Wedding Photography in Scotland

My name is Stuart Wood and I have been a professional photographer in Scotland for over 15 years. I thought it might be nice add an article on Wedding Photography from the Scottish (photographers) perspective. Although I'm obviously keen to promote the use of my company,1500 Photography I am more inclined to emphasise the need to have a recognised professional take your wedding pictures.

I understand, honest, I do.

Weddings can be very expensive. Normal everyday items magically double in price when you add the word 'wedding' in front of them (try it and see - ....dress,....shoes,....cake etc). It all adds up and quickly.

You could opt for -

1. Uncle Dave who takes a nice holiday photo's


2. Your mates with lots of disposable cameras left lying around, bound to catch all the fun unfolding !


3. Or that guy who works beside your Dad, he had a picture printed in a magazine once (a lovely landscape). He can do it for £200
   

I know it is a cliché but when its all over and done with what are you left with?

Hopefully you will be left with great memories of the day and wonderful images that will become priceless over the coming years.

(not -
a) Uncle Dave,  went for a drink at 3.30 and wasn't seen again - b) Sad but often true, the disposable cameras are in the bottom of the wardrobe waiting to be developed. When they are 70% of the pictures are the view up someone's kilt! - or c) Some shots out of focus, no pictures of the bridesmaids and where the shot of the cake and why wont he answer the phone?)

There is a reason why wedding photography is (really not that) expensive. It's because you are paying a professional to do a job. To create not only consistent, quality results, but also creative and imaginative images on probably one of the most stressful days of your life.

Would you rather not have one less thing to worry about?

The good/news bad news part of wedding photography in Scotland is........ there are lots (and lots!) of top class photographers in Scotland. As a small country we really punch above our weight in this department. In my opinion, (biased, naturally) if there were Olympics for photography

Ireland would get the Bronze
Scotland the Silver
and I'd maybe let the Aussies take the Gold.
(Although we could take it from them if we teamed up with some of the top English guys.)

Really, that is how good Scottish photography is.
Not that, that makes your job any easier.
So perhaps we can look at styles of photography, and see if that can help ?

Traditional

Not too hard to guess the style of photography being employed here. A nice mixture of bridal portraits, family groups and posed shots of the couple. Sometimes the odd filter (although more likely a computer effect these days) such as a vignette or soft focus may be used to 'enhance' the mood of the shot.

Reportage

Reporting - capturing the day as it unfolds. Unobtrusive and discreet, giving you natural images....... un posed, unplanned and unpredictable.

However, you will be parting with a sum of money , anywhere between £800 - £5000 for a photographer. And you don't want to have a plan?

Directed (Candid)

Like reportage, but much (much!) better. This approach often used by 1500 Photography. We will 'direct' without over posing you. We know how to make you look good, so work with us a little and the results will be fantastic. Obviously some incidents happen totally spontaneously on the day and they will still be captured by us too. However unlike reportage we don't have to rely on something happening. You will know we are there and in some cases we bring a little structure to the day. Have a look at a complete wedding shot in this style here

Avant Garde

Avant garde shots range from the artistically impressive to the downright weird. Wide angles, fish eyed lens' and off kilter composition. You will either like the 'avante garde' style your photographer offers - or not

A few key 'Effects' employed by photographers

Black and white
I know you already know what black and white means but,.... it is worth noting that, as most photographers throughout the world are now using digital, almost any image from your wedding can be made b&w / sepia toned (or changed back to colour) or .....
Cross processed
Used to mean you had picked up the wrong film, but now is used in a controlled fashion to elicit strong colour shifts with often quite pleasing results. This kind of toning usually suits more avante garde styles of photography. like this
Digital enhancement
If done correctly digital enhancement should compliment the more straightforward shots. Bringing out a dramatic sky, the blue of the water and smoothing any imperfections or distracting backgrounds. Unfortunately sometimes there are 'abuses' of the technology available to photographers and some real crimes against taste are committed.
As with all of these hints and tips - make sure your photographers tastes are your tastes too! Just don't ask me to keep the flowers in colour and change everything else to black and white - please!!!

Do you want to know the style employed by the best photographers ? read here

Images + Price + Personality = Found your photographer

It really is this simple to find your ideal wedding photographer - 3 steps

1. As you browse through magazines, online directories and website's , you will be drawn to images you really like (and pretty quickly discover what you don't like) Get a shortlist together.


2. Check the photographers availability, what they charge and what coverage they offer


3. What kind of personality do they have ? Might seem a strange question but vitally important. You probably don't want a moody introvert or an annoying extrovert, but will often find that there are some people you automatically catch a rapport with. The photographer is going to be around for a large part of your wedding day, might as well make it someone you will get on with !

So if you have a good photographer, fully qualified, within your budget, who's images you like and seems like a nice person - you have probably found your wedding photographer.

Simple - letters after their name.

BIPP -member of the British Insitute of Profesional Photography
MPA- member of the Master Photographer Association
or
LSWPP/ASWPP or FSWPP - all qualified members of this body, the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers.
However, someone with the initials SWPP can just be a member without any qualification.

To be a member of the above bodies your photographer must
a) have satisfied the above bodies that their work is to a high standaerd
b) be insured (very important!)Sort's out pro's from non -pro's
c) adhere to a code of conduct set out these bodies

Some excellent information on what these qualifications mean here

Who would you like to be flying your plane as you jet out on holiday? The pilot who fly's, day in day out for a living? ..... or the weekend enthusiast ?