Photography: Clare Kinchin
Flowers: Amanda Randell
Cake: Harrie Boo to a Goose
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4 tips to book a great wedding photographer at the last minuteDecember 6, 2012An interview with award winning photographer Andrew Coulter click here to visit Andrew's website Today Andrew shares with us his 4 tips to hire the right photographer for your wedding - even at the last minute. He also shares his personal experiences as a wedding photographer of last minute bookings. Thanks for joining us today Andrew. So let’s start with what is a last minute booking, just how last minute is ‘last minute’? Most people book their photographer 6-12 months ahead of their date. I find that 12 months to the exact date is the most common booking time for my clients. Immediately after Christmas and New Year is also a really popular time as couples finally find some time to do some research for their wedding. The two quickest bookings I’ve had were 6 weeks before the date and the very quickest was 2 weeks! I had to shift a few things around to do that one but I really wanted to help them out so I managed to squeeze in the booking. So how can you find a photographer when you’ve only got a few months or maybe a few weeks til your wedding date? Find the photographer you really want to book and just call them! They might be free and you won’t know til you ask. If they are booked, ask them for a recommendation, who would they suggest you call. Photographers have lots of connections and they’re always willing to pass on a client if they can’t help. The other great tip is to book your wedding for a weekday, photographers are often booked at weekends but can be free during the week. Anything a couple need to know when booking a photographer at the last minute? Yes, don’t feel your photographer won’t have time to meet you before the wedding. Definitely make time to meet your photographer ahead of the wedding day so that you know you’ll be able to work together and you have confidence in their work. I always do a pre-wedding shoot even with last minute bookings so that the couple can see my photos of THEM and they know they’re really happy with the photos they've seen of themselves. Are there any BENEFITS to a late booking? You might be able to get a good deal if it’s a last minute booking, no harm in asking but don’t forget you’re last minute too so that works both ways! What kind of couples do you think work best with a last minute booking? Usually people who are getting married at the last minute are those who are laid back and chilled generally so they might be taking a risk with a late booking but they have the characteristics which mean they’re not worried about it! The important thing is not to let the time scale pressure you into booking just anyone, make sure you really like the photographer’s work – you WILL find the right person, just keep looking, don’t panic! So to sum up: Try to book the photographer you really want – they might be available. Go for a mid-week wedding, it may help secure your first choice photographer. Ask for a recommendation from your first choice if they’re already booked DON’T PANIC, keep looking until you find someone who’s work you really like. Check back in tomorrow for the second part of our interview with Andrew when he'll be giving us great tips to ensure couples get the very best from their wedding photographer. -
Insider secrets on how to get the best from your wedding photographerDecember 6, 2012The second part of our interview with award winning photographer Andrew Coulter click here to visit Andrew's website Today Andrew shares with us his tips for couples planning their wedding to get the most from their wedding photographer. What's the most important thing a couple can do to make sure they've got the right photographer for their wedding and they're relaxed on the day? It's really the photographer's job to help a couple feel relaxed. For me, the MOST important way to do this is to have a pre-wedding shoot - I always schedule one. Some people can feel self-conscious on an engagement shoot but that really doesn't matter because when they see the photos, they LOVE them and that gives them the confidence to relax on the day - they've already seen photographs of themselves and they know it'll be great on the day. So the pre-wedding shoot is really important? Yes it gives the couple and the photographer chance to get to know each other, know how they work together. It gives the couple confidence in the photographer and confidence in themselves that they look good in their photographs. Finally the couple usually share the pre-shoot photos with friends and family so they feel they've 'met' the photographer ahead of the wedding and (particularly with family) they're confident the photographer's going to do a great job, they've seen that for themselves. What are the top 4 pictures you really want to get on the day? A bride preparation shot; a father seeing his daughter in her dress for the first time; the exchange of rings and the first kiss. It's not so much the exchange and the kiss you're trying to get but the look the passes between the couple immediately after they happen. They can be tricky to get because they're so fleeting (and you don't get a second chance!) but those are the moments on the day that really need capturing. What is the one photo that never looks good afterwards? Photographs that look photoshopped and my particular favourite, the ones taken from what might seem like an artistic angle but everyone has to turn their heads when they look at it! Is there a photograph that couples wish their photographer had captured but didn't? Not usually unless it's a picture a family member wishes they'd taken but forgot to mention. Generally the couple are clear about what they want and a good wedding photographer knows the shots that are needed. Of course if you have anything particular in mind do make sure you let your photographer know so that they can take care of it. Thanks for joining us again Andrew. Check back in tomorrow for the third and final part of our interview with Andrew when he'll be sharing some of his personal experiences as a wedding photographer including his story of what he did when he got snowbound on his way to a wedding booking. -
Andrew Coulter shares some personal thoughts with us about being a wedding photographer...December 6, 2012An interview with award winning photographer Andrew Coulter click here to visit Andrew's website Today Andrew shares with us his personal experience as a wedding photographer including his favourite photograph, how he picked his own wedding photographer and how he battled through a snow storm to get to a wedding booking... Thanks for joining us again Andrew. Can you tell us what you love most about being a wedding photographer? For me it's the privilege of being part of someone's big day. The first time you meet a couple it can feel a bit like 'business,' they're booking you to 'do a job' but because a wedding is such a personal event and you are sharing that event with them right there, it's really special. I've become good friends with some of my clients. Also everyone's usually having a great time at a wedding, they're on really good form and it's a great day. I love my job, it's great! What's the one thing you do to build a relationship with a couple? You need to get on with the couple, be relaxed. Sometimes with a personal recommendation, you may have already met them if they've been at a wedding you photographed so you may already have made a connection with the couple. For me an engagement shoot is key, we can meet up, the couple can see what you can do and you've proved to each other you can work together really well. Which is the photograph you are most proud of? Ah, I love this one which I shot this summer. It was the last light in mid summer and really sums up the day for me. It sums up the style I'd love to do all the time... How did you pick the photographer for your own wedding? With difficulty! I used to live on the Isle of Mann so I booked the person who took over my business there - and yes, I still paid the full going rate! Do you photograph your own family or are they like cobbler's children and their shoes?! I've photographed my sister's wedding, my brother in law's wedding, my parents' wedding anniversary, so yes, I've done a few! My wife is pregnant at the moment with our first child and I had great intentions of photographing the bump along the way but I haven't managed to do it yet, I must get on to that! Can you tell us about something that could have been a disaster but wasn't? Ah! Remember that first really snowy winter we had 3 years ago? I was travelling back to Bristol from my honeymoon on Skye, we were due back home 2 days before I had a wedding booked at Bovey Castle on Dartmoor. When we got to Inverness airport it was closed due to snow, everyone from easyjet had just gone home. The nearest airport was Glasgow which would have taken us 12 hours to get to. The next morning we managed to get a flight to Birmingham airport where again we had to stay overnight. The next day we got a train to Bristol where my car was but the car was snowed in! I dug out the car and got home at 10.30 having been up since 5 am and I drove straight to Bovey Castle for the booking - I got there 10 minutes early! I had sorted out a replacement to be there in my place in case I really couldn't get back but I was determined to be there myself if I possibly could! Wow, that's some story! Thanks Andrew for sharing those insights with us. Do check out Andrew's website here to see more examples of his brilliant wedding photographs. Check back in tomorrow for another in our series of interviews with wedding professionals...
