All your Wedding needs
7 April 2008
Wedding photos are such an important part of preserving your special day, so you should take steps to ensure you will have special shots to remember the day by. Choosing the right wedding photography service is an important decision, with a few factors to consider.
Is the agency well-established?
If the photography agency you're considering hasn't been around for a considerable amount of time, then you may be risking your wedding snaps. Sudden financial difficulties and untested quality of service could mean the agency doesn't provide the standard of excellence you will clearly demand in your wedding photos, or they may be unable to provide them at all if the business goes under. It may be more costly, but you cannot afford to take a risk on your wedding pictures, so try to book with established wedding photo agencies only.
What do they offer in albums?
The album you will hold the photos of your big day in should be as intricate as any other aspect of your wedding. The wedding photography service you choose will most likely offer a package including a lovely album, but you must always ask yourself whether their albums are right for you.
How to politely decline an offer to do it for free
It's quite likely that there is an amateur photographer amongst your friends or family that is willing to cover your wedding, or will be volunteered for it. Unfortunately, they may not be overly skilled, and there is a good chance they will get tired of working while everyone else is celebrating. There are a few things you can do to limit offending volunteer wedding photographers and to discourage anyone volunteering them to work.
First, when planning for wedding photos, don't do so in the company of anyone who may want to do it, or who will be suggested. Even if they are unwilling, someone else will probably pipe up to offer the help of the hapless photographer and you may not wish to decline when put on the spot.
Secondly, if someone has already made the offer, you can play up how you want all your family and friends to be able to enjoy the ceremony and reception, and that considering how much coverage you want of the wedding, it would be unfair to make the person work hard all day. If they then offer to do it for a small fee, you may want to shift the discussion onto someone else by politely saying you'll consider it. You can then get your parents to do the talking, as long as you make it clear that you are unwilling to accept anything less than a professional wedding photography service.
Please visit our dedicated page on wedding photographers for more information on choosing a service for your wedding.
