No, not at all, but when it comes to planning your special day it really should be up there on the priority list of things to look at, budget for and book.
Booking your wedding photographer is a big decision, how do you know if they are right person for you and if they will suit your style and the ‘vibe’ of your day?
Well, that’s the question that Carys and John asked themselves when they started the Wedding planning journey and visited a number of wedding fairs and events 18 months before their planned date. We didn’t actually get to chat at the Venue Cymru wedding show, it was super busy with loads going, but they saw my stand and 4 months later, once they were ready and further along with their planning, they got in touch!
Being busy working parents, we first chatted via email and then FaceTime for a while before meeting at their home in Anglesey to plan the coverage and actually meet.
After that, we met for their 'Getting to Know you Shoot’ along with their children, at Treborth Botanic Gardens, Bangor. It was a gorgeous autumn day and they were all brilliant to work with, the children were fab, one a little shy and cuddly and the other full of beans and keen to show me all the ‘treasures’ he could find. As a Mum myself, I know how hard it is to get a family pic - generally as I was always behind the camera but those few pics that I have got, I absolutely treasure!
I love these shoots as not only do I get to take some fun and important family group pics, but being outside and chatting as we walk, I get to see the real family dynamic and get a much better feel for how how to work with different couples on the day.
Carys and John are perfect for each other, totally in love, super chilled out and they’re both all about family and the children! They knew that wedding photography wasn’t the most important part of their day, but they also knew they wanted professional images taken to capture those important, fleeting moments and finding the right fit was a priory for them.
On the day, it was genuinely lovely to catch up with them all and be able to help and guide where needed, being a wedding photographer isn’t just about getting beautiful images, there’s so much that goes on behind the scenes along with other suppliers, to make sure the couple are at ease and enjoying the day. (See the pic of Gemma from Gemma_gracehair having a cuddle and giving a snack to C&J’s daughter!)
I hadn’t worked at Highfield Hall in Northop before and I’m always excited to be somewhere new, I think it jump stars my creativity, (although I always visit venues before hand) knowing them that little bit better and that they wanted me to create unposed, natural moment photographs with very few ‘essential images’, I was in my element and loved being a part of their perfect day!
My advice is just do your research, once you’ve found a style that you style that you like, spend some time getting know your photographer and for them to get to know you, they’ll be with you all day and often turn out to be almost part of your Wedding Party!
With thanks to Carys and John for letting share their amazing day and big
shout outs to Highfield Hall, Beautfybridal and Gemma_gracehair for being amazing!