Why does it cost so much?

While all professional wedding photographers are in the business of taking pictures of your wedding - the similarities end there.

There is a wide range in levels of service, skill, and in the quality and quantity of your treasured photographs. Asking a wedding photographer on the telephone "how much do you charge" is as good as calling a clothing store to ask "how much are your dresses?" In the end, if you don't like the dress or it doesn't fit - it doesn't really matter how much it costs.

To do a total wedding photography package properly requires an average of 40 or more hours devoted to each and every wedding client.

With many would be photographers now able to pick up a digital camera and move into selling their services the choices, pricing and especially quality issues are going to become even more confusing. The quality differences in digital photography can change dramatically from photographer to photographer depending on how good their cameras are and how well they are able to use them.

Why does it cost so much?

The photographer's work begins when they spend time with you at a pre-wedding consultation, this is usually an informal chat where the photographer gets to know you as a couple and gets an insight into your likes and dislikes in order to try to provide you with images that you personally will love.

Good record keeping is essential; some photographers open a file for each wedding booking and record all your requests and personal information that are relevant to your particular wedding, they will also produce cards for the reception tables with details of where guests can view your proofs online. They will also help you in organising the timings and list the special shots you require. At least a week before your wedding day, they will also do a “reccy” a journey to all the locations involved in your wedding day celebrations to check out the surroundings, to plan shots and to ensure that the routes are clear of any major road works.

On the day itself, preparation time for your wedding day photography is variable. The more sophisticated the photographer’s equipment and techniques, the more time it takes to plan and prepare. This includes testing and assembling equipment, recharging batteries, loading and unloading vehicles, etc. You would expect your photographer to thoroughly test each piece of his gear before your wedding wouldn’t you? Some don't.

Some wedding photographers spend hours editing your precious images and producing creative special effects. They will then upload your photographs into a private online gallery and let you know when this has been done. Others rush proofs to the reception or hand you a pack of prints straight from a mini-lab.

Some photographers spend hours in the layout and assembly of your photo album(s). Others leave this task up to you to be done by yourself with little or no assistance.

The owners of some studios insist on working with you personally while others delegate the responsibility to members of staff.

Wedding albums themselves range in price from about £10 up to £500 or more. Some traditional albums have plastic or metal posts that the pages clip into while others are book-bound with the pages actually sewn in. Overlays and pages can vary in quality. Contemporary coffee table books are complete published books without any loose photographs at all and the results are dependant on the design skills of the photographer or publisher. Cost depends on the quality of materials and how it is assembled. As usual, you should get what you pay for.

How to find a wedding photographer

Look for a photographer that you truly like their particular style of photography. Just because someone says their style is photojournalistic doesn't necessarily make it so. There IS a difference between candid shots and true photojournalistic images. A few images in black and white doesn't automatically make someone a photojournalist. Look for a photographer that specialises in your favourite style. A few studios, like Sandra Ford Photography, offer a proportionate blend of both. When looking at a photographer’s work, if their images are able to evoke an emotional response from you with a stranger,s wedding, just think what they can do with yours! View sample photos with your heart as well as with your eyes.

2 Look for a photographer that you really "click" with personality wise. Other than your intended, there is nobody you spend more time with on your wedding day than the photographer. Make sure it's someone you can have fun with and truly enjoy working with throughout your special day. It should go without saying that you actually need to MEET with this person so don't book a photographer until you know exactly who you will be spending your day with. Make sure the photographer you’ve booked will actually be taking your photographs, some studios take bookings for a number of photographers and you may end up not getting the person who took the images you really liked after all. Recording your special day and producing the images you want is your photographer’s priority on the day, your priority is to have a great time and experience all the love and emotion of that day, don't spend it with someone you really don't care for just because they are cheap!

3 If you have found a photographer that fulfils the previous 2 requirements, then you can shop for price and package options. Set an approximate budget for how much you want to invest in your wedding photography but don't be afraid to go slightly over or under if you find the perfect photographer for your tastes.

Planning your wedding and choosing all the best vendors can be both challenging and exciting. Selecting the best photographer based upon your tastes will have the longest lasting impact on your wedding memories of any other pre-wedding decision you will make. Once the cake is eaten, the guests have left and the dress hung up in the wardrobe, the only true lasting tangible memories are captured in your wedding album. We hope these suggestions will help you in making that difficult choice.

In the end, hire the person with whom you feel the most comfortable. Weddings can be hectic, but the right photographer can help make your day run more smoothly.