Once the confetti have settled and the honeymoon is over, it’s time to look forward to receiving your wedding photos!
The build-up, the vows, that joke in the best man’s speech, having fun on the dance floor: you’ll be able to look back on all the special moments and remember one of the happiest days of your life!
It’s so important then that you’re happy with the end results. So how do you go about choosing the right photographer for a more unique, outdoor wedding reception?
1. Set a Budget
The average wedding photographer costs around £1,500-£2,000. While £1,500 may sound like a huge chunk of your budget, your photos really are one of the most important things to invest in.
Discuss how much you can legitimately spend and always keep that in mind as you continue your search. Lots of photographers have starting prices on their website or you could always ask a few in your area for a quick quote to see what the going rate is.
2. Find Your Style
What’s your preferred photography style? There is no right or wrong answer – whether it be candid and relaxed, edgy and editorial or more traditional posed wedding images that you are after, ultimately, it comes down to your own personal taste!
Weddings are unique in the scale and speed of the action on the day, and we are so lucky to have a wealth of experienced photography talent right on our doorsteps! Whatever the style and whether your Tipi tent event is in Scotland, Cumbria, The Lake District or Northumberland, we will be able to help you find your perfect fit!
Tipi weddings are so versatile, and they give an amazing opportunity for photographers to be creative and use the natural outdoor environment to capture some gorgeous images. They can make the most of the natural light and conditions on the day and really capture day beautifully!
The gallery section on our website is an excellent starting point and you’ll see the styles of lots of different of photographers in action at real tipi weddings! Try creating a shortlist of the photographers you like and research a little more about them.
3. Ask for Testimonials
One of the best ways to find a photographer is to ask friends for recommendations. If anyone has got married recently and you loved their shots, find out who their photographer was. As with all your suppliers, other places to get recommendations from are forums, social media and google reviews.
A reputable photographer will have lots of testimonials from clients that they’re happy to share with you. Once you have a shortlist, get in touch with the photographer and ask 1) if they have availability on your wedding date? 2) Do they have any full albums for you to look at? 3) Can you read some reviews?
4. See a Portfolio
Seeing a portfolio of a complete wedding is super helpful. A photographer’s website and social media will showcase highlights, but ideally, it would be great if you could see a full wedding album from start to finish to help demonstrate how the photographer tells the full story of the day!
5. Arrange a Meeting
Your photographer is going to be spending your whole wedding day with you so it’s important that you all get along! Meet them face-to-face, ask questions, go through their portfolio, and see how you feel with them. Do they put you at ease? Do you feel they understand what you want? Are they excited that you are opting for an outdoor Tipi wedding and reception? It is important to pick a photographer that will complement the vibe and atmosphere you are planning to create for your big day. The more relaxed you are around your photographer, the better your photographs will be!
Top Tip – Ask them what their favourite wedding photo is – you’ll get a true feeling of their unique style
6. Narrow Down Your Shortlist
You’ll probably chat with two or three photographers and then need to pick just one. As well as feeling comfortable, the right photographer will come down to price and package options. Consider what is included in the contract (number of hours of coverage on the day, a second shooter, prints or albums, extras like an engagement shoot), how long the proofs will take to get back and retouching options.
7. Book an Engagement Shoot
Not essential, but you’ll be so much more comfortable on the day if you’ve had some experience of being directed and posing beforehand. An engagement shoot is a great way to all to get to know each other.
The right photographer should be respectful and have the social know-how to blend into your wedding, yet still be bold enough to seek out the shots they need. They should ask you lots of questions and, importantly, be excited about your day.
8. Ahead of the day!
Once you have decided upon your photographer, it is important to inform them about the details of the day such as the location of the wedding, and the areas that they will be taking photos in. The photographer may choose to scout the location and areas before the wedding day, to get a sense of what the lighting and landscaping look like.
Moreover, it will also be important to inform them about what type of tipi and the floor plan that you have arranged. Once the photographer knows what backdrops, layouts and general style of imagery to use on the day, it will make the processes a lot easier for both the photographer, and the bride and groom.
Top Tip – Lighting is a wedding photographer’s best friend! Considering different types of light for not only inside the tipis but outside also to help to create a magical atmosphere
9. Finally
We are always looking for amazing real tipi weddings to feature on Special Event Tipis. If you’d like to see your photos on our website, mention this to your photographer and make sure they get lots of images of all your little details and personal touches – you’ll inspire tonnes of other brides and your photographer will get fully credited throughout!
