Why You Should Never Skimp on Wedding Photography

Photography is one of the most important elements of wedding planning, but for most couples it is often an afterthought. After the celebrations are over and memories of your wedding day become less vivid, it’s your photographs that live on and will draw you right back into those magical moments.

A significant portion of your wedding budget should be allocated to photography (but that’s not to say the most expensive photographer is always the best choice). Cut back in on other areas of your planning if need be – do away with wedding favors or take a few tiers out of your wedding cake, but trust us when we say great photography should be your priority.

All too often that we hear from disappointed brides who don’t realise how crucial investing in a photographer is, until it’s too late and they don’t have any images to tell their story – or that nearly do justice to the day.

With this in mind, we have put together a list of crucial considerations when choosing a wedding photographer

(Image: Lelia Scarfiotti)

Choose a wedding photographer

Yes your uncle, cousin, brother might have an amazing camera, but that doesn’t make him a photographer. You might know a brilliant fashion or surf photographer, but shooting a wedding is completely different to the style of photography they’re used to. A good wedding photographer will be there to capture moments that another photographer will overlook. They know how to anticipate beautiful moments and to be patient in their wait to document the unguarded. They’ll capture the beauty, the drama, they’ll tell your story the way they know how. They have an eye for creative details – the beautiful table settings, a hand written note from your fiancé on the morning of your wedding, the song that was playing while you prepare with your bridesmaids.

A great wedding photographer knows how to capture the dramatic moments and all of the beautiful things that unfold in between; stolen glances, the tight grip of your hands during your ceremony, the ethereal movement of your dress trailing behind you down the aisle, the wiping away of a tear from the father of the bride, the nerves and laughter during the best man’s speech, the ambient flickering of melted candles dotting reception tables and the intricate details of your reception decor that you spent months preparing (this is a big one that is often overlooked by anyone new to shooting a wedding!). Wedding photography is an art form that should be left to the professionals who live and breathe it.

Choose a photographer you get along with

Your wedding photographer plays a huge role in your wedding, they’re with you from the moment you start getting ready to the second you depart your reception. You need to make sure you feel at ease in their presence. They won’t always be noticeable while shooting, but it makes such a difference having a photographer who’s personality is a great fit with you and compliments the style of your wedding.

Make sure the photographer’s work resonates with you

You’ll know in an instant if a photographer is right for you. When you look through their website or blog (and do look through the entire albums not a highlights reel on social media). You’ll have a connection to their style and the way they tell a couple’s story. Don’t ever try and change a photographers style. Look at their work and think about how well their style fits with your wedding and you as a couple.

You need to be confident enough on the day to simply let them do their thing. Magic is created when you allow creativity to flow and a photograph should never be over-styled or directed – the result is always a staged picture that doesn’t communicate real emotion and show the true beauty of your wedding day.

There are some incredible photographers in the wedding industry (& some really,really bad ones!), we have handpicked our absolute favorites for The Lane Directory. Each inspiring us for different reasons and most importantly only those that we would ask to shoot our own weddings in heartbeat. Each of the photographers we feature have an artistic style that is completely their own, they all have different strengths and techniques, and at the end of the day your decision should be based on the connection you feel with their work.

Visit The Lane Directory to see their work.