All brides experience some degree of nervousness about the way they look on their wedding day. It can be intimidating to be the centre of attention, but as any photographer will tell you, a relaxed, happy bride that is clearly caught up in the day is always going to be photogenic.
Photo (left) courtesy of Darren Charles Holloway Photography

STAND AND DELIVER
Over time, new styles of wedding photography have emerged. Traditional, rather staid, formal
wedding poses can add extra pressure to the proceedings and, while there is still a place for such shots, a much more fluid, immediate and intimate style of wedding photography now prevails. Many people believe that there are just two types of photography, but really there are now three:

1. Photo-journalistic, also referred to as reportage or documentary. This is the choice for couples who want a no-fuss, real photographic record of the day. Nothing is set-up or contrived, allowing everything to happen at the natural pace of the day.
   
   
2. Traditional. This is a set up number of poses and, while there is still a place for this, it’s nowhere near as popular as it once was.
   
   
3. Designer. This is an off-shoot of photojournalism, with certain traditional elements. Shots are made to look natural, and the finished product is heavily dependent on Photoshop and similar software programs.

Most couples opt for a mixture of styles, usually reportage throughout the day and formal for some family shots after the ceremony. If you are still unsure about the differences in styles, head to one of the county’s many wedding fayres and chat to some of the exhibiting photographers. All will have extensive portfolios of work, and you’ll be able to see exactly the kind of look you’d hope to achieve in your wedding photos. Meeting photographers faceto- face will also give you an opportunity to discover whether you will be able to work with them on your big day. “I like to get to know the bride and groom before the wedding day, usually by having an informal chat about their photography requirements,” reveals Ben Harris, photographer and videographer at Bespoke Wedding Images. “I try to organise an informal photo shoot with each couple at their venue beforehand. This allows us to determine the best places for photographs; it is also a great rapport-building exercise as I take some fun, informal shots to get the couple used to being photographed.” It’s important that your photographer has the necessary enthusiasm and talent to be able to enhance the day’s proceedings. After all, keeping crowds of people entertained while they are waiting around to have their photo taken can be quite a challenge!
Photo (above) courtesy of David Sawyer

“I have met so many lovely people when photographing weddings and I particularly like being able to take part in their special day,” says Sarah Critchlow. “Probably the most memorable wedding I have attended was conducted at Sandhurst Military Academy with 180 guests. I was most grateful for the booming voice of the chief guard of honour officer when organising the group shots!”

FILM OR DIGITAL
Many photographers have now switched from film to digital for a number of reasons: duplicate
images can be taken quickly, it’s relatively easy to ‘touch up’ shots and, therefore, it is now possible
to provide much more competitive photography packages. David Sawyer, based in Worthing, West
Sussex, specialises in artistic photography, creating imaginative works of art for people’s homes.
He offers bride and grooms the choice of three wedding packages, starting in price from just
£125. “We take hundreds of photos on the day and pride ourselves on offering excellent value with a great service,” he asserts. “We spend all day with the bride and groom so that we can provide good all-round coverage of the big day.”

TROUBLESHOOTING
When booking the time of your wedding, it is worth considering how this will affect the look of your photographs. “From our experience, the best time of day is from 2.30pm onwards,” asserts Denise Hammond, wedding photographer at YouNique Photos. “There are a number of reasons for this: if it is a very sunny day, the light is better from mid to late afternoon onwards when we are taking the relaxed, reportage images after the ceremony and the photographs reflect this. Secondly, if a couple get married too early, it’s often very rushed and chaotic at the bride’s home before the wedding and everyone is less relaxed. This shows in the photos too. Finally, if a couple get married earlier in the day, there are often other weddings before and after theirs in peak season and this causes a rushed situation to get photographs taken before colliding with another wedding party.”
Photo (right) courtesy of The Richard Lemon Studio

PHOTO FINISH
Viewing your wedding photos for the first time can bring back all the emotion and joy of your big day. That’s why it’s often worth investing in a beautifully bound wedding album. Most photographers will choose the best photos and compile an album for you – the price of which will depend on the quantity of photos involved. Another option is to order a custom made, hand-bound wedding book. Over 650 photographers across the UK offer this service, so access www.graphistudio.co.uk for details.