friends

why pay out for a professional photographer?

photography is getting more accessible to everyone ...

The question that is often asked by couples planning a wedding is, why, on top of the cost of the church, reception, car and honeymoon, should they pay for the services of a professional photographer? … after all, lots of their friends and relatives have cameras. And its true – these days photography has become far more affordable and accessible. The digital camera revolution has meant that images can be snapped, viewed and printed in a fraction of the time that was possible in the days of film. So why use the services of Iconik-phptography?

The answer is simple – high quality photography by photographers totally dedicated and experienced in capturing the true flavour and magic of your wedding day. Getting the shots you want isn’t left to chance. Years of experience in photography and digital image manipulation mean that we know exactly how to get the memorable images that tell your story.

Although, to you and your guests, our work on the wedding is most obvious on the actual day, we will have already spent time researching, visiting and taking test shots of your venue. We already know a lot of the popular wedding locations and venues well so we know where to get the best shots, but when we get booking for new locations, we go on a recky to check the places out and to familiarise and introduce ourselves to the staff so that, on the wedding day, we are fully prepared.

Iconik-photography's Natalie Williams prepares for the big group shot

The role of the wedding photographer often extends beyond just taking the photos. Natalie, our lead photographer, has gone through her own bridal preparations and experienced the reality of the wedding day. She has a deep empathy with all of our brides and has often stepped in to help the bride with a tricky aspect of the bridal preparation whilst those around her have been all nervous fingers and thumbs! It’s Natalie’s attention to the detail that sets her apart. She notices the small but important things that might otherwise get overlooked.

As photographers we are on call throughout the day, from the bridal and even groom preparations often right through to the evening reception. It’s a long day with very few breaks but it’s a job that has to be done right because you can’t go back and repeat it. It’s a big responsibility but our experience means that it will done right.

The trend to get a friend or relative to act as photographer can spell potential disaster. There are a lot of very talented amateur photographers who get some good results but, if they’re part of the wedding party, being stuck behind the camera means that they will miss out on the celebrations and possibly get distracted by family or friends vying for their attention. Seemingly simple things like arranging group shots can be a nightmare if you’re not used to taking control of them and, should the worst happen and they get a problem with their equipment, your pictorial documentary day will be lost, possibly along with a friendship or family relationship!

At Iconik photography we normally go out with two photographers so that we get a full coverage of events and a full backup set of images. We also carry spare equipment in case of technical problems. We work closely together to ensure that we are getting the required shots and, if Natalie is concentrating on formal group portraits, I’ll be covering the reportage angle which is so important in conveying the full spirit of the day.

Our work doesn’t end with the last dance. We take the images, catalogue them , back them up and then set about the task of post production. As professional photographers we use the latest cutting edge software to enhance the images to present them to the highest level of finish. Its our job to know about colour calibration, retouching and printing. We have access to products that are only available to professional photographers and have accounts with major album producers who quite simply don’t offer their services to the general public. We deal with suppliers and chase up orders so that you won’t be left without your images and albums. We also have online ordering and proofing facilities so that, once the bride and groom have had their exclusive unveiling of their online gallery, friends and family who you choose to share the log in details with, can view and order their prints on line.

Wedding photography is a challenging business and can be quite exhausting, but we get a real buzz from knowing that we are giving our wedding couples the highest quality of service to a level that only comes with experience and an eye for the perfect picture . You could leave it up to a friend or relative to take your wedding photos but, your wedding day is probably one of the most important events in your life, so…. do you really want to leave it to chance?