.

11. Communicate Your Vision:

Clearly communicate your vision, preferences, and any specific shots you want captured on your wedding day. Provide a detailed timeline of the day's events to ensure that nothing important is missed.

12. Stay in Touch:

Maintain open communication with your photographer/videographer leading up to the wedding. Confirm details such as locations, timings, and any last-minute changes to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day.

13. Post production & Deliverables

The wedding day is like the tip of an iceberg for photographers and videographers. It is the bit you see, but only represents a small fraction of the work involved to get you your wedding photos and video to you.

Lower budget photographers and videographers will typically edit the photos and footage in a no frills, chronological order and you may end up with 1000’s of images and a 90+ minute video. They are not likely to be anything fancy and can be a chore to go through. Your family and friends will not appreciate you forcing them to watch a video this long or to sift through 1000’s of similar images. These types of photos and videos typically take relatively little time to edit and is a favourite of photographers and videographers starting out or part time wedding photographers and videographers who provide their services as a side hustle on the weekends.

Higher end wedding photographers and videographers will tell the story of your day with exciting and engaging images and a beautiful highlight / feature film. The wedding film can run from 3-20 minutes in length and is limited by your budget, the preference of the videographer and the individual wedding day. This type of video will combine the best visual bits of your wedding, audio of your speeches, vows or letter readings and carefully selected music. A quality wedding film can easily take between 20 and 80 hours to edit. The photographer will spend hours going through all the images from the day and cull the images that don’t make the cut. These can be slightly out of focus, eyes closed or just not flattering images, leaving only the best images of your day to be professionally edited.

The final deliverables can vary from each photographer/videographer. If the videographer’s main deliverable is a highlight film, ask about whether their service includes recording the ceremony and speeches in full. These are often separate video files, but may be an extra cost.

Your final film and images will likely be hosted digitally for online viewing and downloading. If you require a physical copy either USB, DVD or Blu-ray, be sure to ask if this is a service they offer.

14. Enjoy the Moment: (The Most important)

On your wedding day, relax and enjoy the moment. Trust that your photographer/videographer will capture the essence of your day, allowing you to relive it through beautiful images.

Choosing the right wedding photographer/videographer is a significant decision in your wedding planning journey. By following these steps and communicating effectively, you can ensure that you find a photographer who aligns with your vision and creates lasting memories of your special day.

By following these steps and investing time in finding the right wedding photographer and videographer, you'll ensure that your special day is beautifully captured for you to cherish for years to come.