44 CAPTURE THE MOMENT Emma Beaumont from Emma Beaumont Photography (www.emma-beaumont.com) shares her top tips for choosing a wedding photographer. Your photos are forever memories of your special day, so it’s important you find the perfect photographer. Above all else, it’s essential that you get on with your photographer and that you like their personality and energy. Have a video call or meet in person. Your photographer is going to be around all day, so trust your gut on this. There are lots of companies out there that take beautiful photos, but don’t hire someone who doesn’t make you feel listened to or who you don’t gel with. Make sure you like their style and approach. Some photographers are all about the big, impressive, posed photos; others (like me) prefer more natural, candid images, telling the story of your day. I’m not the kind of photographer who will take my couples off for two hours, for example. Of course we’ll do photos of you both together, but for more like 20 minutes, because I believe you should be spending time with your guests. Couple shoots are a time for more posed photos if you’d like to spend longer getting those. Allocate a good chunk of your budget to your photos and be realistic on cost – research will help with this and speaking to friends and family. Remember, it’s money well spent to have these forever memories. Book someone who you trust will help make the day run smoothly and not just care about photos and have an attitude if things don’t go perfectly. You want someone who will also pin your dress up or help your grandma find a chair. Book as soon as you can! Once your date and venue are confirmed, you should start thinking about your photographer. You can get lucky, but it’s advisable to book roughly a year in advance if possible. www.emma-beaumont.com www.emma-beaumont.com A ROMANTIC TOUCH Sarah from Sarah Davies Harpist (www.sarahdaviesharpist.com) shares her top planning tips. When couples are starting to plan their special day, there are always a few things they should keep in mind. Once you have a venue booked, check that your date is available with your other suppliers to avoid any disappointment. When booking a musician, check which parts of the day they offer to play for. I can play the harp for the ceremony, drinks reception and wedding breakfast, but some performers may be more specialised and only play in the evening. I always enjoy meeting couples at wedding fairs and it’s a nice way for them to experience my playing. I think it’s important to talk to your suppliers to see how you click; I love finding out couples’ taste in music and seeing what songs I can adapt on the harp, especially if it’s a little more alternative. You might be spending a few months (or more) planning your wedding, so it’s great to build a relationship with your suppliers. It can really make the difference in making your day feel distinct to you. www.photographerbury.com www.christopherlewisphotography.com
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