Lewis’ Guide to Finding the Perfect Wedding Photographer

As you embark on your journey towards the perfect wedding day, one of the crucial decisions you'll need to make is finding the right wedding photographer for you.

you don’t have to book me, just don’t book someone rubbish!

Start with Local/Venue Searches:

When beginning your search, utilise keywords and search terms specific to your location or venue. For example, phrases like "St. Andrews wedding photographer," "wedding photographer near St. Andrews," or "best wedding photographers in St. Andrews" and “Kinkell Byre wedding photographer'“ will help you find local professionals who specialise in these areas. You will find photographers that have worked here successfully, and have made the effort to get to the top of the google results! Commitment confirmed.

Explore Their Portfolios:

As you shortlist potential photographers, take time to explore their portfolios. Simply put, you have to love what they are doing. Look for keywords such as "natural light wedding photography," "documentary-style," or "artistic wedding photographer." These phrases indicate different photography styles that may align with your vision. Pay attention to the consistency, quality, and creativity of their work, ensuring that their style resonates with your personal taste. It’s unlikely you will want a natural light photographer for your winter wedding, and likewise you might not want an editorial photographer if you are totally opposed to posing or having a couple shoot on the wedding day.

Read Reviews and Testimonials:

To gain insights into the experiences of other couples, search for reviews and testimonials of the photographers you're considering. Keywords like "wedding photographer reviews in St. Andrews" or "client testimonials" will lead you to valuable feedback. Genuine reviews can provide you with a sense of their professionalism, reliability, and ability to capture candid, emotional moments. Here is a link to my wedding photography reviews page where many previous clients detail the experience I provided.

Wedding Photography Pricing and Value

These aren’t the same thing! You can find a beginner photographer for as little as free to a few hundred pounds. I only recommend experienced, hard working photographers, with a wonderful personality to couples when I am unavailable. There are great photographers at all price points, however you wouldn’t want the least experienced brain surgeon, and it works the same way for your wedding memories.

If you manage to get the choice down to two or three photographers and there is a sizeable divide in the monetary cost - you have to work out why this is. Asking directly is the best bet!

Are they your kind of person?

Now this one is tricky for both photographers and engaged folks like yourselves. An email, phone call or zoom gives you a snapshot of the persons personality. I have come off many calls feeling like I spoke too much. Because I did! I am chatty on the phone, with your guests, and with you if you’re nervous and need a giggle on your wedding morning. But I am keeping uninvolved in your wedding day besides these times where a lively and encouraging personality is not only preferable, but necessary. I wouldn’t encourage an introverted photographer to anyone, like I wouldn’t enjoy an extremely nervous pilot!

As you evaluate photographers, look for those who have experience working at your venue. This familiarity can be advantageous as they will know the best locations for stunning shots and be well-versed in the logistics and how the events team like to do things there. If your photographer hasn’t worked at this venue before it isn’t always a bad thing. Just make sure they have worked at somewhere similar, with the same aesthetic you would like to see in your images.