As a Bride-To-Be I am all too aware of how intense it can be when it comes to choosing those special people to make your big day one to remember – for all the right reasons. After all, your wedding suppliers can make or break your day. So, I have decided to start a series of posts called ‘Bride Diaries’ where I will interview some of the industry’s top suppliers on all those questions you need asking.
Here to help me kick off this series is the lovely ‘Nicki Feltham’ whose personality not only shines through in her work, but also in everything she does. You may have already heard me mention her a couple of times over on Instagram and that is because me and Al have decided that she would be the perfect person to capture all of our precious memories on our wedding day. So, over to Nicki and all things wedding related.
How much should I expect to spend on a good Photographer and is it something worth spending money on just for one day?
I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer to this question. Everyone has a budget and everyone has priorities – for some they want to spend all their money on their dress or the food or mode of transport but they’re not fussed who takes the photos so they get a friend to take some snaps. For some they will cut corners everywhere possible in order to afford the photographer whose work they love and trust just so that they can have beautiful lasting memories of what was important to them on their wedding day – not the car that drove them there, not the dress they wore but all the people who came to see them get married… their beloved friends and family, So you could say the price is irrelevant. Personally I think if I fell in love with someone’s work and they were priced reasonably (around the £1.5 -£2k mark) then I would make every step possible to hire them for my day. Although a wedding isn’t really just one day either, it is the beginning of the book, the start of the first chapter in a married couple’s lives. So you could look upon photography as an investment rather than a one-off payment – also to a photographer it is much more than just one day’s work of course.
There is so much choice when it comes to photographers. How do I pick one that is right for us?
There are a lot of photographers out there it’s true! Anyone with a camera can call themselves a photographer now, in fact that’s how I started! Look for someone’s work you love, who’s consistently good, who’s been around a while, who comes recommended … ask to see a full gallery, chat to them to get a feel for who they really are. Then If you click (excuse the pun) it’s all good!
When should I book my photographer?
The popular ones do get booked up a year or so in advance for the key dates in July and August – to avoid disappointment book as early as you can I’d say!
Any tips on how to find the right photographer?
Ask your friends on Facebook for recommendations then just start trawling the web! You can search for hashtags on Instagram too. Alternatively, you could look through the wedding blogs to see if anyone’s work jumps out at you.
Any questions I should ask my photographer when meeting them?
Just get to know them – more important than anything is that you get along with the photographer so you could ask them anything and chat about what ever you want. You could ask how they shoot a wedding day too…but if your photographer is right for you and you have checked their work out prior to meeting them then you’ll know roughly how they shoot – be it staged and posed with a big flash set ups or natural ninja style so your guests don’t really notice!
What made you want to get into wedding photography and have you always been a photographer?
I love to make people smile, I’m a people pleaser I think – always have been. Capturing people smiling I’ve realised is just as rewarding as making them smile so rather than become a wedding crasher I thought it best to pick up a camera and still go as a sort of guest – happy to smile and chat with guests but with a hidden agenda; when they all relaxed and happy in my company I step away and capture the fun, laughter and smiles and I love it! I didn’t at first the thought of capturing a wedding day filled me with fear… I still get nervous before every one I shoot but once I’m there it all goes away as the feelings around me and the happiness I witness takes over. Before I became a photographer I was a full-time mum-Oh actually hold on, I still am a full-time mum! No one’s taken over that job for me…I just work long crazy hours! Before that I worked as a tour operator and booked people’s holidays for them!
Apart from photography, what else do you like to do in your spare time?
I love walking, playing the guitar, going out with friends, having friends over, visiting family…I fill my time with as much fun and happiness as I can I’m not happy unless I’m busy, for someone who sits and edits an awful lot I don’t do sitting still very well.
Can I specify what shots I want taken by my photographer?
Yes – if you have a god parent or special relative or friend the photographer wouldn’t necessarily know about and you have a lot of guests it might be worth letting them know…also occasionally it’s a wedding taking place in a family church and the bride’s grandma had a certain photo in the church gardens by the lych gate that she wants replicated and that’s fine. Maybe there’s a charm on your bracelet that was your mum’s…all things like this that the photographer wouldn’t automatically know about are good to mention. Otherwise again with trust you can be assured your photographer will do their own thing and be capturing all the fun from their eyes.
What makes a good photograph?
Being in focus is good, the perfect light helps, composition is handy but honestly…truthfully… a good photo to me is the one that portrays emotion and feeling. One that makes you go ahhh or laugh out loud. One that causes you to react – maybe even cry. That’s a good photo!
What is your favourite subject matter to shoot?
People – definitely. I love capturing people…
A big thank you to the beautiful Nicki from Nicki Feltham Photography for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some wedding related questions. If you are thinking of booking a photographer for your big day and would like to see some more of Nicki’s stunning work, then click on the links below.
I really hope that this post has left you feeling inspired and perhaps even excited, not only for your big day, but also when it comes to finding the best photographer that you both so deserve. Getting married in 2018? I would love to hear all about your plans or just drop me a message for a chat. Have a fabulous Friday.
Love Emma,
XxXx
This is not a sponsored post and all views are my own. Any images used throughout this post remain the sole property of Nicki Feltham.
