Wedding photographer Becky Kerr and You & Your Wedding features writer (and bride-to-be!) Maia Andrews are now online, so please post your questions about your wedding photography by clicking the “post reply” button in this thread and Becky and Maia will try to answer them as quickly as possible.

We'll keep track of everyone's questions, so don't worry, we won't miss you out! But please bear with us as it may take a little time to get through everyone!

Thanks,
Web Editor

Hi Becky

I hope you get the opportunity to read my post as I’m sure you’ll get plenty of questions!

Please can you give me your interpretation of what reportage and candid shots mean as they seem to be different for each Photographer!

Also, I am interested to know why the majority of Photographers now-a-days always want to steer clear of group shots? We met with 2 who actually said they couldn’t work with us if that’s what we want - and we’re the customer!

Thank you so much for reading my post & best wishes.

Julie x

Hiya!
This is a question on behalf of my husband - he's just decided that he wants to start up his own photogrpahy business, how and where should he start?!?
Thank you so much - he'll REALLy appreciate me getting some professional advice!!!

Thanks a Lot!!!

xPiNKx

Hi Becky,
we were hoping to just have one photographer for the formal shots and then get an experienced family member to capture some of the more random shots.
Is this sort of thing generally well received by photographers? Obviously she won't be trying to get the formal shots and will keep out of his/her way- but is it a bit cheeky?

Thanks
Lisa

Hi Becky
I am really not keen on having lots of photographs that take ages and sit in an album. I would like to work with a budget of £300 (I live in the midlands - not the south!) what kind of shots do you think I should hope to get for that budget - I want most to be quite natural and not forced!

Would appreciate any advice you can give - this area is causing me the most stress!

Thanks
Sarah

Hello,

We are on a tight budget for our wedding and the prices of wedding photography vary considerably in my area. We have seen prices from £500 to well over a thousand and some of the packages they offer are exactly the same. So do you really get what you pay for i.e as in quality of photos or do some places just add money on as soon as they know its for a wedding. Would you reccommed going for the cheaper options?

Thanks

Hi Julie,
Thanks for your question.
Reportage - Relaxed style, capturing the tone and feel of the day – telling a story.

A lot of photographers just like to stick to this style and do not want to do group shots but there should be plenty of photographers out there that will do a mixture on the day.
It is really important to brief the photographer.

At least the photographers you've seen are telling you what they will and won't do thus reducing the chance of you being let down.

Becky

Hi Lisa-Lou

I don't think that this should be a problem for any reasonably flexible photographer. You'll be the ones paying them for their services so it's really up to you how much you want them to do. You just need to perhaps negotiate a price for the amount of prints you want.

The only real problem I can envisage is that a lot of photographers have a set package for a set amount of prints, and even if you don't take them up on the whole lot you may still have to pay the full package price.

Explain the situation to anyone you contact straight away and you should imediately be able to gage whether they have a problem with it.

Best wishes

Maia

Dear Pink

Obviously at this stage I do not know what grounding your husband has. However a few rules of thumb should help. Work experience with a few photographers of varying styles would be a good insight. Peak District photography centre courses - 01298 214438 are very good for honing skills and focusing on individual facets of improving as a wedding photographer.

Good luck to him.

Thanks

Becky

Hi Becky

Do you have any tips for relaxing in front of the camera? I absolutely hate having my photograph taken and get extremely tense, finding it hard to relax. I'm hoping on my wedding day I will be so happy that I will not mind but if you have any tips that would be great!!

Thanks

Serena x

QUESTION FROM KBL...

Hi Becky,

I have seen a photographer I like the sound of. His website is great and he has won several awards for his work. Because of this, his packages start at £2,000 which seems quite expensive to me.

I was just wondering if you had any tips as to what the most important things are to look for. How many pics I might get, how long he stays for etc? And, in your honest opinion, is this rather expensive or am I being niave to expect to pay about £1,300?

Many thanks

Katie

Dear Sarah

I understand that your budget is limited but a photographer can only work at one wedding in a day so therefore charge by the day.

I suggest that You need to find someone who does does it as a hobby or a student looking to build a portfolio to get the images you want within your budget. Try your local FE college and / or nightschool classes.

Thanks

Becky

Hi Kell86

I would generally say you do get what you pay for but there are exceptions to this rule. Some of the very best photographers charge thousands of pounds but some of the photos they get can be absolutely amazing. Saying that, a friend of mine recently found a photographer who stayed at the wedding for hours, got some really good photographs and only charged a few hundred pounds.

Make sure you shop around and see photos from one wedding rather than a selection from lots of weddings, as these are easier to put together. Remember that the wedding photographs are the one thing you have left after the wedding so i would always advise spending as much on the pictures as you can. But don't spend your whole wedding fund! There are some good photographers out there who may just be starting out and you may find a gem!

Sometimes the cost of an album is also included so you may be able to spend more on the actual prints by putting together an album yourself.

Hope that helps!

Maia

Hi Becky

I'm getting married 2 Dec at 4pm so it's obvioulsy going to dark. Would it still be possible to take photos outside and be able to see some of the background? The builiding will be floodlit, does this help? Or should we just stick to inside shots?
Thanks.

Thanks for your reply Becky. Luckily we have found a FAB Photographer who is happy to do what we want as the customer. A real mixture of traditional, formal and relaxed shots.
I was just a bit surprised that's all. But yes we did appreciate their honesty. It is a shame as one of them - we totally adored his Photographs.

Best Wishes
Julie x

Hi Serena

If you're really worried a number of photographers now offer a pre-wedding shoot to help you relax in front of the camera, learn a few techniques on how to pose and also end up with a lovely engagement photo.

A good photographer should be able to guide you and help you to feel relaxed. Make sure you pick someone you have a bit of a rapport with. Try and have a chat to them beforethe wedding, tell them you're a little nervous and perhaps visit the venue so you know exactly how it will all happen on the day and where you'll be standing etc.

Also, don't get ivolved in running around finding family memebers for the photos - that's what your bridesmaids and ushers are for. Take time between pics to compose yourself, have a drink and relax - let other people run around.

If you feel yourself getting tense, take a few deep breaths to calm yourself down. I think most brides find that they're so excited on the day that they won't have time to feel worried or nervous - you'll be too busy enjoying yourself!

Last tip - make sure you wear waterproof mascara. You don't want to be worrying about running eye make-up after the ceremony!

Good luck!

Maia

Hi Becky,

Most photographers won't sell the copyright to your photographs, why is this so!! Is there any way around it. I want a certain number of proofs , maybe about 30-40 on a CD which I can print out, the photographer says he can provide me with a CD but just to look at.
I would like to have the option of making my own storybook in future.....and what happens 40 years down the line when he's gone to meet his maker ( I know this sounds harsh) and my grandchildren want to have access to my photographs cause my initial album fell prey to a horrendous fire, this is all hypothetical but just wanted to know if there is a way round it.

Thanx Jess

[Modified by: Jess17 on October 10, 2006 04:42 PM]

Hi Becky
How long do you think is the right amount of time to leave for wedding photos outside a church, for a wedding of about 80 guest (if everyone co-operates!) Thanks x

hi becky,

i am getting married in the midlands in august 2008, and just wandered if you could recommend any good photographers in this area. we have a budget of about £1000, and want a mixture of posed as well as more natural shots.

we went to see one photographer whom i was really impressed with, however, she told me she would send me a slideshow on cd of a particular wedding shot at our venue, for me to have a look at after meeting with her and viewing some of her other work. however, this meeting was about 6 weeks ago now and i still haven't recieved the cd- should this ring alarm bells in my head about her reliability?? what do u think?

thanks

jules

Hi Becky, hi Maia

Is it better to have two photographers at your wedding so that you get an all round feel of the wedding? I liked the fact at my sisters wedding with 2 people taking pictures one got the grooms reaction to the bride walking in and the other what the bride was seeing as she went down the aisle.

thanks Trevi

Hi Becky - another question for you - what happens if your photographer is sick on the day or has a family emergency?

Thanks x