Planning Makes Perfect

Assuming we have had our initial telephone conversation, I would typically arrange for us to have a face-to-face consultation. However, this can still be done over the phone or via video chat. A 'consultation' may sound a bit scary but don't be put off; it's just an informal chat really or a posh word for a meet-up.!

There may be two types of consultations:

  1. To discuss a potential booking, introduce myself and talk about your plans.
  2. To discuss the finer details and timings etc. after a booking has been confirmed.

1 - Potential booking

Some couples like to have a consultation to learn more about me as a photographer and to talk about budgets etc. before confirming a booking with me. This is a great way for me to learn more about you and to understand more about your wedding day plans and expectations, this also opens up discussions about your wedding day budget. In most cases, we would have discussed this before the consultation.

2 - The finer details

We would have already talked, and you have made a booking with me, thank you. These informal chats usually take place about six weeks before your wedding day, and are an excellent opportunity to talk more in-depth about your plans; it's especially great to chat to couples and to see them getting mega excited about the big day.

The idea of the wedding consultation is really to firm up all the finer details of the day and here is a list of items that we might cover:

  • Your bridal party, ushers, flower girls, best man and bridesmaids, mums and dads etc
  • Your general timings of the day for the ceremony, wedding breakfast, cutting the cake, first dance etc
  • The best point of contact, wedding planner or a person on the day
  • When you would like me to arrive and start taking photos
  • Ideas for group photos
  • Essential guests, nan or grandad, guests from abroad
  • Any guests that I need to be aware of, step mums and dads that might not get along
  • Important details that you want to be captured on the day
  • Your venues and any photography restrictions that might apply
  • Any coordinators details for me to talk to on the day
  • Who your other wedding suppliers are
  • What are your expectations from me as your photographer?
  • Providing meals and when not to take photographs
  • Wet weather contingency plan!
  • Finishing times
  • The most important question, if you could have one photo of your wedding day hanging over the fireplace, what would it be?

As you can see, there are lots of things for us to discuss and planning all this out makes your wedding day run smoothly.

I hope you found this post helpful, please feel free to contact me to make a booking or to arrange a consultation.