Choosing Your Photographer

Sam’s Top 5 Tips/Advice For Choosing Your Photographer


1. Don’t Bother With Yellow Pages
One of the biggest mistake people make is to look in the yellow pages! Photography is visual, so you must see their work before you even consider a photographer.
By looking only in yellow pages (or Thomson Local, etc) you’re not going to see their work unless you make loads of appointments. And you don’t really want to do this because you have so many other things to arrange and other people to see.

So, the very first place to start looking is the internet. Most good photographers will have a website. Looking online will give you a chance to look at their work and judge if it’s a fit for the type of imagery you want for your day before worrying about making appointments.


2. Price vs “Value”; Booking Purely On Price.
Most of the time it’s true what they say, “You get what you pay for”.

If you see a photographer that’s really cheap then alarm bells should be ringing.

Professional equipment and quality albums are not cheap for the photographer to buy. A lot of hours go in to producing quality images and then you have to consider all the insurances; Equipment, Public Liability, Professional Indemnity … all this and more before a photographer considers a profit for himself.

So when you see a so called professional photographer offering complete weddings, with albums, for anything less than say £500, you really need to question the quality of their finished products, their abilities and if they’re really “professionals”.

Remember, “Value for money” and “Cheap” are two very different things.

Ideally you should choose your photographer based on their work and style and, most importantly, whether you get on with them as a person. This is so important because you will be spending a lot of time with them and if you don’t get along it will show in your pictures.
Think about how much you’re spending on your cake (it will just get eaten), on your cars (the most expensive taxi’s you’ll ever hire) and even on your dress (you’ll only ever wear it once!).

Only after that should you now consider your budget for photography. How much value will you put on the one investment for your wedding that will produce the only true lasting memories of your day for generations to come?


3. Whether A Photographer Has Photographed At Your Venues Before.
One of the oldest sales pitches in the history of photography – and it honestly doesn’t make the slightest bit of difference!

If a photographer tries to sell you his services based on the fact that he’s done so many weddings at your venue he knows exactly how to do it there … walk away.
Any quality photographer will tell you that not only are every couple different to photograph, but every day is different! Take the same couple to a venue on 10 different days and the pictures will be different every time because the light will be completely different. Now take 10 different couples to the same venue on 10 different days! Not one picture will be the same, because not only will the light be different every time, but each couple will stand and pose completely differently from the others.

Besides, where we are in Essex there are hundreds of different venues. We could spend our entire careers here and not shoot at all of them!

Any good photographer will check out your venues before your wedding day. Many, like Campbell Photographic, now include a Pre-Wedding Shoot in their packages. These usually take place at your chosen venues. This is not only a chance for you to see your photographer working, but it also gives the photographer the chance to look round the venues with you and discuss the shots you want.


4. 5 Or 30 Years
While the argument holds some weight, don’t let how long your photographer has been in the business effect your decision.
Bottom line, if you like their work, you like them and they offer what you want, then whether they’ve been in the business for 5 or 30 years hardly matters.


5. Make A Shortlist, Visit Each One, THEN Make A Decision
My last tip. You’ve done your searching on the internet, now make a shortlist of the photographers whose work you liked and who offer what you want.
Keep the list to about 5. Make appointments with each of them and make sure you visit all 5. Some photographers are very good at “the sales pitch”. But it’s important not to be wowed by the first great deal you’re offered.

Once you’ve seen them all, cut your list down to your favourite 2. Compare what they can offer you and, most importantly, which out of the 2 you would want at your wedding. Remember they’ll be with you for a long time and will also be mixing with your guests, so make sure you’ll all get along.

Once you’ve decided get on the phone and make a second appointment and book them. Don’t leave it too late; quality photographers get booked 12-24 months in advance!

What Are Bridal Preps?

What Are Bridal Prep Photos?
Yes, it sounds like a silly question, but many people are confused as to what “Bridal Preps” actually are!

Bridal Prep photo’s are shots taken while the bride is getting ready! These shots are usually photographed in a reportage style, with perhaps just one or two set up shots. However, these set up shots will be made to look “spur of the moment”.
The photos are usually of the bride getting her hair and make-up done, being helped in to her wedding dress, plus shots of the hustle & bustle and fun that goes on while everyone is getting ready.
The whole point of these shots is to complete the story. A good wedding album, such as a Jorgensen Album, or Graphi Studio Wedding Book, should be a story of the whole wedding day. And like any good story it should have a beginning, middle and an end.

Photos of the bride with the bridesmaids or her father standing next to the fireplace are NOT bridal prep shots. Photos of the bride posing in her dress are NOT bridal prep shots either.

These are portrait shots!

Yes, they are usually taken before the wedding, but only because there’s a bit of time and those people are on hand. These shots could be taken during the main photo shoot or any other time during the wedding day.

At Campbell Photographic you choose when we start. So if you choose to have bridal preps we don’t charge you any extra.


These images ARE Bridal Prep Shots:-

These images are NOT Bridal Prep shots:-

Pre Wedding Shoot

Pre-Wedding Shoot: The Real Secret to Being Relaxed In Front of The Camera On Your Wedding Day!

It’s your wedding day! It’s time for your wedding photography and you’re asked to stand here, stand there, twist, tilt your head this way, now that way, lift your chin, drop your chin, smile, don’t smile, look sexy ……

When you first booked your wedding photographer he/she assured you that they know what they’re doing – they’ve photographed hundreds of weddings and know exactly how to pose people. They have THEIR ideas of what pictures to take and they’ve been to your wedding venues before.

Great! That’s all well and good for them to say, BUT like most people in this country your wedding day is likely to be the first (and possibly the last) time you’ll be photographed by a Professional Photographer. And unless you’re a model YOU don’t know how to stand, where to put your hands … “tilt your head”? Great. Erm …how much?

From experience we can tell you that when you ask someone to turn their head slightly to the side, in general you get a massive move and the shoulders tend to go with it!

Then there are those special shots. The tog asks you to climb on the bed, or the wall, or lie on the floor. All a bit of a surprise … and to find out on your wedding day that you’re not actually very comfortable doing that …

As any good wedding photographer will tell you, great wedding photography doesn’t just happen. Great wedding photography is as much reliant on the subjects as the photographer and requires effort, input, trust and inspiration (and sometimes perspiration) from BOTH SIDES of the lens!
Which ever wedding photographers you choose you must be 110% comfortable with them. If you don’t get along, it doesn’t matter how much you love their work – don’t book them! Why? Because it will show in your photos!

So, what is the solution?


A Pre-Wedding Shoot
At Campbell Photographic we include a free Pre-Wedding Shoot for all our couples. A pre-wedding shoot is a photo shoot that happens before your wedding day and it’s just with you (the Bride and Groom). It’s just like a portrait session, except instead of being done in a studio, it’s done at your chosen wedding venues and they usually last a couple of hours.


Why Have a Pre-Wedding Shoot?
A pre-wedding shoot is a great opportunity for you and us to look around your wedding venues together, to discuss ideas for shots on wedding day and to generally catch up with you. Perhaps you’ve seen some pictures in your favourite wedding magazine and would like us to try and recreate them. Maybe some detail of the wedding day has changed, like some of the timings, etc.
It’s your chance to confirm details with us or to ask us any questions you’ve thought of since our initial meeting.

But most of all, it’s your chance to get in front of the lens and get used to being directed/posed by me and Samantha. To see how we work and to understand what we mean when we say “be 10% more sexy”!

It will give us the chance to see what your comfortable doing in front of the camera and how you move/hold yourselves. This is very useful as it will give us an idea of how best to pose you, what you will be willing to do on your wedding day and how far you’re willing to push the limits to get that outstanding photo.

It’s also a chance for you to practice those shots, like dips, which everyone THINKS they can do, only to discover how bad they look when it’s done wrong and how heavy your partner actually is when you’re only using one arm to support them!

It’s also a great time to discover how comfortable and relaxed you’ll be with us!

You’ll know how relaxed and how much fun we are from your initial meeting. But this will be your opportunity to see how we manage to work professionally, yet keep the atmosphere relaxed, fun and friendly.
We meet so many couples where one or both of them say they’re so nervous about having their picture taken, or don’t like the way they look in pictures.
Well the pre-wedding shoot will help you to lose the insecurities and nervousness of being in front of the camera and help you to be a bit more confident and relaxed on your actual wedding day.

By the end of every pre-wedding shoot each one of our couples are laughing and smiling and offering up their own ideas and poses for shots!

We have received nothing but positive feedback from all our clients about their pre-wedding shoot. They have all thanked us, said how much fun they had and, most importantly, have said that having the pre-wedding shoot has put them at their ease and boosted their confidence about being photographed by us on their wedding day.

For us the biggest complement is that they have also all said that it re-confirmed to them that choosing Campbell Photographic to photograph their wedding day was definitely the right choice.

A pre-wedding shoot is the perfect opportunity to discover all these things. PLUS you get some great portrait shots out of it!


How Much Will It Cost?
At Campbell Photographic we’re truly proud of the relationships we build with our clients – many of whom have become true friends. We understand the importance of building a trust between us and making sure we’re all relaxed with each other. Therefore we now include a pre-wedding shoot with every package for FREE.

Yes, for FREE! That’s how important we think they are. They’re just as important to us as they are to you and it really is a must for any professional photographer.

You WILL benefit from the experience.


What Do I Get?
At Campbell Photographic not only is the pre-wedding shoot free, but you also get an A3, framed copy of your favourite picture no extra cost – this is our gift to you!
PLUS, all the pictures from the shoot will be included on your e-shop, so friends and family can purchase their favourite prints as well.

The only problem you’ll have is choosing which one of all your great shots to have in your free frame!


Here is a small selection of photos from some recent pre-wedding shoots. To see more of our work visit one of our galleries at:-

Campbell Photographic
Facebook
Flickr

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Choosing your Wedding Dress

Now I'm no expert in this department, but I do have some simple advice on the subject of choosing your Wedding Dress.

I still remember shopping for my wedding dress. The first thing the assistant did was to try and sell me the most expensive one in the shop and a cut that was totally unsuitable for someone with my figure. I have a small frame and I'm only 5ft 3ins, so something with loads of layers and flared out would not have been suitable for me. I would've been lost in a dress like that!

Instead I went for something very simple and elegant (I think it was an empire line cut). It had little spaghetti straps and was ruffled on the bust, which is apparently good for ladies like me that are smaller in that area :-) (apparently it makes your bust seem bigger somehow).

However, I still stuffed some "chicken fillets" down my bra - just to give me a little enhancement (if you know what I mean :-)).

You can buy all sorts of clever things to go into your bra. One of the best places I found is La Senza and while you're there you can look at some underwear for your wedding day and your honeymoon (wink, wink!).

(Me on my wedding day)

Here's a few nice examples of dresses:-

Basically, what I am trying to say is think about what sort of figure you have and be honest with yourself. We all have dreams of that beautiful princess wedding dress, but very few can really pull it off. Don't just pick a beautiful dress, pick the dress that makes YOU look beautiful.

Size & Shape

Make sure you think about your height, your weight, your shape, if you're a fuller busted lady or smaller busted lady or somewhere in between. You might be thin, but do you have the hips to carry off the clingy, slinky dress, or are you straight up and down? Broad sholders? Short legs/long body?

All these things will affect the type and style of dress that will suit you and show your figure off the best way.

Whatever you choose, it should show off your figure! Whether you're petite, curvy or a lady with a fuller figure, don't be scared to show of your figure. I have been to so many weddings where the bride has chosen a dress that is totally wrong for her figure (many end up looking like their cake!).

Remember at the end of the day you want people to notice you and remember how good you looked in that dress, not how much the dress looked like your wedding cake or remember the dress and forget who was in it because you were swamped by it!

Add a Splash of Colour

Who says your dress has to be white? You can choose white with some red (which I always like). I've seen a silver wedding dress with some purple (see above)! You could always go with your favourite colour. I went for ivory but looking back now I would've liked something in red. But red is a very bold colour and is very, very difficult to pull off (it usually works well with pale skin and dark hair). When picking the colour remember you don't want a colour that does not suit your completion.

You and your dress should set the the colours and theme for the whole wedding, not the other way round. We've seen so many brides in the wrong dress because they decided on the colour scheme for the wedding first and ended up in a dress that didn't suit them or was totally the wrong colour for them.

Don't forget your shoes! These should either match or compliment your dress and be comfortable for you to be wearing all day. Or have two sets of shoes. one for getting married, photos, etc, and then slip into a comfortable pair for spending the rest of the day/dancing in.

I went for a wide sling back with a block heal simply because I usually don't wear high heels and they were more than comfortable for me all day. Some bridal shops even do boots, which is different.

Advice, Advice and more Advice

There is plenty of advice about on so many parts of your day in wedding magazines and online. The advice they give is usually really good and the magazines will usually have an article on specific issues each month. Most magazines will show the different styles and types of dresses, shoes, cakes, cars, etc.

But be aware that all their advice will be geared around whatever the latest fashion or craze is, or steered towards whatever the latest celeb has worn at their wedding, etc.

My best ever peice of advice is - Do what YOU want to do, not what some magazine SAYS you should do and make sure you enjoy yourselves no matter what!

Magazines look at:

Wedding Ideas

Bride & Groom

You and Your Wedding

Brides Magazine

Wedding Magazine

Places to buy Bridal Wear:

Dynasty

Debenhams

BHS

Pronuptia

Littlewoods

Precious Moments

Brideswear Revisted

Matchmaker Bride

Nualas

Jane Jansen

A Few Favourites

We’ve been lucky enough to have worked at some great venues over the years.

Not just on weddings and not just doing photos. We’ve been involved with videos, pre-wedding shoots, corporate events, team building exercises and much more.

Here are a few of our favourite venues:-

Gosfield Hall http://www.brideshead.co.uk/gosfield_main.html

(see gallery)

Hatfield House http://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/
Ross and I did a pre-wedding shoot here late last year. We all had a fun day, especially the bride-to-be when we got her on the swings. Ross was even brave enough to climb up on top of a climbing frame and get a beautiful shot of the couple.

Bush Hall http://www.bush-hall.com/

(see gallery)

Maidens Barn http://www.maidensbarn.com/

(see gallery)

The Fennes http://www.fennes.co.uk/
On 1st September 2008, we had the privilege of photographing their first ever outside ceremony for a lovely couple called Julie & David (see post below). We also did their Pre-Wedding Shoot here.

Braintree Registry Office http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/microsites/virtualtours/braintree.htm

This registry office is one of the prettiest I have ever seen. Ross and I had the pleasure of photographing at this venue last year.

(see gallery)


Woodhall Manor http://www.woodhallmanor.co.uk/
The ceremony room at this venue is very dark and it can get very hot as the tiny windows don’t open (I think it used to be a squash court). However, if the weather is nice, this venue does have somewhere outside for your ceremony, has some lovely grounds and the actual house is lovely inside with some great locations for couple shots.

Theobalds Park http://www.deverevenues.co.uk/find-venue/theobalds-park.html

Hunton Park http://www.deverevenues.co.uk/find-venue/hunton-park.html

Buxted Park http://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/buxtedpark

Maison Talbooth http://www.milsomhotels.com/maison/

Ware Priory http://www.warepriory.co.uk/

Manor of Groves http://www.manorofgroves.co.uk/

Stockbrook Manor http://www.stockbrook.com/

Crondon Park http://www.crondon.com/home.htm

Downhall http://www.downhall.co.uk/

Ponsbourne Park http://www.ponsbournepark.com/

Tips for choosing your Venue

Choosing the right venue for your special day is about a lot more than just how pretty the gardens are. There’s a lot to think about as you look around and ooh and ahh. Here are a few things tips to help you:-

Size Matters!
When choosing your venue think about the size of your wedding.

Are you having a small wedding? Ross and I only had about 30 guests, so a venue like Gosfield Hall or Downhall may not necessarily have been suitable.

Somewhere like Maidens Barn might have been more suitable, as it is more for small weddings. It has a nice lawn out front surrounded by flowers and fields, just enough for small groups shots. This is just one of many smaller venues. If you go on the internet I am sure you will find many more.

(view this gallery here)

However, if you are having a larger wedding then maybe somewhere like Gosfield Hall or Quendon Hall would be ideal. They have large beautiful grounds and are also very stunning inside. Ross took some stunning pictures of one of our brides in the bridal suite at Gosfield Hall. As you can see it is very spacious and beautifully decorated.

(view this gallery here)

The Fennes is also a lovely venue for larger weddings. It has plenty of grounds and you can have your ceremony outside!
On 1st September 2008, we had the privilege of photographing their first ever outside ceremony for a lovely couple called Julie & David.

When to view
Most venues look great in the height of summer on a beautiful sunny day. But if you’re intending to get married in November, go and see the venue IN NOVEMBER. It will feel completely different, colder and the light will be totally different.
Most couples should be looking to book their venue at least a year in advance anyway, so visiting at a similar time of year shouldn’t be a problem.


Rain – well it is England!
We all hope that our special day is going to be bright and sunny. But, just for a moment and boring as we know it is, stop and think realistically for a second.

We live in one of the wettest countries on the planet and the last few years … well they have been just awful, haven’t they?

Whatever venue you choose, you should consider contingency plans for the typical English summer. Look around and ask what they do if it rains.
Do they have somewhere big enough for you and your guests to go if it’s raining? A lot of venues need you outside while they convert the dining room for the evening disco. Where do they put you if it’s pouring?

Importantly from our point of view, is there somewhere to do your photos indoors? Somewhere spacious and pretty is the most ideal, but that’s not always possible. However, as long as there is somewhere to go, your photographer should do their best to work in the surroundings they’re given.
Just remember, if your photographer has to work inside, they may not have the same freedom as if you were outside. Restrictions on space and where you may be allowed to go inside the building will be a factor, but also lighting.
Many photographers, including us, prefer to work with natural light as it produces a more pleasing look than flash (some disagree). But if the inside of your venue is already dark and dingy, then a dark, overcast sky outside is going to do nothing to improve matters!
However, all Professional Photographers will carry some kind of lighting system with them just in case they have to shoot indoors (if they don’t – stay away from them), but remember that the final images may not look as nice as ones taken with natural light.


Do your research
Before you commit to a venue, make sure to check out the following:-

Does the venue have a good track record for what they offer?
Go to online wedding forums. Others may have used your choice of venue and may have comments. Talk to friends and family. They may know someone that used your venue, or used it themselves.

Have they done many weddings?
Just ask. They shouldn’t have a problem telling you.

Will there be another event going on at the same time as your wedding?
Sounds silly, but check. Some venues will hold more than one event. This can cause restrictions on where you can go, timings of things and in some cases, availability of staff.
There are also other problems that may happen. We did a venue a few years back where one wedding had a free bar and the other didn’t. People from the other wedding took advantage of this. Now I wouldn’t have liked to pay that bar bill, would you!?
We’ve also seen wedding videos with couples, when suddenly they say “who’s that”? Turns out guests from the other functions had been filmed. Obviously their videographer wasn’t to know, but it can be a bit of a problem.

Does the venue offer discounted rooms for guests at your wedding?
Some venues will have some kind of discount available for any of your guests that want to stay over. But make sure you ask because if you don’t ask they may not offer it …. unless it’s stated in your wedding package details.

Does the price they have quoted you include everything you want?
Most importantly make sure the price includes VAT. I don’t know any venue in UK that isn’t VAT registered, so when they give you a price ask if it includes VAT or is PLUS VAT.

Catering
Can you bring your own caterers in? Many venues offer great packages, but dictate that you use a specific caterer. This can really push prices up (usually because the prices are higher than normal to include the hotel kick back).

Some Pics of us.

Hi Everyone,

Here's a couple of nice pictures we took of each other awhile back:

I love the angle of this picture of me, I did the photoshop on all these pictures.