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Venetia Norrington
A professional wedding photographer and owner of Firetop Photography, based in the south west. Contact: 01179 082 764 or visit www.firetopphotography.co.uk |
Venetia Norrington answers all your Photography related questions |
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Are group shots a must-have?
Q. As my fiancé and I both have large families our wedding is set to be a big one, with quite a lot of children attending too. I'm worried that people will get restless during the group photos. Are these absolutely necessary and, if so, how long are they likely to take? I don't want people to get bored.
A. Venetia Norrington says: No, you don't have to have any group shots on the day if you don't want them. However, most couples decide to have a few so that they can capture their closest family or friends together. And, of course, this is just the kind of shot that your parents or grandparents will want to frame and place on their mantlepiece.
A good photographer will sit down with you a few weeks before the day and come up with a list of the group shots you are happy with. You can also then gain an idea of how long it will take to achieve them. Traditionally, they will be taken during the gap between the ceremony and the reception. In terms of how long to allow, this will depend on how many you have decided to go for. Many photographers will spend, on average, between 10 to 30 minutes on group shots. The best thing to do is discuss this with any potential photographers before you book. And don't forget, group shots, needn't be boring - talk to your photographer as I'm sure they'll be happy to come up with something different.
With regards to children, it's useful to take a relaxed approach to their position in the photos. Their attitude to being photographed will vary so if they are happy to be included, great; if not try not to force them. Your photographer can always try again later if it's important to you, or capture them in a more informal fashion as they play. If your venue allows, you could also set up garden games to keep them - and the adults - entertained while they wait. |
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Picture Quality
Q. A lot of our friends have really good cameras and one of them has offered to take our wedding photos. Do you think this is a good idea or should we book a professional?
A. Venetia Norrington says: If your wedding photography is important to you, I would advise you to book a professional. Many friends can take great snapshots but there will be a big difference between these and images that quality equipment and experience will produce. A pro will also be covered by insurance should anything go wrong.
The largest factor that will limit an amateur photographer or mediocre camera is the lighting. Changing environments require the right equipment as well as technical knowledge and experience to cope with dark or bright lights and weather conditions. If you have a church wedding, for example, and your vicar does not permit a flash inside, your friends may miss out on photos of your all-important ceremony.
A good professional photographer will also know how to get the most flattering shots of you and your fiancé and know how to put you both at ease. They will understand how to compose shots that not only show you at your best, but the setting too. Not to mention your group photographs.
In addition, they will be well accustomed to a wedding day's schedule and ready to capture the right moments at the right time.
Finally, a professional photographer will have the advantage of quality software with which to edit your images will be able to and present you with a high-quality album.
Getting married is a once-in-a-lifetime event and apart from your memories, your photographs are the only thing you will have left. |
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Advance Booking
Q. My fiancé and I are getting married next year. How soon do we have to book a photographer?
A. Venetia Norrington says: How far in advance you book depends on how important photography is to you and how flexible your budget is. I would advise you to start looking for a photographer as soon as you have confirmed a wedding date and booked your venue. That way you stand the best chance of your chosen photographer being available on your chosen day. Find a few that you like and arrange meetings.
The cost of a photographer varies dramatically in price and the average cost is around £1,000 to £2,500, depending on the package you choose. These photographers are booked 12 to 18 months in advance and the most sought-after can be fully booked for the next two years. The later you leave your booking therefore the more likely it is that you'll have to compromise.
On the plus side, most photographers take a deposit to secure their services rather than the full amount so you won't have to pay the total cost at this early stage. When you have paid your deposit you can relax safe in the knowledge that your photography is in safe hands. |
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On Film
Q. I love black and white photographs but would still like some pictures in colour. How can I ensure that the right type of photographs are taken in the format I prefer?
A. Venetia Norrington says: Many professionals now shoot in digital which means they take everything in colour first and then convert some shots into black and white later. This is simply because some pictures work really well, at times better, in black and white than in colour. Your photographer will have an eye for which and will apply this when editing the final shots. As the original files will be in colour you can then request they are converted back to colour if you wish.
If your chosen photographer shoots 'in film' these conversions will be more difficult as some such photographers will shoot using black and white film - which means colour conversion won't be possible.
Simply talk to your photographer and before you book him or her, be sure to ask what their policy is when it comes to black and white photos, this way you can avoid disappointment later. |
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Come Rain or Shine
Q. My partner and I are thinking of having a winter wedding but are worried that the weather will have a bad effect on our photos. Is it possible to get great pictures at this time of year?
A. Venetia Norrington says: Yes, definitely. Winter weddings can produce beautiful images, especially at Christmas with the trees, log fires, fairy lights and candles. They do require the photographer to possess a few specialist skills and a bit more preparation than summer weddings. For this reason, ensure that you pick one who is experienced in photographing winter weddings and understands the challenges they can bring, such as lighting. Ask to see a number of images from winter weddings before you book.
With the unpredictable British weather, it's also a good idea to discuss wet weather photography options before the big day. Depending on the size of the venue and number of guests, if the worst happens you may need to forgo a couple of the larger group shots, but there is usually always room inside venues where smaller group shots can be taken as well as some beautiful portraits of the two of you. All in all, if you do decide to get married in the winter and pick your photographer carefully you will get some gorgeous images from your big day. |
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Caught on Film
Q. We would like to have all of our wedding photographs put on a DVD so we can print copies for our family and friends and make an album for ourselves. Is this possible?
A. Venetia Norrington says: It varies from photographer to photographer but nowadays most photographers do offer a DVD only package. It can be a good option for many couples but consider these factors before booking:
Number of images - some packages will only give you a set number of images so be sure to check before you book to avoid disappointment.
Cost - if you're choosing this package to save money you may be surprised as it's not always the cheapest option due to the amount of work that's involved in editing each image and preparing them for print.
Printing - think about where you will get your photos printed and the quality of these prints as most wedding photographers will use a professional laboratory to print their images rather than a high street shop. Talk to your photographer about this and they may be able to recommend good photo laboratories.
Do it yourself - if you're considering putting an album together yourself do your research and look at other wedding albums before making a decision. Many professional wedding photographers offer bespoke albums, individually designed to show off your photos to their best advantage. |
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Photo Time
Q. I've been to so many weddings where the group photographs have taken ages and all the guests stand around bored. How can I avoid this happening at my own wedding?
A. Venetia Norrington says: As with everything planning is the key. With an experienced and organised photographer and careful pre-planning, you don't have to feel like your day is one big photo shoot. Your photographer should visit your venue before the day to familiarise themself with the layout and plan where the photographs will take place and pick alternative spots if wet weather prevails. Running through timings in advance is also a good idea to ensure that your photographer will know exactly what is happening and where, all of which will prove time effective.
Keeping the group shots to a minimum is tricky but ask your photographer to help you with this as they will have the knowledge and experience to know what works and again this will save time rather than photographing every possible combination of guests. On the day it is a good idea to appoint a member of the wedding party (I always work closely with the best man and ushers) to help the photographer round up guests for the group shots. This ensures that the essential pictures are taken as quickly as possible and with minimum fuss. |
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Private Pictures
Q. I really love the 'getting ready' shots but as I have a big wedding, I'm sure my house will be in chaos and I will be stressed so I'm not sure if I want to get ready in front of a photographer that I don't know. What do you think?
A. Venetia Norrington says: Firstly please don't worry. A good photographer will work around you whether it's stepping over a hat box, moving a pair of shoes or clearing a space to photograph your flowers. They will also be a dab hand at shooting from an angle that will show the scene around them to its best advantage.
Find a photographer that you're comfortable with and has an unobtrusive approach and you probably won't even notice they're there. Someone with a calm and relaxed personality will also not add to your own stress and their experience of weddings may be invaluable to you.
Also remember that you will have had planning meetings and pre-wedding shoots with the photographer so they shouldn't feel like a stranger to you. If you are particularly shy about undressing, consider the sex of your photographer when hiring them or ask them to leave at this time and come back. There is a very set etiquette about 'dressing room' photography and a good photographer will know this.
The pre-wedding pictures, as well as capturing you and all of the beautiful little details you have carefully planned, is a wonderful time to photograph one-off moments with your closest family and friends. Getting ready and transforming into a beautiful bride is a once in a lifetime event, even if it does mean the photographer has to move a few handbags and coat hangers to capture the moment. |
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