Your wedding photos are your lasting memories! They are what will remain with you for the rest of your life! You will start to forget what flowers were on the table, what colour the chair sashes were and what songs were played at your reception, and even what your dress looked like!! But the photos will be there to remind you of how special your day was.
Also, the wedding photography is generally the second largest expense on your big day after the reception costs, so you want to make sure you get value for money! Hence - it's quite important to make the right choice when choosing your photographer and your photography package.
There are things you need to consider and be aware of wwhen choosing a photographer / photography package:
Company VS Individual
Some wedding photographers run their own 'one-man-band' companies where who you see is who you get. The person you meet with will be the person who takes your photos on the day and then liaises with you after your wedding.
Larger companies often employ a number of photographers and you might not know which one will be shooting your wedding day. The person you meet with at the pre-wedding meeting might not be the person who ends up photographing your wedding.
Some prefer the 'one-man-bands' for their personalised service and safety of knowing just what you are getting, others prefer the larger companies because they may view these as more prestigious and experienced.
Whatever your preference, it is just important to know what type of company you are booking with, so you don't get a surprise 2 weeks before your wedding when the photography company tells you that Bob is now shooting your wedding instead of Betty!
Style of Photography
Before meeting with a bunch of prospective photographers, have an idea in mind of what type of style you would like your photographs to be. Search the internet and print a couple of example shots which reflect the style you are going for. At your meetings, you can compare these shots to the examples the photographers show you and see whether your styles match.
Each photographer has their own style of photography and most will tell you on their website or at your first meeting what their general 'style' is.
Some photographers will describe themselves as having a 'natural' style - using minimal photographic effects and minimal photo editing to create raw and 'real' photographs. These photographers often try to capture the 'candid' moments on your wedding day and generally adopt an unobtrusive style, preferring to move around in the background. Adopting this style will result in your photos looking relaxed and pure, with a lot of spontaneous action shots and less 'posed' photos.
Other photographers adopt a more 'glamour' style which is more constructed and posed and photos often have more photographic effects which are incorporated in post-wedding editing. These photographers often use a lot of props and artificial light to create their shots.
Some photographers may have more of an 'artistic' style. These photographs are often not just straight 'head' shots, but incorporate different elements such as photographing from different angles or using an alternative composition in the photo. These photos can add a bit of flare to your wedding album and help you stand out from the crowd.
But the important thing to remember is to convey what style you want to the photographer and ensure that their stated style matches with what you are looking for!
Photographic Locations
Most photographers will work with you to decide upon which locations you would like to visit to have your wedding photographs taken, and they generally have a good idea of places that suit photography and your chosen style.
As a general rule, you will have some photographs at the area(s) where you are having your ceremony / reception, at a 'natural' location (eg: beach or park), and at a man-made location (eg: alleyway, in front of buildings).
If you would like to choose some locations yourself, think of locations that reflect your personalities. Are you enthusiastic beach-goers? If so, some photographs on the beach or on a jetty may suit you. Think of what will reflect your personalities - there is no point in having photographs next to a motorcycle if you can't stand motorcycles!
Photography Packages
One of the most confusing parts of choosing a photographer is making sense of their packages. Some quote 'package prices' that include their time on the day, a set number of photographs, a standard album and a complimentary print, whereas others quote you for their time on the day and then you can pick and choose all the other items as you would like.
Things you should think about when choosing a package are:
- Do you want an album? If so, what type?
- Do you want your (full size) prints on a disc so you can print yourself, or are you happy to buy prints through your photographer?
- Do you want your photographer to be present before the ceremony (at the bride / groom's preparation places) and during the reception? If so, this will most likely be an extra cost.
These are just some of the points to consider when looking at photography packages. And remember, not all photographers will quote in the same way. In order to compare apples to apples, you'll have to make sure you understand what is in each photographers package.
Also remember to decide on what is important to you. Don't buy a package deal if you're not too keen on the idea of an album. You may find it cheaper and easier to just purchase the photographs on a disc and then print your own album at a later date. So make sure you have these discussions with potential photographers before you book!
....that is the question we are faced with.
Keeping in mind my blog ' Preparing a Wedding Budget', my fiance and I undertook the task of deciding what was important and what wasn't important for our wedding.
The venue, the dress, the photography and the music were all things that fell into our 'important' category. In our 'not-so-important' category were things like the bombonieres, extravagant centrepieces and the wedding cake.
I know some people think the whole 'cutting of the cake' is an important tradition that can't be left out of a wedding, but we just couldn't justify spending $600 on a cake that most people don't eat, or don't remember eating, anyway.
So...we are currently thinking of doing away with the tradition of a wedding cake and using that money for something that is more important to us.
But of course...many people are very excited by the idea of wedding cakes so I will throw a few suggestions as to what you can do for a wedding cake - or in place of a wedding cake.
The Traditional Wedding Cake
For all you traditionalists out there - the classic tiered wedding cake is still very popular! Comes in many colours and flavours - this particular design is 'Chanel' from The Glory Box.
The Cupcake Tower
Almost overtaking the traditional tiered wedding cake in the popularity stakes is the cupcake wedding cake.
Add your own touch with funky designs and coloured icing. Also saves the catering staff having to cut your wedding cake for you!
This one is courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings.
The Modern Wedding Cake
A modern twist on an old classic - the modern wedding cake can take many forms. Colourful and artistic, you can now shape your wedding cake to suit your wedding theme, or your personalities.
The Quirky Wedding Cake
The strange little bride and groom on top...the quirky colours and designs...these cakes are the epitome of the unique couple.
This example is from The Glory Box.
The Chocolate Foundation Alternative
If you're not too keen on the traditional wedding cake...what about a chocolate fountain as a fun alternative? Besides the possibility of a bit of chocolatey mess...this is a great idea for those who like to be a little different.
For suppliers in Perth, see Chocolate Attraction or Chocolate Fountain Hire Perth.
The Lolly Buffet
Themed to suit your wedding style & colours, the lolly buffet is a great idea that allows your guests to choose their own lolly 'goodie-bags'.
This style is from The Candy Buffet Company.
The OTT Wedding Cake
Would you expect anything less from Peter Andre and Katie Price (aka Jordan)? I'm not sure this is a wedding trend that is going to catch on anytime soon...but I'll give them points for originality.
Great news for all the bride's-to-be out there - natural wedding hairstyles are back in fashion!! Today's brides are opting for flowing, feminine hairstyles that are both comfortable and fashionable!
One of my worst worries is having a throbbing headache on my wedding day because my hair is pulled back so tight! I've experienced that feeling in my youth when I participated in numerous calisthenics concerts - so I'd rather leave that feeling OUT of my wedding day.
So here are some options for the more natural look on your wedding day. Both up-do's and hair-out do's:
The "Twigley" Look
Rebecca Twigley often opts for the 'natural' hairstyle, and her wedding day was no exception. Bec shows us you can wear the princess dress with the natural hairstyle and still look ultra-glam!!
The Extra Long Look
This is one of my favourite natural looks. I love the side-part and the soft curls!
And don't worry if your hair is short - this look can still be recreated with hair extensions. Ask your hair stylist about the clip-in (temporary) option for your wedding! No one will know the difference.
The Long Blonde Locks
A similar look to the previous one, but just showing off the look for blondes. Blake Lively of Gossip Girl fame pulls off the 'casual curley' look so well! Oh how I envy her thick hair as well!
The 'Half-Up / Half-Down' Look
For a slightly more styled look, but still within the boundaries of 'natural hairstyles' is the half-up / half-down curled look. This photo shows how you can add accessories into the mix to define the style.
A perfect natural style that suits a beach wedding or a more formal occasion.
The Intricate Look
Opt for a little more 'glam' in your natural hairstyle with this modern creation. Teams curls with twists and still retains the natural look you desire.
A couple of diamantes throughout the hair would also look gorgeous!
The Natural Up-Do
The perfect combination of natural and glamour! This soft up-do pulls the hair up off the shoulders to accentuate the decolletage, but it still leaves enough hair down around the face to create the softer look.
One of my favs!
The Side Pony Look
A hairstyle which is becoming very popular with brides is the side pony style. This example shows how to create a classy modern look with little effort required.
A great style for women who want an easy and manageable look on their wedding day.
Of course there are plenty more 'natural' hairstyles to choose from for your wedding day. These are just some of my personal favourites!!
