How to Choose a Destination Wedding Photographer
Seems an odd subject for a wedding photographer to blog about but the this does interest me and of course I hope the answer is “just use Neil Cooling!”. Here are some headings and questions to consider when choosing your destination wedding photographer.
Top tip no #1 - Avoid friends and family
- Are they experienced wedding photographers with a portfolio that you really like?
- Will they have the right equipment with them and what happens if their camera fails?
- What will be their priority on the wedding day, having a good time or photographing all aspects of the wedding?
Top tip no #2 - Start the search early
Typically start looking for your photographer one year in advance if it’s a summer wedding
Top tip no #3 - Determine what style suits you
- Classic - traditional with client’s photos list?
- Photojournalistic, documentary style, informal and natural?
- Illustrative - classic and photojournalistic combined?
- Fashion - dramatic and styled?
Each are different, and photographers tend to specialise on a certain style. Which style do you like?
Top tip no #4 - Where to find the photographer
- Do you have personal recommendations from the venue, wedding planner or other person familiar with the locality?
- Check out their website, Facebook and Instagram – beware some work displayed may not be theirs
- Read the reviews - cross check the client names to ensure they are genuine.
- Try and get a feeling for the photographer’s approach and personality.
Top tip no #5 - Create a shortlist
- Style of photographs, do you like them?
- Personality, personal style and skills, do they meet your requirements?
- Price - set a range, will you be prepared to pay more for the right photographer?
Top tip no #6 - Interview the photographers
- Are they experienced, suitably skilled, registered and insured?
- Do they carry back up equipment?
- What involvement will the photographer have with you prior to the wedding?
- How will they conduct themselves on the wedding day?
- Do you like them, and can you imagine spending a full day in their company and will the guests be able to relax with them too?
- Do you trust them to record your wedding day?
Top tip no #7 - Check out the package
- What is the fee and how is it paid?
- What elements of the day will the photographer cover and what happens if the timings overrun?
- How do you receive the images and how many will you receive?
- What is the post production process and what happens if you would like some changes made?
- Is there anything in the contract that concerns you?
Top tip no # 8 - Make a decision
- Revisit the portfolio, is it a style you love?
- Revisit your interview notes, have you missed anything?
- Consider the value of the photographs - the guests, the key moments and the emotions all need to be captured by the photographer.
- Do you like the photographer, will you and the guests be comfortable around them, do you trust them to record your wedding day?
If you are looking for a relaxed, friendly and fun photographer who adopts a natural style, who loves to get to know his customers, to understand their likes and dislikes that is me. Laura and Dave did and were very pleased with the result,
“Thank you so much for everything! It was great for you to be a part of our day, and we do hope you enjoyed it too.
The photo gallery is STUNNING! Thank you so much - the photos are just gorgeous and we don't have any edits to suggest. We are so happy in particular about all of the wonderful guest photos you took - without which I think a lot of the different elements of the day may have been lost!
Absolutely in love with photos 160, 279 and 281 in particular!
Thanks again Neil"
Contact me at https://www.neilcoolingphotography.com/contact.html and hopefully I will be available for your wedding.
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Like many I use Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+ and Twitter as well as having my website visible to Google and Bing search engines. But is this enough?
I do find it easier to post stories around an image on Instagram and then share it on Facebook and Twitter. I get lots of "Likes" and slowly I am building a following. I have also invested in Facebook and used that to build my "Likes". I have not spent much time this year on my website Blog. Mainly because its not as easy and convenient for me, but perhaps I should. All the marketing gurus say the same thing; you must invest time in social media and keep investing time, be consistent, post regularly, be current, be interesting. Yes, but this takes up a lot of time.
Most clients find me via the website, one this week said they found me on Instagram; thats the first, some find me on Facebook. I have recently updated my website for search engine optimisation but I expect that could be better. Time will tell if more potential clients are directed to me when they search for photographers in SW France. I could do with a marketing buddy to help out and to do all these things but that has a cost. But is it a cost I should endure to help me with this conundrum?
Someone once said "if you keep on doing what you did you will get continue to get what you got". This is very apt and I recognise the way consumers buy is changing and I too need to change. I accept if I am to increase my social media exposure to enable potential clients to find me I need to invest more time in social media. Sounds like less time relaxing to me, but hay ho needs must and here I am writing a blog.
The wedding day was relaxed but clearly somebody had been busy making and placing the wedding decorations. The ceremony location, the reception area and the courtyard had all been decorated with flowers, ribbons, decorated old jam jars, wine boxes and lots of gypsophila.
Whilst Jenni was getting ready and drinking Champagne David and the guys were preparing themselves by drinking their favourite The Balvenie whisky. The whisky helped loosen them up for some photographs.
It was an emotional time when Jenni's father entered to collect Jenni for the wedding. It clearly was a proud moment.
The wedding ceremony was lovely, Jenni looked beautiful as did the 4 bridesmaids and 2 flower girls, the sun shone, and everyone relaxed and enjoyed the wedding.
A little later after canapés and of course a few drinks we had some fun with the group photographs and created a few non-standard poses.
The reception followed the speeches which produced lots of laughter and everyone got their own badge!
Then later the guests enjoyed a lovely cheese cake.
Later as the sun set Jenni & David took time to get their photographs taken amongst the grapevines followed by some fun with sparklers.
It was a great wedding, relaxed, emotional and memorable for all the right reasons.
Neil and the groomsmen were getting ready in the coach house and once ready were rewarded by a bottle of Vintage Port to calm their nerves before heading to the village bar.
Rachael of course was in the Chateau where her family had spent many hours preparing the staircase and other areas.
Once ready the bridesmaids then Rachael and her Father were transported to the church in a lovely vintage Citroen. On arrival at the church Rachael was early and the Priest asked us to wait outside. Then there was a sudden downpour and it was fortunate that the local Tratoria was open and we rushed inside for shelter.
After 10 minutes the Priest was ready and the church with its white flower decorations provided a lovely setting for the catholic blessing.
After the ceremony there was time to have a quick stroll around Saint Severin before heading back to the Chateau.
The vin d’honneur took place on the terrace of the Chateau and everyone relaxed and enjoyed the sunshine. There was of course a few guests who quickly got into the party spirit.
Later in the afternoon Rachael and Neil took some time out to take a stroll around the grounds of the Chateau.
The wedding breakfast was arranged in a marque positioned in front of the Chateau and at the appropriate time the wedding party settled down to their meal.
Afterwards as the sun set the wedding party got into full swing and clearly everyone was enjoying themselves.
Other than the vintage Citroen breaking down and failing to collect the new bride and groom the months of planning and creating decorations and details came together and the wedding day was enjoyed by everyone.
It was a wonderful day with lots of love, laughter and tears of joy. Everyone enjoyed themselves and I had a great time too.
]]>When I arrived Lauren and the bridesmaids were all getting ready in the honeymoon suite, a private suite set on its own down by the lake. Everyone was relaxed and arranging hair, makeup, dresses and of course drinking Champagne. Lauren had as I expected chosen a wow dress. It and the jeweled shoes looked fabulous.
Matt and the guys were all getting ready in the main house. The bow ties caused a challenge but they overcame that and looked very smart in their tuxedos.
Back at the honeymoon suite Lauren was ready early and had time to relax. Dad arriving obviously caused some emotions.
So all was set for a beautiful wedding. White flowers, white lanterns and white rose petals decorated the wedding area and it really did look lovely.
Afterwards the guests made their way to the south facing terrace where canapés and drinks were being served. Glitter balloons added some glamour, Phil the "Saxman" played in the background and parasols and sun brollies were in place as it was forecasted to be a hot day and it was.
Almost all the guests adopted the black and white theme but there were a few "offenders" but nobody seemed to object.
The grounds of the Chartreuse du Bignac provided lots of variation for the guests to relax, tree shaded areas, walled gardens and open grass areas were all popular. The black and white theme did make for some good photography although it did prove a challenge setting the white balance during post production.
During the reception there were some fun activities like frightening the bride in a chair lift. It was spontaneous, she didn't expect it and nor did I. But it made everyone laugh, except Lauren.
Afterwards we took some time out to wander around the grounds and photograph Lauren and Matt relaxing. The setting was beautiful and Lauren and Matt looked great.
On the west facing terrace the hotel had set up the wedding reception. Again there was details everywhere, clearly Lauren had been very busy planning this theme and it looked stunning with the white and copper theme.
There was lots of choice when it came to drinks and they were in abundance too; ready for the party that would of course follow later on.
It was great to capture some fun images during the reception. The fun face cards provided on the tables of course helped.
The speeches followed and there was laughter and tears. Everyone was having a great time.
As the sun started to set the party started. Initially it was drinks outside on the lawn but as the sun set the first dance followed and the party got into full swing.
Later on the Fish and Chip van arrived. Again a surprise to me and a good idea I thought; it provided some welcome fuel for the party goers but Matt's Mum and Mia the Flower girl were the first.
As I left the party was in full swing; it was going to be a late night for them but it was a great location for a wedding party.
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The settling for the ceremony was behind the Salle de Fetes in Saint Privat and was lovely. Rose petals on the floor, flowers, voile and ribbons in the trees, wooden benches for the guests and a ceremony area decorated in flowers and voile; it was really pretty. The children led the wedding party to the ceremony and the sun shone through the trees to create dappled light to make it special.
The ceremony was very informal and very long as all 6 bridesmaids and 6 best men gave a speech and it created lots of laughter. It was very personal and lovely. After the ceremony it was time to celebrate and drinks flowed and canapés were served. The Candy Stripes were there and they entertained and were enjoyed by everyone. There seemed to be no formal plan and everyone went with the flow which was great. I didn't know what was happening next so had to stay alert and I was pleased I managed to capture some of the impromptu fun in my photographs. I particularly liked the wedding bouquet throw to the single men and I wasn't expecting them all to run away as it was thrown, it was funny and everyone laughed.
Running almost 2 hours late the guests finally sat down at the wedding breakfast and the Bride and Groom entered to much applause. What a day that was.
I arrived to see Charlotte’s team of helpers had decorated the entrance and outside areas of the Chateau. Clearly someone had been planning ahead.
Charlotte and the girls were getting ready upstairs and Chris and the boys downstairs. Everyone was remarkably relaxed.
Guided by Milo the Labrador Charlotte and her Dad made their way to the Chapel. The setting was really lovely.
The weather forecast in France is normally accurate and it promised a sunny +30oC, so it was going to be a hot one. But as the day progressed it seemed to get hotter and hotter more like late 30’s than early 30's. We all baked in the heat but remarkably Charlotte and Chris didn't look like they were suffering.
Charlotte looked beautiful in her stunning dress and Chris looked very smart. The bridesmaids and flower girls in their grey and pink dresses and the guys in blue suits and pink ties all looked very coordinated and a pleasure to photograph.
Janet and Gerry, the chateau’s owners had worked their normal magic and the venue looked lovey. After the ceremony those cool drinks were in demand and the fun soon started.
Everything went to plan and everyone certainly looked like they enjoyed the day but boy was it hot.
The party was in full swing in the Coach House when I left.
Thanks to Charlotte and Chris for letting me be involved in their wedding day.
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Chateau Fayolle looked lovely inside. Janet and team had decorated the ceremony room in fairy lights and candles and it looked pretty and felt cosy and relaxed, ideal for Rosie and Alex. Rosie looked beautiful in her wedding gown as did the bridesmaids. Alex and the best men adopted a smart and relaxed look which suited their personalities and the venue.
Yes the rain had an impact on the photography and we had to hastily take the outdoor group shots in between showers. We had some fun with the umbrellas and a leak in the gutter over a walkway focused the guests otherwise they would get drenched.
There were lots of emotions on show, laughter and tears. Its not the weather that makes a great wedding day its the venue and the attendees. The guests embraced the day in the rain, enjoyed the food and drink, celebrated and had fun and partied into the night.
Well done to everyone involved and thanks Rosie and Alex for allowing me to be involved.
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Me, I bought a bowler hat, heard a young child say "Mummy why has that man got a funny hat and glasses on", I had a great time, I met lots of characters, walked miles and drank too much Ale.
Do visit The Asylum Photos to view the full gallery and if you are in one of the photographs and would like to download a copy for your privateuse just email me.
If you are looking to visit next years festival then keep an eye on The Asylum Steampunk Festival website.
For those asking what is Steampunk, here is one definition;
Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction or science fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. Although its literary origins are sometimes associated with the cyberpunk genre, steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the 19th century's British Victorian era or American "Wild West", in a post-apocalyptic future during which steam power has maintained mainstream usage, or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power. Therefore, steampunk may be described as neo-Victorian. Steampunk perhaps most recognisably features anachronistic technologies or retro-futuristic inventions as people in the 19th century might have envisioned them, and is likewise rooted in the era's perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, and art. Such technology may include fictional machines like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne. Other examples of steampunk contain alternative-history-style presentations of such technology as lighter-than-air airships, analogue computers, or such digital mechanical computers as Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine. Steampunk may also incorporate additional elements from the genres of fantasy, horror, historical fiction, alternate history, or other branches of speculative fiction, making it often a hybrid genre. The first known appearance of the term steampunk was in 1987, though it now retroactively refers to many works of fiction created as far back as the 1950s or 1960s. Steampunk also refers to any of the artistic styles, clothing fashions, or subcultures that have developed from the aesthetics of steampunk fiction, Victorian-era fiction, art nouveau design, and films from the mid-20th century. Various modern utilitarian objects have been modded by individual artisans into a pseudo-Victorian mechanical "steampunk" style, and a number of visual and musical artists have been described as steampunk.
- Accommodation 1296
- Apparel 1653
- Beauty 341
- Cakes 2281
- Catering 2108
- DJ 3006
- Favours 1233
- Flowers 3577
- Formal Wear 243
- Invitations 2228
- Jewellery 946
- Musicians 1876
- Officiants 1905
- Photographers 15887
- Planning & design 7485
- Props 2073
- Transport 991
- Venues 6175
So it seems brides to-be have an enormous choice when it comes to selecting their photographer which is good for them and keeps all us professionals on our toes. We need to up our game, as they say, and showcase our services and qualites so the bride to be makes the right choice. Joining societies or photography groups may help, as will the look and feel of your website and your Facebook site. This all helps but as we all know to stand out we need to be different and as I am now entering the world of marketing I will stop there.
Good luck to all you wedding photographers.
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I do love a bit of sparkle on my wedding USBs and these didn't disappoint. A 8Gb crystal and chrome twist USB in a deluxe presentation box with gift bag and lots or ribbons make these a lovely way to present the Bride and Groom with their digital images. They can of course be personalised but I am sure most couples will love them as they are.
So having received my initial stocks for the 2017 wedding season early it means I have one less thing to worry about for next year.
Later they regretted the scrimping. "At the time we were pleased we had the day we wanted. We chose to document the day with a few cheap disposable cameras rather than spending money on a photographer. The few photos we had to remember our special day were fuzzy group shots with red eyes".
Seven years later her husband died of cancer and Charlotte has no wedding photos to show her daughter. She said "I wish that we had splashed out on an official photographer who could have captured our happiness on our special day. It would have been the best money we had ever spent".
Yes this is a sad and a very unfortunate situation and I feel for Charlotte and her family.
So why share this sad story? Well 2016 for me showed it is becoming more common to have a relative or friend with a decent camera take photographs at a wedding and a number of my opportunities for this year were lost to these relatives and friends. I understand of course this would represent a big saving on the cost of the wedding but having a set of professional images that tell the story of this special day are so precious and not employing a professional photographer may be a false economy.
- time expended during any pre-wedding meetings;
- time expended on the wedding day, determined by the package the couple choose;
- travel time and expenses to and from the wedding;
- time expended on post production;
- cost of supplying wedding usb;
- cost of supplying and preparing the wedding album (if selected);
- packaging and posting wedding usb and album.
But on reflection there was of course other overhead costs to include that were less obvious. These all have to be totalled up and divided by the expected number of wedding assignments;
- insurance costs;
- marketing costs (maintaining the website plus any subscription, referral and marketing campaign costs);
- Professional membership subscriptions for continuing professional development as well as providing clients with some confidence regarding standards of work;
- Equipment maintenance, cleaning, calibration and replacement.
I also had to determine my day or hourly rate and take into account the taxes I would need to pay.
When you set all this out on a spreadsheet it shows you the true cost of providing a wedding photography service and you soon recognise the cost difference between providing a professional service and a part time service.
Sadly correctly determining the cost of providing a professional wedding photography service does not guarantee you will get any more work because you also need to be competitive. Reviewing the competition is another interesting exercise to undertake and at the end of that process you can clearly determine where your charge sits compared to the other wedding photographers in your area.
I found this an interesting exercise, it ensures I correctly cost and charge for my services because I now have a model that determines my true cost so now I know what profit I am making on a wedding assignment or not depending on the agreed charge and I recommend everyone to do this.
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The wedding was taking place at at the Luxury Weddings France venue at Bellevue, Birac in the Charente department of France. Rain was forecast but the day was sunny. The forecast said a storm would arrive at 3pm just as the ceremony was starting so the decision was made to bring the ceremony forward 30 minutes. Everyone rushed around and the ceremony started and was almost finished when at 3pm the black clouds arrived and with it a rain storm. The venue cleverly utilised the sun parasols to provide shelter to the guests and everyone made their way to the barn. This photograph shows the bride and groom being rescued from the ceremony with the best man holding the parasol and chief bridesmaid helping with the brides dress. From a photography point of view the remainder of the day was very stop start as it involved grabbing outdoor images in between the down pours. It was in the end a fantastic day, everyone enjoyed it and we captured all the photographs we planned to, it just needed patience.
This week I received feedback from John and Sarah a couple who were married in May at the Luxury French Wedding venue at Bellevue near Birac. They were a lovely relaxed couple I met them at the pre-wedding meeting and amazingly they remained relaxed on their wedding day. They wanted the photographer to quietly record the day, to be able to go with the flow and be unobtrusive. Yes there was a wedding photography plan so we did have a plan for the day and we generally stuck to it. I was very pleased with the final results and so were they and then to receive this feedback some 4 months later makes me feel so proud.
After our first encounter he understood straight away what type of photographer we would like. One comment he said was ‘I will be there all day but you will hardly see me’. This was so true, even the guests stated that he just blended in. This is how he managed to get such lovely moment catching photos and keeping the day relaxed for us. That said, his staged shots are amazing also, his aspect ratio of land sky and scenery are excellent. We would recommend Neil any day of the week. Great guy, he helped to make our special day and the photos make it last forever.
Thank you John and Sarah.
It maybe because I have an eye for detail or I am conscientious or just organised or worried I will miss something but I always draft, issue, discuss and agree a photography plan for the wedding day with the bride and groom. I then use this as my checklist on the wedding day. Some can be simple but some can be quite detailed. Two examples are, the wedding family that provided the feedback had 24 formal group photographs on their plan which is a lot and I have a wedding next week where the bride to-be has sent me some sample images of certain photographs and poses she likes as well as a short list of formal group requirements. Had these couples not done this then some of the expected photographs would have been missed.
My customer service background tells me that to satisfy the customer you must as a minimum identify the customers needs, agree a plan with the customer and deliver as promised and to delight the customer you need to go that extra bit further. I don't think agreeing a photography plan is going that extra mile its just being professional don't you think?
After a coffee and gathering thoughts moment I decided perhaps I can restore the data. I contacted G-Technology and waited and this morning received the, no you cannot, news.
Thankfully its not all bad news as I did have a backup all be it an old one. So this afternoon I restored the old images backup dated 14 August 2014 and reloaded the last three assignments that were still intact on their CF cards. All I need to do now is re export the last weddings gallery images to the new images file and I am almost up to date.
I cannot imagine what I would have felt like had I got no backups. It would have been a major disaster but thankfully I had one. So the G-Technology investment at the start of this year has been worth it. I wonder do all photographers have this in place? I used to rely on simple backup devices but as the catalogue of photographs grows this becomes and became unmanageable.
So the lessons are, always double check before deleting files and more so for folders and ensure you always have a back up of your very important photography images.
I chose this image to accompany this Blog as I liked the idea of the hand horn presumably as a backup to the electric horn?
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Fast forward to August and I arrived at the venue to find guests chilling and drinking champagne, not a bad way to start the day. I went to see Penny and she along with the bridesmaids were drinking champagne too, they were all so relaxed. Lots of giggles and laughter which was a good sign. Gemma Welch had arrived and had already started on the long line for hair and makeup so we all just chatted and talked about the day ahead. Some photographs were taken of the details and the group and then I went to find Chris and the three best men, yes three. They were already dressed and drinking beer, the Bellevue bar had provided a jug of it and it seemed to be going down well.
We chatted and I found this to be a fun group not phased at all about the day ahead. We took some fun images of them messing around in front of the mirror and then I went to check out the marque.
The marque looked great. All decked out in peach and white. Jam jars wrapped in hessian and adorned with peach gerbera flowers and white gypsophila were really pretty, all provided by Mary Devereaux, peach lacy bows on chairs, and peach napkins and crystals on the tablecloths, I really liked it, sort of simple and fairy like but really pretty.
Then back to Penny who was having her hair and makeup done. After a while it was dress on time so made myself scare whist she dressed. 10 minutes later I was back to photograph the final stages of Penny getting ready, she loved fabulous. She made some final checks and emerged in her lovely fishtail gown, and along with the bridesmaids in peach and flower girls in white they together made for a good photograph. Arm in arm Penny and her dad Chris headed off to the ceremony.
The sky remained blue but at times it threatened to rain. The forecast said rain showers at 3pm and just at the end it started to shower the wedding party so the parasols were sourced and the Bellevue staff held them high during the end of the ceremony but it soon passed over.
The ceremony was lovely as Ron the celebrant did a good job as ever. I like Ron he always remembers to let the photographer get the important shot. Afterwards the groomsmen and bridesmaids coupled up and made for a lovely photograph as they followed the bride and groom in search of the champagne celebration.
The afternoon seemed to quickly pass as friends and family got reacquainted and celebrated the wedding together. After a quiet period I needed to record the formal groups Penny and Chris requested so we gathered the guests and completed the formal photography.
Then some time later I whisked Penny and Chris off for some quiet time and a chance to photograph the two of them in a relaxed environment. The green of the vines and corn provided an ideal contrast to the grey suit and white gown and made for a great backdrop. As did the gentle shade of the tree lined avenue leading up to Bellevue where we also captured some nice images of Penny and Chris. So photographs complete and with the reception due in 30 minutes we headed back to the guests.
The reception was a fun affair, lots of speeches, laughter and tears then afterwards the party really go going with the DJ working his magic in the hall. The first dance, the croquembouche, dancing to Motown all followed and I left around 10pm but not before the last moonlit photograph was taken through the large wrought iron gates of the guests chilling in the still evening.
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The bride was 45 minutes late but the wait was worthwhile as she arrived in a vintage gown that looked fabulous. The forest clearing was all decked out in bunting and the guests seated on straw bales with cushions were comfortable during the wait. The ceremony went without any issues and two daughters taking part made it a very family affair. Afterwards as the bride and groom passed through a mist of lavender confetti the party started. Big blue skys and lots of sunshine, canapes and drinks made the afternoon go so quickly. Then, later than planned but who cared, seated under the sky and even more bunting the reception meal started.
French chic abounded, everyone was relaxed, the setting was very different and unique but everyone enjoyed it including me. Thanks to Ade and Ella for letting me be apart of their wedding and to Wendy & Mathew at Quirky Camping for a great day and alternative wedding venue.
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Anyway the real point of this note is to say that its not all about money its also about feeling good about what you do and this for me is so important.
After each wedding I always ask for feedback, and if you read my blog you will know how important feedback is to me. I learn from this feedback as we all would. So when I receive detailed feedback that is really positive about my work its fantastic and that happened this week.
I completed a wedding assignment at Chateau du Trichot on the Aquitaine Lot-et Garonne boarder near Tournon d'Agenais for a couple who had planned everything themselves and never even visited the venue. It was a lovely day, it was hot and tiring but I really enjoyed it so when I received their feedback (please read) I was overjoyed. It was so complimentary and it showed that my work ethic and style were recognised and appreciated. So thank you Billie-jo and Neil.
So its not all about the money.
I arrived early as normal to find John already dressed and ready for the day. He was of course looking forward to the days events but had no concerns at all. What a great attitude I thought. I went off to find Sarah and found her chilling in the bridal suite. Hair and makeup hadn't started yet but there was plenty of time she said. I took some detail photographs, flowers, shoes, dress etc and went off to find John relaxing at the bar. After taking some photographs of him and the best man it was back to Sarah. She was having her hair done by Emma and was drinking champagne, still very relaxed.
And that is how they both stayed throughout the day.
For me the photograph here summed up their relaxed attitude. It was taken late afternoon after all the ceremony, champagne reception and main photographs. I like to take away the bride and groom for some private time together and the first thing they did was find a quiet spot and sit down. John kicked off his shoes and they drank champagne and chatted. Nothing seemed to faze them and that for me made my job easier and the day was very enjoyable indeed, thank you John and Sarah.
The challenge for me as a local photographer is how do the prospective bride and groom find me and then what is needed for them to go on to book me?
What does my website need to say and show to get them to contact me and what needs to happen during that initial contact for them to agree to use me? Obviously I have read what the marketing types say I need to do and believe I have implemented much of it. I have taken 3rd party advice on my website and made changes to it to hopefully improve the visitor experience and I try to be polite, friendly and helpful when I am contacted. All I can do then is trust that my style and my charges are acceptable and keep my fingers crossed.
It was interesting reading Claire Penn's, a fellow wedding photographers, view on this subject on the French Wedding Style Blog. She pretty summed up the decision process of choosing a professional wedding photographer believing the decision required them to consider four topics and I agree with her. But obviously they need to find you first.
- Local v destination photographer
- Is it within my budget
- Do I like the style
- Do I like their personality
I like to think that I can tick all these boxes but that is down to the bride to-be to decide.
Getting married in France or indeed any foreign country can be fraught with difficulties but by using well established and reputable suppliers this process can be made a lot easier. But how do prospective brides and grooms to be find these suppliers when they are often 100's or 1000's of miles away?
Access a wedding supplier networking group.
I am in two.
I watched Emma Willett and the team start up their wedding suppliers networking business Getting Married in France and Brides in France, and I saw it gain momentum and grow and I thought I should get involved too. So as well as sharing images and stories I decided to pay my money and get included in their White Book. This directory provides prospective brides and grooms with a wealth of information and contacts for all things wedding. Its a great place to source your wedding suppliers from.
I also got involved with Monique Trulove and her wonderful French Wedding Style Blog. It claims to be the number 1 online resource for French styled weddings and its well established, very popular and very informative. It too has a supplier directory and so I joined that too.
So having spent my hard earned cash with these two ladies I hope my investment will pay off and it will help me grow my wedding photography business. Only time will tell...
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I along with the caterers, band and celebrant were not imported!
When I arrived everything looked just right and what followed was a beautiful relaxed wedding day. Everybody just chipped in and helped out and made it the wonderful day it was.
Well done Billie-Jo, Neil and co.
I believe in minimising my stress levels on a wedding day and that means avoiding any surprises I can and knowing the venue. So to have a relaxing look around in advance helps; this leads to me being relaxed more on the day and that hopefully shows to the bride and groom to-be. After all they will have more than enough stress on the day without worrying about me.
According to some venues I have spoken to about pre-wedding visits they say its unusual for photographers to visit them in advance of a wedding. I find this odd, how can a photographer provide the best service without visiting in advance? Obviously some venues may be quite simple in terms of location options but this venue was spread over 10 acres and had many secret spots that would help cease some stunning bride and groom images.
So I believe in pre-wedding venue visits because it helps me plan the day and provides the bride and groom some stunning images that may not have been possible with a photographer that wasn't familiar with the venue.
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On the weddings front we have bookings for next year and even an enquiry for 2015. Over the next few weeks i need to update the wedding details with the 2014 wedding album details. So its all go
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