Wedding photographers are not all created equal
The five assumptions you shouldn’t make when choosing wedding photographers
1. Assuming that all wedding photographers can take the same photographs
The assumption that all wedding photographers can take the same photographs is probably the biggest mistake you can make when looking for wedding photographers.
The main reason we can’t all take the same photos is because we don’t all have the same level of competence in photography. And what I mean by this is:
We don’t all have the same training. We don’t all have the same experience. And we don’t all have the same level of creativity.
If you’re looking for wedding photographers and want to know the type of photos a prospective photographer can take, you need to take a careful look at their portfolio.
The photos you see in a wedding photographer’s portfolio [on their website] are the best photos they’ve taken at weddings.
I promise you this is true. No photographers leave their best stuff out of the portfolio.
The other thing our portfolios show you is the type of photos we want to be taking at your wedding.
Since weddings are not photo shoots, it follows that most of the photography you’ll have from your wedding (no matter who photographs it) will be documentary or candid in style.
With some photographers, all of your wedding photography will be documentary but with most, there will be a percentage that includes portraits of some kind – perhaps ten percent of the images you’ll get. Plus, any family/group shots you’ve requested.
When it comes to choosing wedding photographers, if you’ve already seen a portfolio with photos you like (and can imagine yourself in), the safest decision you can make is to book that photographer. Assuming everyone else, particular anyone cheaper, can do the same job can only end in disappointment.
2. Thinking price is a good indicator of ability in wedding photographers
Unfortunately, it doesn’t always follow that inexperienced photographers are cheap.
The charlatans of photography have worked out that most couples don’t know good photography from bad and will assume that by paying more, they’re onto a safe bet.
I had the recent experience of asking a bride who else she was considering alongside me. I often ask this question as I like to understand how clients view my work alongside other photographers.
On this occasion, I was surprised to find that whilst the other photographer was charging the same price as me, I could only find evidence of two weddings on their website.
And, because of the nature of the photos – a few ceremony shots from the back, side shots of the confetti tunnel, and no portraits – I’m not even sure they weren’t just a guest at those two weddings.
I never mentioned this to the bride, it wouldn’t serve me to do that. Luckily, she chose me anyway although I must say I was a bit disappointed she couldn’t see a difference in the portfolios.
I suppose that just reinforces the first misconception that ‘all photographers can take the same photographs’.
In any event, if you want to be cautious, and understand the experience of a photographer you’re considering for your wedding, you may need to turn detective. Here’s a few things you can do.
- When you’re looking at their portfolio, count the number of couples you can see overall, and watch out for randomly organised images as this can make it look like you’re seeing more weddings.
Just as an FYI, there isn’t a right or wrong number here. But if the number of couples you can see in the portfolio is fairly low, understand that this probably means they haven’t done a lot of weddings. Use that information as you see fit. - It’s also worth looking at the social media profiles they have for their business, especially Facebook and Instagram. Scroll back through the profiles to see how many different weddings you can see photographed.
- Finally, if you’re still interested, ask how many weddings they’ve photographed and ask to see some of the complete wedding albums.
3. Believing that wedding photographers have to pass exams
No, they don’t. Unlike doctors, architects, accountants and so many other professions, you don’t have to hold any qualifications to set up shop as a wedding photographer.
Or any other type of photographer, for that matter.
Over the years, a number of UK photography organisations have emerged in a bid to govern the profession – not least the RPS and The Guild of Photographers, and whilst most offer accreditations that photographers can attain through study, the membership criteria is not a photography qualification, it’s just an annual subscription.
For my part, I have an arts degree but it’s not in photography.
After completing an undergraduate course in photography, I decided not to take the academic route to a degree as I couldn’t find a course with enough hands-on photographic training.
Instead, I’ve spent the last eight years investing in practical experience and taking courses with some of the most successful wedding and studio photographers in the UK.
In reality, I still don’t think I’ve spent the £45k on training it would have cost for a degree but I’m pretty certain I’ve got more valuable and saleable skills out of my investment.
None of this helps you of course, so perhaps you should take comfort from finding a photographer with a degree in photography. Although just as an aside, there is no such thing as degree in wedding photography.
4. Thinking you just need a good camera to be a wedding photographer
After the last point, you might be forgiven for thinking this mistake is not a mistake at all however…
The idea that ‘you just need a good camera to be a wedding photographer’ is a regular joke in photography forums. I’ve also seen non photographers comment that there’s a special button on pro cameras that makes you take good photos. Not true of course.
Only someone that’s never photographed a wedding would think you just need a good camera. And by the way, you need two cameras. Plus lenses, flashes, modifiers, stands, SD cards and a dozen other essential products.
Not forgetting talent to see and direct a great composition. And the ability to use a camera and lighting in the best way possibly – which isn’t auto-mode.
5. Believing that photographing a wedding is just one day’s work
Since, it’s clear that many people think wedding photographers only work one day, there must be a lot of couples out there wondering why they have to wait 2-3 months for their photos.
It confuses me too although not for the same reason. More because editing a wedding album takes me about three days. So, if I had a wedding on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, that would still only be nine days processing – make it 14 to allow for other photographic work and time off. But 2-3 months!
Quite a few times now, I’ve been asked by couples if their wedding photos will be edited. The answer is always yes (they’ll all be edited) but thinking about the question, I’d have to guess it shows that people don’t understand what editing means. And in fairness, why would they?
With that in mind, I thought I’d take the opportunity to give a quick explanation of photo editing.
What is editing in wedding photography?
Photo editing is essentially the digital equivalent of a darkroom (as used in film photography) where your wedding photos are adjusted and enhanced before being supplied to you on disk or in print.
In wedding photography, one of the main reasons we need to edit your photos is to achieve a colour balance that shows hues and tones that are realistic.
It should be said that colour balance affects all photography but the reason I’ve singled out wedding photography is because when editing a wedding one of the biggest challenges is getting a white wedding dress to look a consistent colour across a set of images.
Part of the reason we don’t get a perfect colour straight off the camera is because cameras are not able to capture colours as accurately as our eyes.
However, other factors also come into play, like the colour of walls, ceilings, floors or anything immediately around the dress as well as the colour temperature of the ambient light and peculiarities of different cameras.
From an editing perspective, this does mean, you have to look at, and potentially adjust, the colour of every single photo you take. But just to be clear, editing is not just about colour correction, it’s also about correcting exposure, straightening, cropping, sharpening and adjusting multiple other features of the image. All of which takes time on a set of 350+ images. In my case, about three days.
I hope this blog will help you avoid making any big mistakes as you look for wedding photographers. If you’ve got any questions about this blog, send me an email or make a comment on this page.
You can find information about the services I offer on my pricing page and to view wedding photos I’ve taken, see my wedding gallery.