Congratulations on your engagement! This is such an exciting time in your life, and I know you’re probably feeling a mix of emotions as you start to plan your dream wedding. One of the first big decisions you’ll need to make is choosing your wedding photographer. 

As a London-based wedding photographer with TLG Photography, I understand how overwhelming it can be to choose the right photographer for your big day. With so many options out there, it can be tough to know where to start. That’s why I want to share with you my top 10 things to think about as you begin your search for the perfect photographer. 

Photography Style: What type of style do you envision for your wedding? Do you want traditional, posed photos, or are you drawn to a more candid, photojournalistic,  approach? Make sure to look at a variety of photographers’ portfolios to get a sense of their style and see if it aligns with your vision. Maybe you are unsure of the exact style and would prefer to leave the creative direction up to your photographer? Either way, taking a glance at some portfolios should help to align your expectations. 

At TLG Photography we work closely with our clients to provide direction throughout your photoshoots to ensure that you feel comfortable in the moment. We will start with a ‘pose’ and have some tricks up our sleeve to help make this pose ‘your own’- so to speak. This means that if each couple is given the same pose it looks different each time- which we love! We want to bring out your natural chemistry and capture your precious moments with a healthy mixture of candids and poses (we promise you won’t look stiff or unnatural). We take a photojournalistic approach to the day to capture these important moments as they unfold. We promise to make you laugh and we all have fun in the process. 

Images: Oftentimes, what sets photographers apart are the way in which they edit their work. Some photo styles are very airy and bright, others more moody. Some have cooler palettes, while others are very warm. Some photographers aim to keep their photos as natural as possible, so not as much editing goes into the process. It’s important to find images that resonate with you, and match your personal aesthetic. 

While I absolutely love all of the warmer and darker filters that are dominating right now, I don’t personally use them on my photos. Why? Because I have seen a lot of trends come and go in this industry and I believe that wedding photos should stand the test of time. Firstly, I start with a neutral colour palette that includes rich skin tones. Our photos are crisp with softened more muted hues of greens, cream and warmer light elements. Greens, oranges and yellows are often a fluorescent colour if not edited, so we like to tone down any overwhelming colours.  We are always on the chase for that natural perfect light when photographing- including the magic of golden hour. 

As a result, our images have a classic and sophisticated colour palette that work to compliment and incorporate your natural surroundings. We also love to sneak our wedding clients out for a few snaps during golden hour, as these are often some of our all time favourite captures. When scheduling engagement photos, we also exclusively shoot in the soft light of the morning or evenings (could be late afternoon too) depending on the season. We use soft and flattering natural light to create a neutral palette for our photography style. 

Budget: Photography is a significant investment, and it’s important to have a budget in mind as you start your search. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a variety of photographers to see what they offer within your budget. 

At TLG photography, we prefer to post our wedding collections on our website. We know this saves you time and energy as you start your research. Oftentimes, prices will be reflective of the photographer’s experience, so keep that in mind if you are working on a budget. One of the number one regrets we hear from folks, is that if they could go back and do it all over again, they would have not hired their friend or someone who was just starting out, to photograph their wedding. 

Our clients know that when they work with us, they are getting outstanding service, great communication and professionalism throughout the process. We feel that our prices are competitive and reflective of the quality of images that we capture, as well as the monetary investment we have made over the years in our business including equipment (backup equipment), lenses, lighting, software etc. 

Personality: Your photographer(s) will be with you for a significant portion of your wedding day, so it’s important to choose someone you feel comfortable with. Look for a photographer with a personality that fits well with yours and your partner’s.

This is so important for both the couple and the photographer. We love to meet with potential clients because as much as you are scoping us out, we are doing the same! We want to ensure that we are a great fit for each other to work with. We are not interested in just filling up our books. We take our time to chat with potential clients, get to know who you are, and ask all of the fun questions about how you met, fell in love etc. 

I love learning about people’s stories because it helps me get to know you on a deeper level and allows me to better tell your story through beautiful engagement and wedding photography. We don’t always end up working with each couple that we meet and that is ok! But we do love the feeling of coming away from a meeting and knowing that both parties just really clicked. It makes us that much more excited to start working with each other and to get you in front of the camera! 

Experience: How long has the photographer been in business? Have they shot at your venue before? It’s always a good idea to choose a photographer with a good track record and experience shooting at your specific venue.

An experienced photographer is approaching your wedding day with so much more knowledge and ease. We have years of experience under our belt and can often anticipate circumstances and act quickly. We are also technically prepared for the day with backup equipment, lighting for darker environments and equipped with dual SD shooting capabilities. We want to do everything in our power to safeguard your most precious moments. 

We also LOVE finding new venues to shoot at, so if by chance, we have not photographed at your venue beforehand, we will do a walkabout ahead of time, and scope out all of the good spots and account for the best lighting. 

Reviews: Take the time to read reviews from past clients. This can give you a good idea of what to expect from the photographer and how they handle different situations.

We try not to brag too much because our clients typically do that for us. But in all seriousness, reviews are a great and quick way to streamline your research. Reviews can be found on our website. 

Prints: What options are available for prints and products? Do they offer digital files and printing rights, or will you have to purchase prints through them? Make sure to understand what is included in their packages.

At TLG Photography we aim to be as transparent as possible with our wedding collections, so there are no hidden fees or surprises for our clients. We shoot continuously throughout the wedding day and do not limit the amount of photos per package. That means that you receive all fully edited, hand selected photos from us. All of the photos that our clients receive are available through a private gallery for digital download. This gallery is guaranteed for a year which provides enough time to download your photos. We also offer our clients the option to purchase prints and photo books. 

Engagement session: Many photographers offer engagement sessions as part of their wedding packages. This is a great opportunity to get to know your photographer and have some beautiful images to use for your save-the-dates or wedding website.

Engagement photos are some of my favourite to photograph. It’s the first opportunity for us to connect and work together. Because we are not under the tight timeline of a wedding day, we get to relax and have fun! By the time your wedding day rolls around you will have more confidence in front of the camera and feel like a pro. 

I have had so many clients tell me that they are not photogenic. Yes you are! It’s all about relaxing and having fun with your partner. Don’t worry I will crack lots of jokes. It’s a whole thing. We feel so strongly about engagement photos that each of our wedding day collections comes with a complimentary engagement session. These are perfect to use for save the date invites, or digital images if you are creating a wedding website. 

Timeline: Discuss your timeline with your photographer to make sure they can accommodate all the shots you want on your wedding day. It’s also a good idea to ask about their backup plan in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

As clients of TLG we will send your some planning documents to help streamline this process and create a workable and realistic itinerary for your wedding day. In our second consultation, we will go over all of your ‘must haves’ and depending on the package that you selected, we will work within that time frame to put together the wedding day itinerary. This helps us both stay on track and we can move forward with ease on your wedding day. Part of that conversation does include a contingency plan around weather. 

Many couples opt for outdoor ceremonies and photos (which we love). We will discuss alternate options in these cases. Some of our favourite wedding days have had rain. Don’t fret, we will make it work! 

Contract: Make sure to read and understand the contract before signing. It’s important to know what is and isn’t included in your package, as well as the terms for cancellations or rescheduling.

We typically provide our contract at our first meeting for our couples to look over. If you would like to see the contract ahead of that please shoot us an email. 

I hope these tips help as you begin your search for the perfect wedding photographer. At TLG Photography, we pride ourselves on offering a classic, fresh approach to wedding photography for the modern couple. If you’re interested in learning more about what we offer, don’t hesitate to reach out. We would love to chat with you and see if we might be the right fit for your big day.