10 tips to choose safely the right wedding photographer/videographer

So, you have arranged your wedding date and one of the most important "things to do" on your wedding list is to find the right photographer and videographer for you. You selected 4-5 (and maybe more) photographers and videographers according to their websites and their social media posts, but you still are not sure which one is the best for you.

Here are 10 tips to secure your final choice and find the right photographer/videographer for your wedding:

1.      Check photographer/videographer Google reviews about his work.

Usually, a photographer with an average of over 4.6-4.7 stars and more than 10 reviews for his business has no issues. Having 1-2 disappointed customers who placed 1 star for some reason, through the years it's something normal, that you don't have to worry about.

2.      Check his social media presence

Checking social media presence, it's not something about "having likes" (that is something everyone can easily pay to get those) but more if the photographer/videographer is active on social media and has an often presence on them.

3.      Look at the photographer's professional website

Does the photographer has one professional updated website, or you found him through his social media or a friend? Actually, I don't know any professional photographer and videographer who hasn’t a website for his business.

4.      Look at photographer’s listings

By placing a professional photographers name or brand on Google, usually, you find more than 4-5 listings of his business on different websites such as Confetti, Wedding Suppliers, Yell, etc. That means that the photographer’s business is well known in the market and wedding industry too.

5.      Check -if possible- photography/videography is what he does for a living

Nowadays everyone is a photographer. Everyone with a nice smartphone got involved with photography and sometimes with videography, he watched some Youtube tutorials, and then he bought a camera too for shooting weddings. Usually these kind of "professionals" are not professionals doing photography for living, but people that want to add some money to their income. And it's not bad at all, but you have to know with whom you are dealing.

6.      Ask for a full signed contract about photography and videography

Having a full signed contract from your photographer and videographer is the safest way to know exactly what you are supposed to have as services, the time you have hired him, and the terms and conditions, plus the paid deposit. A receipt for your deposit payment is also a must-have. A professional photographer and videographer who respects his job and his wedding couple will never refuse a signed contract.

7.       Be afraid of the very low prices.

Prices like £150 to £250 for wedding photography or videography, actually has nothing to do with a real professional. Of course, it's not the general rule as you can find real deals but not at those prices. The average for UK weddings photography or videography is around £1.400 and especially for North East around £1.200, but you can find great deals around £850-£1.100 too.

8.      Teams are better than one

Photography and videography teams with more than 2 members are the safest wedding photography/videography booking. Of course, there are fantastic "single" photographers or videographers but what happens if your photographer feels ill on your wedding date? Nobody can tell you safely that after one year nothing will happen to him. So, ask for teams… or ask for alternative solutions in the case that something goes wrong. Having a second solution, a second plan never harmed anyone.

9.      Ask for details, info, address, phone numbers, emails etc

The more info you have, the better is to get in touch with your photographer/videographer. A professional photographer and videographer will never refuse to give you his details to get in touch with him. Explain to him that you need to know all this information just in case you need to get in touch with him before the wedding and it will be fully understood.

10.   Arrange a pre-wedding shoot if that’s possible

I know, maybe it’s an extra cost for you, but having a pre-wedding photo/video shoot, one or two months before your wedding, has multiple advantages. The main advantage is that you get in touch personally with your wedding photographer/videographer and secondly is that you have an idea about their work.

As I mentioned from the beginning of this article, we are talking about "tips" and not rules. So, if you believe that your wedding photographer and videographer has as many as of those 10 tips, the safer you are about getting the results, that you dreamed about for your wedding day!

Besides, life is full of choices… so we thought of helping you make the best one.

Congrats on your upcoming event and good luck!

UK Wedding photographer and videographer