Why Wedding Photography Should Be A Priority

Published by Sam, Editor -
Why Wedding Photography Should Be A Priority

When it comes to planning your wedding there are a lot of things to think about, consider and budget for. The list will seem endless and you may not know where to start, yet when it comes to wedding planning there are certainly a few things that should be your starting point and priority.

Why Wedding Photography is SO Important

The most important part of a wedding is the couple, and that is what it is all about and that is all that matters at the end of the day. However, when it comes to planning the big day you shall speak to a lot of suppliers, from florists, bridal boutiques, caterers, stationery designers, the list goes on, all these people will tell you how important it is to get it right. Getting the right flowers, having the best food, it is all about the dress, that is good, you want to work with passionate people, however are these a priority when planning your wedding? Of course they should be included and I am not saying you should leave out any of these, but are they more important than wedding photography?

I read and hear about a lot of couples who only have a small budget left for their photography, couples who are struggling to find a photography they like for their wedding coming up very soon, and couples who are not having a photographer as they just cannot afford one. These couples haven’t put very much importance on photography…

Why is hiring a professional wedding photographer so important?

Is wedding photography the most important thing when it comes to your wedding? Nope, not at all, however when it comes to planning your special day it should be up there on the priority list of things to look at, budget for and book.

Wedding photography is important because it will capture your day, it will capture your memories, it will tell a story, and not just any story, it will tell a beautiful story of your special day, a day you will never forget. A story that you can show friends and family, your kids, and grandchildren, something you will have and can treasure for ever.

You see your flowers will wilt, your cake will quickly be eaten, your invites will be binned after the day, your dress shall be worn once, those shoes shall go back into their box, this isn’t me trying to be glum and miserable, this is about perspective, this is about helping you focus your budget on things that you may not put importance on, such as wedding photography.

One day, and a lot of memories

Earlier I mentioned about couples who didn’t put to much importance on wedding photography, and it can easily be forgotten or put down the pecking order because on the day itself, you don’t have anything. If you go to a florist they will create beautiful bouquets of flowers for you, your cake maker will make the most delicious and gorgeous looking cake for your day, the list goes on, the thing is here, these are things and items that will be there on your day, things that you and everyone will see. Yet when it comes to wedding photography you are paying for something you won’t see till after, and the best wedding photographers will go unnoticed, your guest won’t even know they are there.

What are you paying for?

When it comes to wedding planning, it is more than just one day, it is about a lifetime of memories. It is about capturing moments, it is about capturing emotion, it is about being able to relive the day through beautiful photos, it is about smiling at moments that you never knew happened, seeing the emotion on your family and friends faces, and most importantly of all, having a story you can treasure forever.

If you are just thinking about your wedding and looking at your budget, make sure you maximise your budget for your wedding photography, it’s not just a few photos of you and your partner on your wedding day looking beautiful and happy, it is about a beautiful story of your wedding day, from getting ready and smiling with your bridesmaids, to the emotion on your dads face as he sheds a tear and looks on with pride. Capturing the beautiful details on your day after hours and days of planning, from the beautiful flowers, your dress and venue, capturing the day as it unfolds, capturing the emotion of your guests, the nervousness of the groom, all the way through to that first dance, this is not just any story, this is your story.

Make sure you capture your day, and your story, don’t regret not hiring a professional wedding photographer.

Things to consider

Maximise your budget. Will the guests notice if you saved a little money on your flowers, will your guests really notice if you saved a little on the food, will they notice if the cake isn’t 5 tiers high? Save a little where you can and maximise your photography budget, it is the only thing you will have left at the end of the day. Read our article on the The Real Cost of Wedding Photography.

Find your style. There are hundreds of wedding photographers to choose from, and most will travel all over the country and even abroad, take time to decide on a style you like and find a photographer that reflects this. Make sure you view more of their work and complete albums, you don’t want one or two beautiful photos, you want a beautiful story that is of high quality through out, from beginning to the the end.

Book quickly. The best wedding photographers get hired and booked up to 2 years in advance, so once you know the date, find your perfect wedding photographer and get them booked.

How NOT to Choose your Wedding Photographer

We have many articles helping guide you through searching, finding, meeting and picking your wedding photographer, but how about the things NOT to do!

1. They are Cheap

When choosing your photographer don’t just pick them based on value and what is included, don’t just go with the photographer that includes a free engagement shoot, printed album, online gallery, USB pen, photo frames and printed t-shirts just because of the extra bits, they are secondary to the photos that will be captured. It is so important you find and hire a photographer that you love.

Their work matches your style, you know you can trust them, you feel relaxed and at ease with them, all these things will make for an easier day and also better and more natural photos. Many photographers will offer packages with bits mentioned before, including an engagement shoot is becoming more and more popular, if they match your style, you love their work and you ‘click’ with them then this is great, however don’t just pick a photographer purely based on value and what is included.

2. They ‘will do’

When planning your wedding there are a million and one things to think about, the list seems endless and sometimes you may just think that ‘will do’. You maybe looking at lots of photographers and struggling to find the time to meet up with them to view their work and see how you get on. It is important not to pick a photographer just because it is taking some time and seeming like an endless task, take your time and ensure you not only find a wedding photographers work that you love, but also a person behind the camera you love too. When you find them you will walk away feeling like you have just been speaking to a close friend, it is so important and makes a real difference to how you feel and come across in front of the camera.

Wedding photographers love what they do, they have a passion for the industry and a passion for capturing beautiful weddings, you may be feeling stressed and many photographers will understand and be able to relate. Just ensure you find the right photographer for you, one that matches your style and one that you can trust and feel relaxed with, go with your gut, if you have no doubts then get them booked! But don’t just say ‘they will do’.

3. They have ‘some’ stunning photos

Where ever you see a wedding photographer be it here on this site or online you will see lots of beautiful photos, a range of stunning shots that will catch your eye and make you go wow. This is great and you should find a photographer who’s work you love and makes you go wow, however it is important to remember that it is great having a few photos that make you go wow, however you want a wedding story that makes you go wow, the point here is consistency.

When viewing a photographers work ensure you see full and completed albums, this maybe online or a hard copy, you want to ensure that all photos are stunning and the quality is exceptional throughout, and not just one or two photos that look great. A good photographer can take stunning photos, a great wedding photographer can tell a story through beautiful photos.

4. They are recommended by the Venue

So you have picked your wedding venue and booked the date, depending on the venue they may have a list of recommended suppliers, from catering, florists, planners and photographers. This is a great starting place however it is important not to just go off this list and not open your eyes to other alternatives. Check out the article the double edged sword of being a venue ‘preferred’ wedding photographer. You may prefer styles of other photographers you may have seen on here for example that are not on their list, you may have met a photographer from their list but not felt completely happy. Don’t compromise on your wedding photographer by just reviewing ones recommended by the venue, ensure you get the best photographer you can afford and the one you want.

5. My Uncle has a new camera

Be it your Uncle or friend down the road, wedding photography is more than just a camera. Just because they may have an expensive camera doesn’t mean they have the experience and knowledge to go and capture a wedding. They may love photography, going out at weekends capturing landscape shots, or pictures of the kids playing in the park, however when it comes to weddings it is a dynamic event.

The camera is just a tool and means for capturing the moment, the skill, knowledge and experience is the key to wedding photography. You only get one chance so you want to be in the right place at the right time, you want to ensure you capture that one moment beautifully, you want to ensure you have a wedding story that will help you relive the emotions and happiness if your wedding day.

Final thoughts

All this planning is for one day only, one day you marry the partner you wish to spend the rest of your life with, one day you share this beautiful moment with all your family and friends that you love. Make sure you hold onto those memories and don’t look back and wish you had hired a photographer.

Photography isn’t about an expensive camera, it is about capturing a story.

Remember you only get one chance when it comes to your wedding photos and after it is all over the photos are the one thing that will stay with you for ever, ensure you hire the best wedding photographer you can afford and hire the best person to capture your wedding day. It is an investment that you will be glad you made years down the road when you look back through your wedding album reliving those special moments and emotions.

Wedding Photography is about unique moments, it’s about being able to relive the day through beautiful photos, this is smiling at moments you didn’t even know happened, seeing the excitement and emotion on the faces of the your family and friends, and, above all, having a story that you shall take with you forever…

Here’s what you’re paying!

How important is wedding photography to you? Have you maximised your budget to get the best photographer you can?

34 Comments

  1. John Young

    This is what I tell my customers and its hard to get across the importance without it sounding like hard sell. I think mobile phones has in some ways undervalued photography as everyone thinks they are no photographers and its so they think its easy to take photographs so why pay much for someone to take them which is so far from the truth especially regarding a wedding.

    I still enjoy looking at my own wedding photos from 20 years ago and LOVE creating memories for my couples – Great article thank you

    Reply
  2. Jo Wheeler

    I wish I could shout this from the roof-tops!
    I think that the real issue these days is that so many ‘average’ pictures are shared on FB or Instagram, that most people don’t know what a well exposed, sharp picture actually looks like, so when they are looking for a photographer, they don’t see these things as an issue.

    Reply
  3. KrysPolkino

    Photography is as important as photographer. Personality of the photographer is as much important as photographs. Even best photographs can be ruined if the photographer leaves bad memories. All is connected and play important role in the whole process.

    Reply
  4. Alice Martine

    Wedding photography always considers as the first priority in any wedding because everything passes away with times but only the photographs that are captured in your wedding will remain forever with you as beautiful memories. I remembered my wedding days, now I have only two things with which reminds me of that particular day, one is my bride and another is those beautiful photographs captured by “Jon-Mark Photography”. Thanks for a reason of my smile forever.

    Reply
  5. Sophia

    For me, it’s really hard to give a pose for a simple photograph. But I think photographers play a huge role in the wedding because they have to cover the whole function in a camera and it must look beautiful also. The tips you have given are really useful.

    Reply
  6. Saayan

    Everybody has a different viewpoint for each and everything. For me moments are important and being a photographer myself I understand that. If I could afford extra $2000 for the kind of photography work I like than for sure I will.

    Regards.

    Reply
  7. Dan Zuccari

    I think wedding photography is one of the more important things for a wedding. There’s so many moments that need to be captured that will bring back memories when looking at the photos down the road. I also think that having a good photographer is key. Someone who doesn’t “get in the way” but at the same time doesn’t miss anything. It’s a fine balance I think.

    Reply
  8. Jenna Hunter

    I appreciate what you said about wedding photography being able to capture the memories of your special day. My sister is getting married next summer so we are trying to find a photographer that can fit her style. I think she should find one that will do more candid shots so we don’t have to spend a lot of time doing posed shots or family photos. We just want to enjoy the day and make good memories instead of stressing about perfect photos.

    Reply
  9. Krystal Healy

    As a wedding photographer myself, I completely agree with the sentiment of your article. If you hire a professional wedding photographer with a good reputation, you will not only have beautiful photos with lasting memories for years to come but you should also be able to rest easy that they will know exactly how to capture your day perfectly.

    Reply
  10. Steve M

    I agree with you! Your wedding photography captures your celebration memories that can last long forever.

    Reply
  11. Burt Silver

    I really like what you said about finding your style and booking a wedding photographer quickly. That’s crazy to know that wedding photographers can be totally booked up to 2 years in advance. That’s something that my fiancee and I will definitely be keeping in mind as we plan our wedding. Hopefully, we can find a good photographer that can work with us really well.

    Reply
  12. Vanessa Blair

    My cousin will be married soon and she wants everything to be documented. It was explained here that wedding photography should be of priority because it will capture the wedding day. Moreover, it’s advisable to hire professionals for luxury wedding photography.

    Reply
  13. Naveen Kumar

    A very good blog post and Yes a wedding requires proper planning in prior only then we can make the event successful. Our first preference should be given to wedding photographer because they are the one who is going to save that beautiful memories.

    Reply
  14. Dave Anderson

    I never really thought about the whole memory part of the wedding. I always thought it was about the ceremony. Now I see the importance of wedding photography so that we can remember this day forever. I will definitely be talking to my fiancee about wedding photographers and what she wants the pictures to be like.

    Reply
  15. AVIPSHA NEOGI

    This was really enjoyable to read. Really some good content and images are perfectly taken. Loved the article. Thanks for sharing the work.

    Reply
  16. Josh Ryan

    I really enjoyed this, couldn’t agree more, great article! Its so much effort to plan the perfect day, it’s so important to make sure its captured.

    Reply
  17. Shraya Sinha

    It is very Useful tips to choose best photographer for your wedding as everyone want to get unique memory in the form of pictures to recall their D day in future. These tips really work for couple.

    Reply
  18. Luminosity Studios

    Lovely post! I agree, although, there are a lot of important things to prepare in a wedding, photography should always be included in the list of the most important things to take care of. True indeed, all the planning, beautiful dresses, flowers, wedding cakes, special moments with friends and family, it would be a waste to have it not captured in photo or video. I think getting a wedding photography is worth the investment!

    Reply
  19. Tulieve Photography

    Great article guys, this is so true. My wife and I got married years ago and I don’t remember what was for dinner, actually I remember one dish from the lunch at our Sydney wedding but not for our destination wedding in Malaysia 🙂 I wouldn’t remember the flowers if it wasn’t for the pictures 🙂 Point is, most of everything will fade away but your images (hopefully, back up, prints do something with the digital files!!). I hope a lot more bride will find their way to your site.

    Reply
  20. Kevin

    Nice article and nice tips that you have mentioned in this article. All these tips are worth useful and very informative. Capturing the lovely and sweet moments of your marriage is most important thing because these are the moments that you can never experience again in your life. You can only cherish those moments by looking at the pictures that you have kept in the frames.

    Reply
  21. Sparkish MEdia

    This is really nice blog to get the awareness of choosing the best wedding photographers. It’s very useful to go get the marriage to chose our photographers. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful blog…

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Join our photography community today

Be found by couples looking for their perfect wedding photographer, showcase your work, enter our awards and features.

Sign up

  • © 2024 Your Perfect Wedding Photographer. All images and logos are the copyright and/or trademark of their respective owners.
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Cookies