Selecting the perfect wedding photographer can indeed feel like a daunting task, particularly when faced with many photographers to choose from.  I’ve put together 15 questions that you should ask your potential wedding photographer.

1. What is your style of photography?

When looking for a wedding photographer, it’s crucial to ask these questions because ensuring your comfort with the photography style is paramount. Additionally, exploring various types of photographers can help you discern your preferences. Do you envision natural and relaxed photos, playful and quirky images, traditional elegance, journalistic storytelling, or something entirely unique to capture your special day?

The keyword to my style of wedding photography is ‘natural’. Although there is a place for traditional photographs, natural photos allow capturing the real emotion of the day without staged smiles. I like to be discrete and capture the day as it really happens and capture moments that you inevitably miss whilst you are busy being the bride and groom! I always strive to tell the story of your special day.

2. Can I see examples of complete wedding albums?

This approach enables you to get a comprehensive view of the photographer’s portfolio, going beyond the select images they’ve chosen to showcase.

I have several wedding albums from various weddings, each featuring unique sizes and designs.  Full details and prices can be found here.

3. What wedding packages do you offer?

Understanding the package’s precise contents is essential. Does it encompass an album, a USB stick, or any other components?

My wedding photography packages include a wooden USB stick in a lovely wooden box with space for a few 6×4 prints.  Albums can be purchased see question 2 above and full package details are here.

4. How many hours of coverage do we get?

If you decide on a full-day package, it’s crucial to confirm that the photographer will be available to capture moments until at least the first dance of the evening.

My wedding photography packages don’t have a set amount of hours, but more covers the key events.  My full-day package starts approximately 2 hours before needing to leave for the ceremony right through to shortly after the first dance.  I want to make sure I catch photos of your guests enjoying the party you have thrown for them 🙂

5. What key images will you take?

This is your opportunity to seek advice from the photographer and discuss the specific images and moments you’d like to capture.

My wedding photography packages page lists the key events that I cover with each package.  Closer to your wedding I will be in touch with my standard family group list for you to create your family group list for your traditional photos and if you have specific requests please do ask.

6. Are you insured?

A professional wedding photographer should have both indemnity and public liability insurance.

Relax, I’m fully insured!

7. What if it rains or snows?

Planning for inclement weather is a crucial consideration for a wedding photographer.  They should have a backup plan.

In the event that it does rain or snow, it is not the end of the world, a bit of rain or snow never hurt anyone and it can add to the emotion of the day. If it really is too adverse to venture outside, don’t worry I will have already scouted out alternative locations indoors or undercover for photographs.  I’ve even stood the bride & groom and your guests under a tree for family photos before whilst I got soaked, that’s dedication!

8. Have you taken photos at my venue before?

If your photographer hasn’t mentioned it, it’s a good idea to inquire whether they would be open to visiting the wedding venue before the actual wedding day. This visit can be beneficial as it allows the photographer to become familiar with the location, its unique features, and lighting conditions, ensuring they are well-prepared to capture stunning photos on your special day.

I have photographed many different wedding venues and there’s a very good chance I have photographed your wedding venue before.

9. Will it be just you photographing on the day?

It’s essential to clarify how many photographers will be present on your wedding day. Typically, an experienced photographer aims to capture moments from a discreet distance without being obtrusive. In larger weddings, there is often a main photographer and an assistant to ensure comprehensive coverage while maintaining a non-intrusive approach.

Generally, it will be me photographing your wedding and I manage to capture a lot of your big day, they are very active days 🙂  If you would like a 2nd photographer to capture even more I can arrange a 2nd photographer for an extra fee.

10. What would happen if you were ill on the day?

Photographers often belong to professional networks or guilds, which can be helpful if a replacement photographer is needed on your wedding day due to unforeseen circumstances.

In the exceptionally rare event that I cannot photograph your wedding, I do have photographer contacts I can call upon to cover your wedding.  In all the years I have been photographing there has only been 1 wedding that I couldn’t attend due to a surprise illness on the morning of the wedding.  I will do everything in my power to attend or find someone to cover.

11. How long have you been a photographer?

Ideally, if your budget permits, opt for an experienced photographer. It’s crucial to feel relaxed on your wedding day and have trust that the photographer is capturing the moments you desire.

At the time of writing this, I have been a professional wedding photographer for 9 years so I have seen and experienced it all.  I’ve run errands, fastened jewellery, gave people a lift to a venue, so I’m not afraid to muck in.

12. Do I have to pay extra to buy the photos?

It’s crucial to have a clear understanding of what’s included in your photography package and what additional costs may apply. Discuss this with your photographer upfront and review your contract carefully to avoid any surprises. This will help ensure that you get the photos you desire within your budget.

No, you do not pay extra for photos.  What you are receiving with my wedding photography packages is all the digital files on a USB with personal printing rights so you can go to any photo booth and print your photos.  You can also share them on social media.

13. How long will it take to receive the photos?

The anticipation of seeing your photos can be excruciating, so it’s wise to be prepared for the waiting period.

You will receive your photos within 8 weeks but that is the very maximum and in extremely busy times, but usually its about 4 weeks.

14. Do you take traditional family group photos and how long does it take?

Some photographers are all natural and in the moment and don’t take traditional family group photos so make sure to ask and find the photographer that suits you.

The simple answer is yes. I try to keep this part of the day as brief as possible, to allow you and your guests to enjoy the day.  I take a mixture of natural in the moment photos and also your traditional family group photos, but if you would rather I didn’t just ask and we can take the traditional staged family section out of the day.

The traditional family group photos and bride/groom portraits take roughly 30-45 minutes but it does depend on how many groups you require, but no matter how many, I try to keep this part of the day as brief as possible to allow you to get back to the party. Once the group photos are complete, I will whisk the bride and groom away for more intimate couple photographs. This time will be the first real-time that the two of you can relax a little away from your busy day. I will have already scouted out some lovely locations in the venue or grounds to get some beautiful images.

You won’t be asked for any cheesy posing, it will all be very relaxed and I will capture the real love and emotion between yourself and your new husband/wife.

15. Do you offer any extras?

Photographers often offer additional services such as engagement shoots, photo booths, and albums. Engagement shoots are commonly included in packages, serving as an opportunity to become comfortable in front of the camera and build a rapport with your photographer.

Yes, I offer engagement shoots, a video of your ceremony, albums, prints and canvases.

You can find these questions and other questions on my FAQ page.

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Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event, filled with precious moments and emotions that deserve to be beautifully preserved. Choosing the perfect wedding photographer is crucial to ensure that every smile, tear, and intimate detail is captured in a way that will make your heart skip a beat every time you look back on your wedding album. In this blog post, I will guide you through the process of selecting the ideal photographer who will bring your vision to life and create stunning memories that will last a lifetime.

1. Define Your Style:

Every couple has a unique vision for their wedding day. Take some time to explore different photography styles and identify the one that resonates with you the most. Do you prefer classic and traditional shots, or are you drawn to a more documentary approach where the photographer is in the background capturing events as they unfold, or even a mixture of both classic and documentary? By determining your preferred style, you can narrow down your search and find photographers who specialize in capturing moments that align with your vision.

2. Research and Review:

Once you have defined your style, it’s time to start your search for the perfect wedding photographer. Begin by looking through their portfolios and websites to get a feel for their work. Pay attention to their ability to capture emotions and the overall quality of their images. Reading reviews from previous clients can provide valuable insights into their professionalism, creativity, and ability to work well under pressure. Don’t be afraid to ask for referrals or recommendations from friends, family, or even your wedding planner.  I have lots of very happy couples on Google and Facebook.

3. Meet and Connect:

Meeting potential photographers in person or through virtual consultations is an essential step in the selection process. This allows you to gauge their personality, professionalism, and communication skills. A good rapport with your photographer is crucial, as they will be by your side throughout your wedding day, capturing intimate moments and ensuring you feel comfortable in front of the camera. Use this opportunity to discuss your vision, ask questions, and share any specific requests or concerns you may have.

4. Experience and Expertise:

When it comes to wedding photography, experience plays a significant role. An experienced photographer will have a deep understanding of the flow of a wedding day, knowing when and where to be to capture those special moments. They will have the technical expertise to handle various lighting conditions and offer creative solutions to any challenges that may arise. Don’t hesitate to inquire about their experience shooting weddings similar to yours, as well as their qualifications and memberships with professional photography associations.

5. Budget Considerations:

While it’s important to establish a budget for your wedding photography, it’s equally important to remember that the memories captured will be cherished for a lifetime. Consider photography as an investment rather than just an expense. Seek photographers who offer packages that align with your budget, and ensure that you understand what is included in each package. Remember, quality should be prioritized over price alone, as the final product will be a cherished heirloom.

FAQs:

To help answer any additional questions you may have, I have created a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. Please visit www.chrishughesphotography.co.uk/faq to find answers to commonly asked questions about my services, pricing, and more.

Conclusion:

Choosing the perfect wedding photographer is a decision that requires careful consideration and research. By defining your style, conducting thorough research, meeting potential photographers, considering their experience and expertise, and aligning with your budget, you can make an informed decision that will result in stunning images that capture the essence of your special day. Remember, the right wedding photographer will not only capture moments but also create a seamless and enjoyable experience, allowing you to relive the magic of your wedding day for years to come.

Your wedding day is a celebration of love and joy, and capturing those precious moments requires the expertise of a skilled wedding photographer. Don’t settle for anything less than perfection. Explore my portfolio, learn more about my services, and book a consultation today. Let me help you create timeless memories that will be cherished for generations to come.

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Whilst photographing a wedding at The Spa Hotel, Saltburn-by-the-Sea I had a few moments of spare time between key events to enjoy the view overlooking the bay of Saltburn-by-the-Sea.  The excellent location of The Spa Hotel perched on the hillside provides an excellent view of the pier, beach, river outlet into the sea and the miniature railway.  I photographed the view on two different occasions.  Once when the tide was out and the other when the tide was in.  On the first occasion, the sun was not very strong, it was quite bright but no hard sun.  On the second occasion, it was later in the day where the sun was lower in the sky and provided a warm glow to the bay.

And now the images…

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Jason & Steph chose me for their wedding photography and upon meeting them for the first time I knew we would get along perfectly.  We had a discussion about what style of wedding photography and family photos they would like and we drew up a list of family photos and decided on a mixture of traditional wedding family photos and natural photos taken in the moment.  Jason also showed me some wedding photos he really liked and asked if I could recreate these, which I had no problem in doing.

It was a fine day for Jason & Steph at their chosen venue of Lumley Castle in the heart of County Durham.  Surrounded by gorgeous parklands overlooking the River Wear it was the perfect setting for their big wedding day.

I started the day by visiting the bridal party in their room at Lumley Castle.  I always stay out of the way and just let everyone go about what it is they need to do.  This is the best way of achieving natural looking photos.  I captured photos of the children having fun, hair and makeup and the dresses amongst others.  One of my all-time favourite photos is the bride’s reflection looking into the mirror.  It always shows a really natural look and true emotion.

Once it was time for guests to arrive I left Steph and headed off to meet up with Jason and his best man for the obligatory photo.  Jason and Steph chose The Scarborough State Room for their ceremony and it was a lovely bright airy room with neutral decor, great for photos.   It was a lovely ceremony both with tears and laughs as Jason & Steph declared their commitments to each other.  Once the ceremony was over we took photos of the signing of the register and then headed downstairs to the Dungeon bar.

Shortly after, it was time for family photos and couple portraits so I got everyone outside lined up on the famous stairs for a photo of all the guests.  It is always a challenge to get every last person in the photo, I need to be firm but polite.  Most guests can then relax and do their own thing, apart from the main members of the family and wedding party who need to stay for traditional wedding photos.  Once family photos were over it was time for the bride and groom to have some time to themselves and we wandered off away from the guests to get some intimate couple portraits.  Its probably the calmest and quietest part of the day where the happy couple can have 15 minutes to themselves.  We got some amazing portraits which will look great framed on the wall.

I then headed to The Barons Hall to set-up for speeches and capture the details of the day.  I love to have a bit of quiet time to capture the details, the wedding favours, table decorations and name cards.  Its lovely to capture the delicate layout of the room before guests sit down.  Speeches went down a storm, everyone was laughing, perfect to capture natural happy photos of guests.

I then had a break whilst everyone had their wedding breakfast and headed back later for the evening reception.  As dusk was falling the lighting provided the opportunity to take the photograph that Jason had requested.  It was at the top of the steps outside at the front of the castle, where the colour wash lights are with a flash placed behind the bride and groom to create a silhouette. 

Shortly after we headed inside as it was time for the first dance.  As usual, I set the remote flash heads at diagonal angles across the dance floor and they created a beautiful highlight edge on everyone in the room dancing and having a great time.

I have to say it really was an amazing day, Jason & Steph and their family and all the staff at Lumley Castle really did make me feel welcome and part of their day.

For wedding package info please visit the Wedding Photography Packages page.

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John & Heather had their wedding back in February but I just haven’t gotten round to blog about their wedding until now.  John & Heather chose Darlington Registry Office for their ceremony and Woodham Golf Club for their reception venue.  Darlington Registry Office was now in the council offices and the wedding was in the council chamber.  It was a really nice grand room but didn’t have any windows, only incandescent lighting so lighting was always going to be challenging in terms of colour of the photos.  The white balance had to be set in post production to cool the images down.

I had a promoted viewpoint of the room and aisle as there was a small step at the front of the room where the front bench was.  It helped to get the perfect viewpoint.

The wedding went without a hitch, its always great to witness the coming together of two families and the bride and groom say their vows and commit to one another.

We went onto Woodham Golf Club for the reception.  I took the time to take some detail photos of the wedding table decorations and then we went outside onto a small patio overlooking the golf course for family group photos.  

I then got John and Heather to do a staged cutting of the cake as they would be cutting the cake properly after I had finished coverage.  

I stayed for about 10 more minutes to capture the speeches before I finished my contracted coverage and left John and Heather to enjoy their wedding breakfast and the rest of their wedding day.

To view a bigger gallery of John and Heather’s images please see my portfolio page here.

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Introduction

I’ve had a Pinterest profile for a while now, but never really used it as a business profile.  I used Pinterest as more of a viewer gathering images rather than a presenter showing my images and products.

So, What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a social network that allows users to both share images and discover new interests through other users images.  Users can save images, known as ‘Pinning’ to their own Board or another users Board similar to the traditional cutting out and sticking in a scrapbook.  A Board is a collection of ‘Pins’ usually with a common theme, and a user can have multiple Boards.  What is really useful, is users don’t have to get the image somehow on to their board, they can just paste the link of the website or if the website provides a “Pin It” button you can just click this.  Pinterest then loads all the images from that webpage and you can select which images you would like to Pin to your Board automatically and provides a web link back from the Pinned image to the original website.

My Experience with Pinterest

So, like I said my experience started probably in 2016, when I created my Pinterest account.  I started using Pinterest as a digital scrapbook to gather ideas for my photo shoots.  I could search for specific terms such as ‘summer meadow portrait‘ and it would display images that other users had shared and Pinned on their boards.  I could then Pin the images I liked to my Boards and create a digital scrapbook for me to gather ideas all in one place.  I could then share my Boards with my clients to get their feedback on my ideas for their photo shoot. Its a great idea for a social network and allows users to Pin continuously between other users Pins and Boards.

Just recently, I heard about the business account on Pinterest and looked into it and found that I actually could be using Pinterest in a much better way to advertise my work and my business instead of my ‘digital scrapbook’ of other users Pins.  So I made my existing Pins of ideas into private Pins so they weren’t public, and I could share these private Pins with my clients still when required.  I then made new Boards for my areas of photography to match my portfolio section on my website, Boards such as wedding photography, family portraits, events photography, corporate photography, product photography etc. you get the idea.  I then started to add my own images to my Pinterest Boards and give meaningful descriptions.

Standard vs Business Account

Pinterest offers a standard user account and a business user account.  The main differences among others are a business account gets Pinterest Analytics and Rich Pins.  Pinterest Analytics allows the ability to see the Pinning activity on the business owners website and see their most popular Pins.  Rich Pins allow a little extra information to be added to the Pin, such as pricing information of a product and a direct link to the business owners website.  There are 6 types of Rich Pins: recipe, article, movie, product, app, and place.

Summary

I would greatly encourage people to check out Pinterest, it is an amazing resource that can inspire you and give you great ideas about a particular interest or project you may have.

Follow us on Pinterest

pinterest.co.uk/chrishughesphotography

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I was recently tasked with product photography to create some images of products for Ramshaw based company Ridley Gutter Brackets.  Ridley Gutter Brackets are a family run company and manufacture steel brackets for installing cast iron and PVC guttering.

I arranged for the owner to bring the metal brackets to my studio and leave them with me for a few days whilst I created the images. I then uploaded the images to a proof gallery on my website for the owner to check the images were ok before performing a few tweaks and then mastering the images for the client.

Links:

www.metalgutterbrackets.co.uk

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I was recently tasked with product photography to create some images of products for Durham based company Jollein UK. Jollein UK sell luxury textiles for nursery and baby and I was tasked to create images of gift boxes for their online shop. The owner brought the gift boxes to my studio and left them with me for a few days whilst I created the images. I then uploaded the images to a proof gallery on my website for the owner to check the images were ok.

Links:

www.jollein.co.uk

www.facebook.com/jolleinuk

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I was appointed by the First Steps Parent & Toddler Group based at Cornerstone Christian Centre in Evenwood near Bishop Auckland for their annual baby & toddler portraits.

There were 15 different children on the day and we had lots of different characters.  Some children loved the camera and liked to perform, other children were happy to just play with the toys whilst I snapped away, and some children weren’t too keen on the experience, but with my patience I achieved portraits of all the children. 

I have plenty of props for child portraits such as low-level stools, rocking horse, building blocks, soft toys and for babies I have baskets, soft blankets and support cushions.

I use a service similar to schools, where each person gets their own unique QR code which I take a photo of at the start of each different child.  This allows the service to track and assign only the photos of that child to the QR code and a unique password given to the child’s parent, and avoids the situation of another child’s images being seen by another parent.  The parent can log on to my website, enter the unique password and see only their child’s images.  They can then order a broad array of photos, canvases, acrylic blocks and fridge magnets among other products.

Some people say never work with animals or children, but it was a great morning and I had plenty fun working with the parents and children to create that perfect portrait they can treasure forever.

The First Steps Parent & Toddler Group is on every Friday 9.30am until 11.00am at Cornerstone Christian Centre, Swan Street, Evenwood, County Durham DL14 9RN

For your baby & toddler group photo shoot please contact me.

Links

Cornerstone Christian Centre

Facebook

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It was great to be part of Tracey and Gerard’s wedding day as they chose to be married aboard the HMS Trincomalee at Hartlepool Historic Quay.  It was such a unique venue to the usual church and reception venue and had real character.

The wedding vows were spoken in the captain’s quarters, which was very cosy with the low ceilings.  Afterwards we went up on top deck for group photos.

The reception was in one of the side function rooms, we had drinks reception on the lower floor and then upstairs for the wedding breakfast.

Hartlepool Maritime Experience is a perfect wedding venue and great for a wedding photographer’s portfolio.

To check out my services and prices please see my wedding packages.

www.hartlepoolsmaritimeexperience.com

www.hms-trincomalee.co.uk

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