Wedding photography is expensive- a few justified reasons behind this!

London is an exciting city to get married as there are so many wonderful venues available for the occasion and wedding photography in London will paint as pretty a picture as can be. Wedding photography is an integral part of the ceremony as everyone would like to capture that memorable event for posterity. But, where many people go wrong is in the selection of the wedding photographer solely on the basis of the price factor and for this they may settle for someone totally raw or someone with an unimpressive portfolio. This is taking a huge risk on your all-important day as you never know how the photographs will turn out. Undoubtedly, experienced photographers can and do charge a bomb for weddings but there are many factors behind this. 

When you hire an experienced wedding photographer in London he is bound to be professionally qualified and would have had many years of work behind him. You are just not paying for his time; you are paying for his years of commitment which has seen him reach the peak that he has and which has enabled him to capture beautiful images in a few hours. 

Your wedding is once-in-a-lifetime occasion and the images get captured for posterity. There are no reshoots, no retakes and so many people come from far and wide for this occasion. Would you really rather risk a newbie or average photographer whose price maybe cheap but the quality of work would be average and who will be unprepared for any contingency? Experienced photographers always have a contingency plan, full technical and back-up support along with a trained staff. They definitely have multiple cameras and discs, software for image recovery and also a list of other professionals who can fill in for them in case of an emergency. To be prepared to such an extent requires thorough professionalism and financial investment and hence the higher rates. 

The work of a photographer specializing in weddings is often seasonal and he can expect on an average only one assignment per week during the wedding season. In places where winters are cold or severe, almost no weddings take place during that time, which means for a good three-four months the photographer does not have any or negligible work.  He has to protect his business interests for the whole year during the wedding season and he is therefore justified in asking for proportional   rates especially if his work is very good.

Even a single assignment of wedding photography requires tremendous commitment involving hours of planning, discussions, editing, presentation, delivery of pictures/video, designing the album/video etc. Also, the photographer’s equipment is very expensive and he has to constantly make sure that his equipment is scrupulously maintained. He also has to upgrade to better cameras, computers and software as when and necessary. All this adds up to quite a lot of steep expenses and you cannot blame him for quoting high rates.

In short, no short-cuts should be taken with your wedding photography as the occasion is too important to warrant any risks.

Best wedding photography requires tremendous presence of mind

Photography has many genres and wedding photography has grown immensely popular among budding photographers. Although all forms of professional photography requires a good eye, the photographer at weddings requires tremendous presence of mind and quick reflexes to catch that spontaneous moment. Nowadays, big weddings are increasingly being captured by top reportage wedding photographers and although digital photography has undoubtedly made photography simpler, nevertheless here are a few tips to take better pictures at weddings.

Whether you are a novice or an experienced photographer, for the best wedding photography, it is imperative that you study the location closely well in advance. Sometimes, the photography package may include different venues and you must visit each separately to check what those locations will look like at various times of the day. Ideally, the couple should go along with you and you can take some test shots just to get an indication of the final photos in those locations and light.

 The best wedding photography also requires that you as a photographer must take care to check whether enough natural light is permeating through doors and windows if the wedding is indoors. If the ceremony is out in the open be careful of too strong sunlight. Harsh sunlight is not flattering to the subject as it casts deep shadows on it and the pictures will not come out well. Check the time of the occasion and plan your photography strategy accordingly. Evening light is the most flattering to photographs. 

The traditional close-ups and group shots have become passé. Instead of standing only in one spot and clicking away, try out new angles even if it means being in an uncomfortable position for a few seconds. The idea is to capture the spirit of the moment spontaneously and do away with boring photographs. Even for group photos, get a bit experimental and take photos from different angles. You will also have to pay attention to the background and if required, you must use your technical expertise to blur the background to get better pictures.

Any top wedding photographer  knows how important it is to put the main couple at ease. Having a good rapport with the couple will get you better photographs as the couple will be relaxed with you behind the camera. Managing to get beautiful pictures will only enhance your reputation as a photographer and will be an asset in your portfolio.

At any wedding, chaos is an inevitable part of the game and you need to anticipate certain situations where you might require quick thinking. A contingency plan along with adequate technical backup is a given in any professional photography and more so, when the occasion is a wedding. Have enough discussions with the client well-ahead of the ceremony so that you know what kind of expectations the client has from you as this will help you prepare better for the assignment. The best wedding photography does not happen suddenly; a lot of thought, planning, and organization and of course, flair for photography is required.