Today we talk to Jane and Stan Seaton from Stan Seaton Photography. Specialising in ‘timeless Wedding photography’, Jane and Stan are highly sought-after photographers who have photographed many weddings together over the last 12 years. Their photography studio is based in Darlington, Co. Durham.
What do couples need to think about when choosing a Wedding Photographer?
Beyond the obvious questions like “how much do you charge?” and “how long will you stay?” here are six other key questions to ask:
1. Do they have a large number of images to show you? It’s important to see a good selection of images from real Weddings. We focus on quality and consistency of all our images – the photo’s you see on our blog match the quality you can expect throughout your day. We always advise you to view at least 100 images from every ‘display Wedding’ shown by a prospective photographer. This enables you to get a real feel for how they shoot. So always look for consistency and consider whether they have captured key moments that really reflect the atmosphere of the day.
2. Do you like them? This is crucial. It’s not so much about having a long list of questions to ask, it’s more about what feel you get when you meet that person. It’s easy to make the mistake of treating all your suppliers the same, but most of them are not there with you on the day. Remember your photographer(s) are the only ones that will be with you for almost all of this most special day.
3. Are they good with people? You want them to be comfortable with your guests and able to interact with them throughout the day. I would say that nowadays most photographers are moving towards a more unobtrusive style – we try not to be in people’s faces. But when they need to ask people to move or do something, you want to know that they’re going to be polite and understand how people feel on the day. A good photographer can provide subtle direction without coming across as bossy! You will normally get a feel for this when you meet them and read their reviews.
4. Do you trust their creativity? Some things need precision, and others are best left to the creative side. You’ve picked your suppliers for a reason – you’ve researched them and are confident in their abilities – so hand over to them and focus on enjoying your day. A number of florists have told me that they deliver their best when someone gives them a brief but isn’t too specific, and I think it’s the same for a good Wedding photographer. We try to be as helpful as we can on the day and help to make it flow. Not everything runs on time or goes to plan, but an experienced photographer can easily adapt. It’s your day, your photographer is there to capture it and do the best job they can, and you should feel completely confident in their ability to do that.
5. What will they deliver? It’s important to know exactly what you can expect to get after the wedding – will your images be on a USB or disk? How many images will you get? Will the images you receive be high resolution or low resolution? Can you select images for an album?
6. What information do they need from us? We always meet with couples a month before and run through names of family members, Bridesmaids and Ushers. We also run through timings (because by then you’ve probably met with your other suppliers) – how we’ll work during the day and what can be fitted in. For example, if your drinks reception is only half an hour, you won’t be able to fit 10 group shots in and get lots of photo’s of your guests relaxing and enjoying themselves!
Excellent advice. Anything other final thoughts?
Yes, don’t be too clinical! There’s lots of advice telling you that you need to bring a long list of questions or a ‘checklist’ to all your suppliers. Being well organised is important, though I think it’s much more important for you to have a good feel for your photographer as a person – and their images of course.
Have a pre-Wedding shoot. It can be easy to look at the additional time and expense and think “we could do without that”, but they are one of the best things that you can do. A pre-Wedding shoot helps you to get to know your photographer a bit better so it doesn’t feel like you’re working with a total stranger on the day – unsurprisingly this often leads to better photographs on the day.
Finally, it’s worth considering whether you want one or two photographers on the day itself. The great thing about having two is that they can cover so much more of the day than one photographer. Ultimately this comes down to your personal preferences and budget.
Today we talk to Lucy Wright, Wedding Planner and the founder of Lucy Wright Weddings & Events. After working as a corporate event planner in London, Lucy founded her Harrogate-based Wedding Planning business in 2003, and has quickly become one of the most prominent and in-demand Wedding planners in Yorkshire.
What creative advice would you have for couples starting to plan their Wedding?
Look at how you live – what do you like, what inspires you? Are there things in your home that inspire you? Do you like a luxurious feel or do you prefer a more relaxed, rustic feel? Perhaps you’ve seen things you particularly liked at other Weddings or the Bride has seen some ideas in magazines. These things will give you an idea of what you like, and equally important, what you don’t like. It’s great to be able to rule certain options out at the beginning too. There are many different styles of Weddings, so it’s about finding what you feel happy with and what look you want to go for.
There are also many different media platforms such as Pinterest, which is a fabulous source for pictures and inspiration. But this can also be very daunting (and confusing for the Wedding Planner!) As a Wedding Planner I will often look at Pinterest with a couple. Some couples pin so many different things that it tends to become a mishmash. Do your best to make it as cohesive as possible, as this will make it easier for everyone involved. You can then use that inspiration to dictate the venues you look at and the suppliers you contact.
Budget might impact the style and immediately eliminate certain options too. It’s also well worth getting a Wedding Planner (book) or jotter, as ideas will come to you at different points of the day and through various conversations. Make plenty of notes and write all of your ideas down.
I often say to couples, “Describe your ideal wedding in three words – three adjectives”. But we might not get to the desired style or look until further down the line when we’re chatting more and starting to look at different venues and suppliers. It might be that they initially set out looking for a barn wedding venue and end up in a castle.
On that note, don’t get too caught up at the beginning, be open to what’s out there. Some couples are really focused and will only look at stately homes for example, and that’s fine. Some are really open to anything, they don’t know what’s out there. Maybe don’t visit too many venues, but perhaps look at one or two different styles.
Great advice, and what are some of your key tips for the actual day?
Make the most of the minutes and hours – Especially when you have a large budget, it can be tempting to try and cram many different things in. Every couple has the same amount of time on that day, regardless of their budget. It’s how you spend that time and how you want your guests to enjoy your day. Of course it’s important to keep the flow on the day, but you don’t have to try and fill every single minute. Here are some good questions to ask: Can you fit it in your day? Will it work? Or is it just because you want it? If it’s just because you want it, you can have it at another party instead?
Plan, but focus on what you can control – It is one very important day, and it should be full of memories and amazing. Mentally prepare and plan for things like rain, especially if you’re getting married in Britain. Have the wellies and umbrellas there, and if it’s sunny, that’s a bonus! But remember that factors like the weather are completely out of your control, so don’t allow them to stress you or upset you on the day.
Have someone in charge of the day itself – Having somebody on the day who is more than a venue coordinator, who understands the whole picture – what time the band are arriving, when the caterers are setting up the tables, what time the florist is getting to the venue – is very important. It relieves the stress for the couple and their families. Many venues don’t have a venue coordinator, so having someone there who knows what they’re doing and ensures your day flows as it should means you can relax and focus on enjoying the day. If you decide not to hire a Wedding Planner or On-the-day Coordinator, don’t be afraid to make a list and delegate jobs to your bridesmaids and ushers. As a Bride you shouldn’t have to worry about whether the generator is switched on, or any of those details behind the scenes.
Julia, our senior designer, shares her Top Five Tips:
Tip 1. Choose Your Suppliers Carefully
Getting married is often a long list of firsts, so organising a wedding can be a little overwhelming at times! When planning an important event, it helps to have good people around you, and especially when you’re most in need of support and advice. I’m not just referring to your family and friends – the right suppliers can also be an invaluable source of help. Many of the relationships you develop during your wedding planning are often with you throughout the months or years leading up to your wedding. Take your time to choose your suppliers, don’t settle for less than practically perfect – it’ll be worth it.
Tip 2. It’s Not What You Do – It’s The Way That You Do It
There’s more to your dream stationery than an eye-catching design and a printer. Design and print should be the easiest part for your printer or stationer, it’s what they do every day. In our opinion, the best suppliers not only offer an excellent quality product, they also offer a very personal service – two things our clients often mention about us. If your stationer, or indeed any supplier, is listening to you and really paying attention to what you want – the rest should be easy.
Tip 3. There’s No Excuse For Poor Quality
The truth is, it’s never been easier to print wedding stationery. Technology has revolutionised digital printing, and the choice of paper and card available to the printer has never been greater. Stationery can be printed cheaper and faster than ever before, but that often doesn’t translate into better design and higher quality. We specialise in letterpress printing, a traditional method which creates a unique look and feel to your stationery. Whichever printer or stationer you choose, there’s really no excuse for poor quality printing, materials, or finish.
Tip 4. You Don’t Always Get What You Pay For
Most couples looking back after their wedding have a cautionary tale or two to tell of expensive lessons learnt. Suppliers to the wedding market vary enormously, and though we all know the difference between price and value, the wedding market can be trickier than many when making this comparison. Our 15 years of experience confirms that there are many firms who are genuinely dedicated to providing good value at a good price, fortunately they can usually be identified with a little thoughtful research.
Tip 5. Research & Reviews
Before making an enquiry, be sure to check out a supplier’s website and social media presence, there’s no excuse for a website that looks like it hasn’t been updated for years. Always speak to your supplier by phone, as it’s often revealing of the service you can expect to receive. Can they answer your questions quickly and knowledgeably? How comfortable and confident are you in their capabilities? Will they guide you through the process from start to finish? What direct and online support is available?
Is it easy to find genuine reviews or testimonials from happy clients? Or even better speak to someone who’s used the supplier before – we’re always happy to provide references when asked, and don’t forget to see some examples of their work for comparison. Our clients have direct telephone and email access to their own dedicated designer throughout their order, from beginning to end, as well as online resources and product samples to inform decisions, we view this as a basic necessity.
Good Wedding Planning Is The Antidote To Most Of Your Wedding Anxieties
There’s no guarantee that you’ll be completely happy with your suppliers, however following these five top tips will make it much more likely that you’ll find highly reputable suppliers that deliver an excellent product and, just as importantly, help keep your stress levels to an absolute minimum in the run-up to your Big Day!
Many of these tips don’t just apply to stationers, good wedding planning is the antidote to most of your wedding anxieties. A big part of practically perfect planning is choosing the right suppliers from the outset – those that will guide you through the process and deliver high quality products and services, on-time and on-budget.
To help you plan we’ve created our super chic letterpress Wedding Planner, we think it’s a practically perfect way to help you manage every aspect of your wedding planning.