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The wedding traditions that I still love

If you asked me to describe my style as a wedding photographer, one of the words I would probably use would be “modern”. I like to keep up with current photography trends (you can read about some recent wedding photography trends here and here). I also love to embrace new technology, such as drone wedding photography.

Generally, my style is relaxed and informal- I would describe myself as a documentary style wedding photographer, which in itself is a pretty modern trend. I also like using unusual props to capture cutting-edge creative shots, and am very proud to have been nominated for awards for my creative wedding photography.

However, despite all this, there are still some wedding traditions which go way back which I absolutely love! I’m going to share them with you here, along with why I love them from a wedding photography point of view…


Bride and Groom in a castle


1. The dress reveal


It’s always such a special moment when the bridal party sees the bride in her wedding dress for the first time. I’ve captured beautiful photos of bridesmaids, friends and sisters full of emotion upon seeing the brides looking stunning in her dress.


And of course, the dress reveal is always a really emotional moment for the bride and her parents too. As a wedding photographer, one of my ‘must have’ moments to capture is a father’s reaction when he sees his daughter for the first time in her wedding dress, and that’s a tradition that really never gets old for me!

Top Tip to make it modern:

I recently photographed a lovely couple who chose to do something a little different when it came to the dress reveal: a pre-ceremony ‘first look’. The bride, Kym, surprised her fiance Ashley by appearing behind him in her wedding dress. It was clear to see the emotion written all over Ashley’s face as he saw his beautiful bride to be! As a wedding photographer it was a really special moment to capture and it’s a great way to give a modern twist to this tradition.


2. Walking down the aisle

Nothing says “wedding” more than a photo of a bride walking down the aisle. From a wedding photographer’s point of view, there is so much emotion to capture in this moment- nerves, hope, excitement, and a whole lot of love. For this reason, it’s a tradition that I hope will last forever!

Some of my favourite images are of brides walking down the aisle looking towards the groom waiting for them. Often, the groom will be looking back at their partner and you can see how proud and happy they are.

 


3. Confetti shots


Confetti shots are very traditional! The tradition of throwing wedding confetti is said to have originated during the middle ages in Northern Italy and has been around in the UK since Pagan times. Before paper confetti, there were flowers, petals, grains or rice thrown at the happy couple, to bestow prosperity and fertility.

Nowadays, confetti shots are a fabulous opportunity to capture fun, colour, and joy. I don’t just mean a little handful of confetti: if you’re going for a confetti shot, go big! The best confetti shots capture the happy couple in a tsunami of colourful confetti: less is certainly not more in this case!

Confetti at Wedding

As a wedding photographer, I love the pure happiness that radiates from couples in these shots: it’s the moment after they have just exchanged vows and take their first steps together as newly-weds: who wouldn’t want to keep up that tradition?!



4. Group shots


Some couples worry a bit about group shots: they don’t like the idea of their guests standing around for a long time waiting to take part in group shots, or perhaps the style of their wedding is relaxed and informal so they don’t want the group shots to feel too ‘static’.

However, I think getting some great group shots really is a must have: this is your opportunity to capture all those faces of your closest friends and family who shared your special day, and they can be wonderful memories to look back on in years to come. For this reason, group shots are a wedding photography tradition which I can get behind.

Big group photo at Thornton Manor

Abbeywood Estate wedding photography Cheshire


Top tip- make it modern:

The good news is that you can create some natural, fun group shots in a way that doesn’t mean that everyone is standing around for ages waiting for a formal photo. I love to get creative with group shots by incorporating interesting backdrops, angles, poses, or props to make the shot just a little different.

Groomsmen walking outside Soughton Hall

If you’re getting married and looking for some advice on wedding photos, I would be more than happy to help. I’m a professional wedding photographer based in North Wales, Chester and Cheshire and I’d love to chat about your wedding plans- please get in touch today. 

How long does it take to get wedding photos back?

One of the most frequent questions I’m asked as a wedding photographer is “when will I get my photographs back?” This is definitely not surprising: who isn’t super-excited to get their wedding photos back?!

So I thought it might be good to explain the process that takes place between your wedding day, and the day when you get your photos back, as well as giving you a rough idea of how long it might take…



What happens to my wedding photos after my big day?


This may come as a surprise, but at a wedding I will shoot literally thousands of photos. That’s a lot of photos! But remember, one photograph captures a tiny moment of the day and I pride myself on never missing those important moments.

So, the first thing I get to work on is cutting down that huge number of photos, otherwise my couples would need a VERY big album! I download and view all the photos, then initially I will get the number down to around 1000 shots. Once I’ve looked through all the pictures it can take another few days to decide which will make the final cut of around 600 photographs. This is often tricky as there are so many good shots!

Once I’ve chosen those 600, it’s time to start editing them (more of which shortly…)

Something else I do for my couples at this first stage is a “sneak peek” of some of their lovely photos! I do this within a couple of days of the wedding, and couples love to see some of their shots while they’re still high on excitement for their big day. These “sneak peek” shots are also ideal for sharing on social media if you wish.




Soughton Hall North Wales Wedding Photographer

What’s involved in editing my wedding photos?

Editing is a long, detailed process. As a wedding photographer, I’m passionate about delivering couples with stunning memories of their day, so I never rush the editing process: for me, it’s just as important as capturing the image in the first place! I believe that editing photographs is a creative process that brings out the very best of the images taken.

Here’s a little overview of the process your wedding photos will go through with me…

Cloning
This means removing any exit signs, or the odd empty wine glass that’s been left lying around! Sometimes you’ll spot tree branches coming out of people’s heads! You’d be surprised at how removing these little bits and bobs really improves the image.

Colour
When it comes to editing colour, each image can need something different. For example, shots taken inside churches can be quite ‘yellow’ in tone, and because of this the images can look a bit washed out. In this instance, I will take time to reduce the yellow tones.
I also take a lot of time deciding whether a photo should be a colour image or black and white, and this can make a real difference!

Cropping
Sometimes I look at images with lots of background space and realise that they could actually make a fantastic close-up shot, so cropping comes in handy! Cropping can really help get the composition right in an image.

Saving your gallery
Once all the photographs are edited I put them into a digital gallery for you to see. However, each photograph is a big file so this process takes hours!




So… exactly how long will it take to get my wedding photos back?


There isn’t an exact answer on this, but as a ballpark, it can be anywhere from 4 – 10 weeks.
The exact time frame depends on quite a few factors. For example, if your wedding takes place during the height of the season when I am shooting back to back weddings, it can take longer than if you get married at a quieter time of year.



If you have any other questions about how long it takes to get wedding photos back, or what is involved in the editing process, I would be more than happy to chat! I’m a wedding photographer based in Cheshire, North Wales and Chester: please don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to discuss your upcoming wedding. 

What does a wedding photographer cost?

As a wedding photographer, a question I get asked frequently is “how much does wedding photography cost?” It’s not a totally straightforward question though as the cost of a wedding photographer can vary significantly.

As a bit of a guide, it’s often recommended that you should set aside 5% of your wedding budget for wedding photography, rising to 10% if you’re very particular about the type of photography you want. However, bear in mind that the cost of a wedding photographer can vary significantly, so the above is just a guide price.

Something to keep in mind is that there are some very good reasons why wedding photography probably isn’t the place to skimp. Whilst a friend or relative might have offered to take some photos with their fancy new camera, there are numerous reasons why hiring a professional wedding photographer is really important. You only have one chance to capture your special day, and you want beautiful photographs that are a pleasure to look back on. I’ve talked in more detail here about why hiring a professional wedding photographer is definitely worth the money.

Choosing the right wedding photographer for you

There are lots of factors that affect wedding photography prices, such as location, what is included in the package, and whether you require a second shooter.

The first thing you should consider when choosing the right wedding photographer for you is to decide what you want from your photographs. Think about the theme of your day, and the atmosphere you want to create. Once you understand how you want your wedding day to be, the style of photography you want should fall into place. You can find out more about my wedding photography style here.

Once you’ve identified the style of wedding photography you want, and start to do your research into photographers who fit the bill. You will soon find a wedding photographer who stands out as a great fit for your day. Of course cost is important: everyone has a budget to stick to. However, once you find a photographer who fits your day, it will become clear how much they can enhance your wedding day. A good wedding photographer will take the time to get to know you, understand what you want from your wedding photography, and take the time to familiarise themselves with your venue.

What should a wedding photography package include?

The most important thing that is included in a wedding photography package is your photographer’s time, dedication, and commitment to your day. This is someone who you’ve chosen to spend the most important day of your life with you, so you should be looking for a photographer who you can trust to be really dedicated to your day, and to achieving what you want from your photography.

I offer a few package options to suit different weddings and budgets. However, as standard, every wedding I shoot includes a pre wedding meeting, and all photos edited, and provided high resolution in a downloadable gallery. I also provide an online gallery with password and a slideshow. Plus, of course, me with you on the day, and sometimes a second photographer upon request.

All my packages include typical coverage from getting ready in the morning (usually around 3 hours before the ceremony), and finishing half an hour or so after the first dance.

My packages start from just £995, and you can find out more about them here.




Wedding photographer in Cheshire, North Wales, and Chester

When you’re considering how much to spend on your wedding photographer, remember that the skills you want in a wedding photographer aren’t just about taking photos. An experienced professional wedding photographer brings so much more than that to your day: they will understand how to get the best out of people, be unobtrusive on the day, and know which details to capture. On top of that, they will edit your photos afterwards and ensure you receive beautiful lasting memories of your day.

I’m a professional wedding photographer based in North Wales, Chester and Cheshire. I also cover areas that are further afield. If you would like any advice on packages, costs, or how I might be able to help on your wedding day, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.