Coverage
Most couples imagine a photographer can create magic with very little input from them, and they believe candid photography is very flattering because they are carefree and un-aware of the camera, everyone has that one snap which they love that was taken while they weren’t looking at the camera.
Some couples are naturally relaxed, tactile and very photogenic, the majority, however, need a little help from a sensitive professional. Some weddings photograph candid, others formal but most benefit from a combination of both styles. Whilst the customer requirement and end product has changed in the last thirty years the coverage at the heart of the event has remained the same.
An album consisted of the key wedding highlights: groom outside church, bride arriving, signing the register, cutting the cake etc…typically 30 or 40 pictures.
The price was affected by the length of the coverage, number of pictures taken and the reputation of the photographer. Most recently due to the advent of digital imaging, the initial coverage has grown to, in some cases, 600 pictures, with a typical album containing up to 100 images.
Most professional photographers structure their prices to maximise their profit with a number of 'add-ons' to the basic wedding coverage and by starting with an album of one size, typically 30 pictures, then up selling after the wedding, their ultimate goal is to sell you the largest coverage and biggest album.
My philosophy is slightly different, whilst I will encourage you to extend my nine hour coverage (£1195.00) to include the speeches and first dance usually another four hours for an additional £180.00, I believe the choice of the final album should be left until you have lived with your pictures for a while. Some people will not order a final album at all, they will be content with my initial albums and put pictures on the wall, others will choose the Graphistudio Wedding Book whilst others will go for a more traditional photo album style book.
Whilst I could create a photographers' self indulgent masterpiece and choose all the pictures, I believe the choice should reflect the personality and style of my customer and also meet their budget. My style and individuality is captured within my photography and final high standard of presentation, the look and end result is yours.
The Coverage
From early morning, sometimes including attending the hairdressers with the girls, I photograph all the small details of the outfits, flowers etc. and the preparation of the bride, bridesmaids and parents.
The early start gets everyone comfortable with me being there and importantly I am able to keep the bridal party to time, particularly as the last hour slips by at a alarming rate.
The hairdresser and make up artist are fundamental to the preparation stage and can make the bride late for dressing and departure from the house or venue bedroom.
We ask that the bride and the party of people leaving from the house are ready to be photographed an hour before the wedding time, slightly earlier if there is significant travel time to the church or venue – we need about half an hour to formally and informally photograph the bridal party before they leave – this is particularly important if the weather is bad, we get perfect pictures before the bride goes out into the elements, it also gives everyone time to get used to their outfits.
Most girls underestimate the time needed to put on a wedding dress and also to get into the car.
Whilst it is fashionable for a bride to be late, if there is a wedding following you at the venue you run the risk of having your ceremony shortened to accommodate the time lost.
Wedding days are fluid, they are affected by weather and people and very few people build in space at the planning stage to accommodate five or ten minute delays here and there to accommodate things not quite working out at the prep. stage.
During the morning if the groom is getting ready nearby I will leave the bride and spend a short time photographing his preparation.
Having left the bride the wedding is photographed up to the start of the wedding breakfast, we include speeches and also the first dance with an additional charge.
If the speeches are covered I may well take a final picture in evening light straight after the meal, this in many cases is better than photographing the dance.
The dance is a nice to have, but if the couple aren’t romantic on the dance floor the picture doesn’t always work.