EXPERT ADVICE

FAQs and expert advice about photography

Here is a selection of Q&As from Your East Midlands Wedding magazine whether it be about flowers, hair and makeup, fashion, wedding themes, health & beauty, cakes, stationery, legal advice. If you would like your question answered by our experts, please email it to editor@youreastmidlands.wedding

Picture-Perfect Photography

Picture-Perfect Photography

Q We're very conscious of having our photos taken; what advice can you share with us?
A Gina Fernandes says: Choose your professional wedding photographer wisely by shopping around and asking for recommendations. Once you find a photographer who's style you like, contact the supplier to get a feel for them as a person as this is the perfect opportunity to see if you feel comfortable with the photographer. Check out their full galleries rather than just their best photos, and see if they have photographed similar weddings to what you're planning.

If you've booked a documentary wedding photographer like me because you want natural photos, please put your wedding Pinterest board in the bin. Comparison is the thief of joy and causes people not to like their wedding photos. If you have your heart set on a specific photo/look, discuss it with your photographer in advance. It all comes down to choosing your photographer wisely, a style that matches your outcome and a lot of communication with your chosen wedding professional.

Have a timeline for the day and plan travel times between venues if needed before discussing this with your photographer. If things feel rushed and the timings are unrealistic, it will show in photos.

It's incredibly overwhelming to receive hundreds of images from your wedding day with the chance that you're in 75 per cent – go easy on yourself as you won't look picture-perfect in every single one. You'll get hundreds of photos for a reason, so you can choose and print off the ones you adore.

Have a pre-wedding shoot, as it's excellent practice and will help you get to know your photographer while preparing you to receive a photo gallery of yourself.

Gina Fernandes, Gina Fernandes Photography

Moments that matter

Moments that matter

Q What advice can you share when it comes to booking a wedding photographer?
A Suzie Smith says: When deciding on a wedding photographer, ask yourself what kind of experience you want. On average, your photographer will spend around eight hours with you on the big day. When selecting a company, you should pay attention to their vibe as they should feel like one of your friends.

When looking back at photographs, you'll be reminded of your experience with your photographer and the emotions from the day. A good company will help you relive the feelings by recreating your story and capturing those allimportant moments.

At Frank Photography, I aim to give you a personal and bespoke experience by working with you to bring any vision to life.

Suzie Smith, Frank Photography

The dream team

The dream team

Q We're looking for a wedding photographer, but we're worried about booking someone we've never met online. Do you have any suggestions?
A Megan Wilson says: There are plenty of ways to make sure you're picking the right wedding photographer for your big day. If booking someone you've never met is niggling at your list of wedding things to worry about, here are my top three tips.

Doing plenty of research will help gauge whether a photographer is right for you. Their style and personality will usually be shouted from the rooftops on their website and social media pages, so get searching and scrolling. A photographer spends a long time developing their style, so depending on whether you love light and airy or dark and moody shots, find a photographer whose work you absolutely love.

Most of my clients don't meet me in person before their big day, but a Zoom call is an excellent way to break the ice, ask any questions you may have and see if you all get along. Ask many questions as a great photographer will put your mind at ease and reassure you.

Megan Wilson, Captured by Megan Wilson

Say cheese!

Say cheese!

Q Many photographers offer an engagement shoot, but we're camera shy and don't know if it's for us. What are the benefits?
A Gavin Read says: Not everyone loves being in front of the camera, but it's not every day you get married! Engagement shoots help you get acquainted with your photographer and the camera in their hand in a more relaxed environment that's not time-restricted. The shoot gives you the chance to see the supplier's people skills, and provides the photographer with an opportunity to see how you react in front of a camera. Here they can learn how to best put you to ease, what type of pictures you like and more. For anyone who is camera-shy, we recommend a pre-wedding shoot more than ever. There's nothing worse than turning up at the ceremony, at this point you're probably most nervous, and suddenly having a photographer point a camera at you for the first time without knowing what to expect.

Your photographer is one of your few suppliers who are with you for the entire day. So a good relationship is vital, and you'll soon enjoy having your photos taken more than you imagined.

Gavin Read, Lincolnshire Photographers

Picture-perfect

Picture-perfect

Q Lots of photographers offer an engagement shoot, but we're camera shy and don't know if it's for us. What would the benefits be?
A Nathan O’Brien says: An engagement shoot is a great way to get to know your photographer before the day and see their style of photography. It also gives the company an idea of how to get you engaged and capture those stunning shots without impeding your day.

Building your confidence is another good reason to take the team up on their offer; let them showcase their talent and see how amazing the results will be. It's also often free and would be a fun experience for you both – you'll even be able to update social media channels too!

Nathan O’Brien, Nathan O’Brien Photography

Capturing memories

Capturing memories

Q How can we capture amazing outdoor pictures at our spring wedding if we experience bad weather?
A Daniel Burton says: I always come to weddings armed with a boot full of umbrellas, waterproof covers for my gear, and even a poncho. We can go outside and capture some great shots even if it rains by using these items or any tree cover available. For example, this beautiful shot features a couple in the rain.

Hopefully, you'll be in the mindset to embrace your day no matter the weather and have maximum fun. As well as various umbrella options, I use off-camera flash and coloured gels to capture great shots. I can also add different effects to outside shots to light up trees and venues or liven up inside pictures on a rainy day.

Daniel Burton, Daniel Burton Photography

Spring fever

Spring fever

Q We're getting married next spring and would like some shots that reflect the season. Do you have any suggestions?
A Derek McAllister says: Spring is a fantastic time of year for weddings as it represents the rebirth of new beginnings – perfect to symbolise the start of your married life together.

There are many options where the photoshoot location can take place, and you'll get the opportunity to have some fantastic background colours from the early blooming flowers, including pansies, daffodils and tulips.

You can pick from a local park, the grounds of a castle or even a botanical garden. Just remember, the space should have plenty of bright colours such as greens, purples and whites to complement your photographs.

Remember, it's important to have a backup plan as the weather in the UK during this time of year can be very unpredictable. Have a chat with your photographer to make sure they know your preferred location; they might also have suggestions for other spots if the weather does decide to misbehave.

Derek McAllister, Derek McAllister Photography

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