A Wedding at The Alverton In Truro
A Wedding at The Alverton In Truro
Image Copyright Iconik Photography

I’ll admit to being a little biased when it comes to weddings. Obviously I’m going to say that the wedding photography is the most important thing to get right! Ok, perhaps the dress is uber important too (and I’m assuming you’ve chosen the right partner!) but it’s a big decision. Your wedding day will go by in a flash and your wedding photographs may be your only real memories from one of the most special days of your life. With all that in mind, here are our top 10 tips for choosing the right photographer for you:

Tip 1: What’s Your Style (this is a biggie so needs to come first!)
You’ll need to first decide which wedding photography style you prefer, as that will help to narrow down your options. Photographers usually have a signature style of editing their work too. Heres a quick run-down:

Documentary or Reportage: Mostly candid and spontaneous shots with no posing involved. Typical shots might include a messy bridal prep room with bridesmaids laughing, hair in curlers etc. They’ll be full of emotion with people pulling funny faces, drinks in hand and probably a lot of dance floor action. These photos capture the moments as they happen, and tell the full story of your day.

Traditional or Classic: If you prefer the look of your parents’ wedding album then choose a traditional photographer who specializes in portraiture. There’ll be posed shots of the two of you and your guests. There should be some creativity with composition, for instance using the surroundings of your venue or holding hands on a nearby beach.

Bespoke: A mixture of reportage and traditional. A bespoke photographer should be flexible enough to offer all the details associated with reportage photography, with great portraiture and some groups thrown in for good measure.

Fine Art: Similar to documentary photography, usually with a more ‘editorial’ feel to the images. This style can be very beautiful and is often associated with film cameras, although it can be achieved by a skilled digital editor. Bear in mind that true fine art photographers may not be as experienced with weddings and may not offer group shots etc, so it is vital to check in advance.

Light & Airy vs Atmospheric & Dramatic
Technology has advanced, not just for cameras but also the software used to edit images. Years ago wedding photography was all very similar, but now every wedding photographer has a signature editing style. Images range vastly from being full of light with blown-out white skies and pale colours, to images full of contrast that appear darker with colours richer and more vibrant. Its purely personal choice as to which you prefer.
Most wedding photographers will offer a blend of portraiture and documentary-style shots, with a mix of black-&-white and colour images. But if there’s a particular style that you love, make sure to focus on photographers whose work will suit.

beautiful wedding photography in cornwall
Left: A Light & Airy Edit – Middle: Natural Colours – Right: A More Dramatic Edit Image Copyright Iconik Photography

Tip 2: Do Your Research
Think you’ve found your ideal photographer? Look at their website properly, read their blogs and check reviews from previous customers. Most will have a frequently asked questions page, an ‘about us’ page and will feature real weddings to give you an idea of their style. You can also check out their social media pages. Do they sound like the kind of person you’d be happy spending hours with?
Bear in mind that not all photographers are a whizz on social media! They’re busy people and work for current customers always comes first, so don’t hold it against them if things aren’t 100% up to date. Why not pick up the phone and call them. A professional will be happy to meet up for a no-obligation chat about what they can offer you.

Tip 3: Capturing The Details
Whichever editing style you decide on, your photographer should be able to capture all the things that pass you by on the day itself. There is so much going on and you really won’t get to see it all. When you look through your images you’ll want to be reminded of every little thing.
Every bride pours their heart & soul into their wedding decor, so naturally you want these details captured on camera. Close ups of jewelry, favours, place settings and even the wine that you choose all set the scene for your day and all good wedding photographers will understand how important they are.

Top tips on how to choose your wedding photographer
Wedding Day Details Images Copyright Iconik Photography

Tip 4: The Group Shots
Group shots are where many photographers prove their worth, and awkward cheesy groups are a thing of the past. Your photographer should understand that some groups are important to you, but do check that they are happy to include them as some purely documentary style photographers will refuse anything posed!
Likewise, if you don’t want any group shots at all then you don’t have to have them. It’s completely up to you.

fun wedding photography at Carbis Bay
A Modern Twist on Wedding Photography
Images Copyright Iconik Photography

Tip 5: Ask To See Some Real Weddings
Try not to base your decision solely on a highlights gallery or sample album featuring more than one wedding. Understandably, photographers show a portfolio of their best pictures, but unless they can show sets of images from several real weddings it can be difficult to get a proper idea of their work. Ask if they personally shot those images, so you have a good idea of what you will receive after the wedding. If they’re all good then you’re on the right track.

cornwall wedding photography
Real Weddings – Images Copyright Iconik Photography

Tip 6: Can They Cope With Your Venue
An inexperienced photographer will struggle with low-light or full midday sun so check that they’re happy with your venue and will have the right equipment to deal with the challenge. An experienced photographer will have the skills to deal with changing light conditions throughout the day.
If your venue is dark, which lots of wedding venues are, then you need to pay even more attention to your choice of photographer. Opt for someone who has previously shot weddings there, or at least can demonstrate the ability to photograph a dark venue. Another good reason to look at full sets of wedding images from your photographer.
Likewise if you’re planning a beach wedding at sunset, you’ll want to see examples of that.

cornwall wedding photographer
Images taken in strong sunlight & from the back of an extremely dark church.
Images Copyright Iconik Photography

Tip 7: Personality
Don’t underestimate the importance of liking your photographer. If you are a fun loving couple who don’t like to take life seriously, then find a photographer who feels the same way. Don’t forget that you’ll be spending more time with them on the day than with any other supplier and, depending on the time of your ceremony, possibly more time than with your new spouse! Find someone who can put you at ease and won’t add any wedding day stresses. The more comfortable you are with your photographer the better your images will be.
They’ll also need to balance social graces, a sense of humour and calm behaviour whilst being assertive. No one ever said it was an easy job!

fun wedding photography in cornwall
Images Copyright Iconik Photography

Tip 8: What Packages Are On Offer
First of all work out how much photographic coverage you actually want. The world is your oyster with this one! A full day is generally considered to be from bridal preparations up until the first dance and some photographers will only offer this option. However, if you’re not keen on having photographic evidence of your early morning pj’s and hair curlers, or you’re happy for photographs to finish after the speeches, look for someone who will offer flexible coverage. Check for hidden costs such as going over an agreed time or having a second photographer on the day too and, although an album or digital files might be included, don’t automatically assume that they are. Most photographers will be happy to accommodate your requirements but do discuss exactly what is included before you sign the booking form.

Tip 9. Blow that Budget!
Ok I know that sounds extreme, but wedding photographs are a lasting memory of the day and will be handed down through your family for years to come. The internet is awash with horror stories of weddings ruined by cheap shoot-&-burn amateurs. However much you love Uncle Bob this is not the time to let him loose with his ‘big’ camera. You should also think twice about using a friend who photographs cars, landscapes or kittens in their spare time. Shooting a wedding requires technical skill, specialist equipment, creativity and the patience of a saint coupled with ace people-wrangling skills! I won’t even mention the ongoing investment that professional photographers make in their equipment, training and insurances. Its high pressure work and you only have one chance to have your wedding day captured.
What I’m really saying is that it shouldn’t be necessary to re-mortgage to afford a good professional photographer, but they should certainly cost a great deal more than your chair covers! Budget as much as you possibly can because you really won’t regret it.

Step 10: Gut Feeling
Its usually right so just go with it!

So there we have it, our top ten tips for choosing your wedding photographer. If you made it this far down the list give yourself a pat on the back! Hopefully our tips have been useful and given you plenty to think about, but if you’re still not sure then get in touch. We’d be happy to discuss what we can offer, or equally point you in the right direction 🙂