David Islip

Tag: Professional wedding photography

  • BBC The One Show – A great piece of TV showing what we are not!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b011f69j/The_One_Show_19_05_2011/?t=2m05s

    This episode of the One Show made me want to cry for the couples involved and then it made me angry on several counts!! The photography shown is simply dire, obviously we did not see all of it so a balanced judgement is difficult, we have to trust that the BBC were fair in what they showed and the couples all knew what they were booking.

    Just because somebody calls themselves a ‘Photographer’ or a ‘Professional Photographer’ does not mean they are any good at what they do and not all clients understand what style of photography they really require. Do check that your photographer is qualified in ‘Wedding Photography’, as there is nothing to stop a qualified ‘Industrial’ or ‘ Medical’ photographer for instance, starting in weddings!

    For many jobs these days you need to have qualifications before you start. Unfortunately ANYBODY can pick up a camera, call themselves a wedding photographer and potentially mess up somebody’s wedding . Weddings are a once only event for most people and need to be right despite all the pressure of the weather, time and 100 guests with a different agenda! !!

    In the show the ‘photographer’ was not even dressed appropriately – I love my jeans but NOT at a wedding that is showing no respect

    A little piece written in the 19th Centuary:-

    “It’s better to have paid too much.

    When you pay too much all you risk is loosing a little money.

    When you pay too little you risk losing everything if what you bought is incapable of doing what you wanted”

    Please make sure you know the difference between a £700 photographer and a £2000 photographer (and what you get for your money!) before you set your budget and wedding dreams. Make sure you understand the style that your photographer works in. There are some truly great photographers who work fully ‘Reportage’, ‘Photo-Journalistic’ or ‘Documentary’ style and do not do family groups, but for some it is an excuse for not arranging anything and them claiming it was ‘all natural’!

    Although it guarantees nothing, we are proud to be Qualified Member of the two main bodies for Professional Photographers in The UK – The British Institute of Professional Photography & The Master Photographer Association, if your photographer is not at least a member of one of these it may be worth politely backing off!

  • What to look for in a wedding photographer

    Just found some great advice written by our friend Paul Haley http://www.weddingvenues.com/news/what-to-look-for-in-a-wedding-photographer-108

    The Master Photographer’s Association site also has excellent advise http://www.thempa.com/wedding-photography-by-a-master-photographer.php

  • Differences of wedding photographers

    It may seem obvious to some but it’s always worth considering what is not included in your selected photographers offerings. Here is a generally lighthearted look at some examples of things we have seen recently:-

    Them – ‘ We give you the disc so you don’t have to pay a photographers inflated prices (but  you have to do all the work!).  Us – ‘we sell you carefully inspected prints which are of a very high quality on Fuji Pearl paper and reprinted if necessary’. Yes our prints are more expensive but then quality workmanship generally is.

    Them – ‘full day coverage…to the start of the wedding Breakfast’. Us – ‘when you book one of our package with full day coverage we’ll be there past the First Dance, later if necessary’

    Them – ‘you just order a photobook online’ (as we can not be bothered!!). Us – ‘we provide a high quality professionally finished book or album with finish retouching to the pictures as necessary. We want you to show your family and friends and for them to say WOW!’

    Them – ‘We have a great camera and have photographed at least 10 weddings’. Us – ‘We have great Professional grade cameras with back up equipment. With 1600 wedding experience we know how to handle almost any situation……almost!’

    Them – ‘ We never pose people as we want a natural look’. Us – ‘we want people to look natural but not like they do in Uncle Bob’s snaps’!! Getting people to look their best requires skills of posing, posture, lighting  and making the subject feel comfortable. Skills learnt over many years’.

    Them – ‘we have two photographers’. Us – ‘we have two photographers who are both fully Professionally Qualified to Associatship level with B.I.P.P’.

    Them – ‘insurance?‘   Us –‘we have proper Public Liability and Professional Indemity insurance’

    End of the process;  Us – ‘goodbye you we hope to see you again’.  Them – ‘We have your money – good riddance!!!!’

    OK there are some fantastic photographers out there and some really bad ones – make sure you know what you are getting, if in doubt BIPP and MPA are a great starting point.