Intro
Booking your wedding photographer can feel overwhelming, especially when everyone’s Instagram looks the same. This post is a practical, no-fluff checklist to help you spot real quality, feel confident, and book someone you’ll genuinely enjoy having around all day.
QUICK ANSWER
To book the right wedding photographer, shortlist by style first, then check 2–3 full galleries, reviews, and a solid contract/backup plan. Finally, have a quick chat – the best sign you’ve chosen well is that you feel calmer after it.
On this page: The 10 tips • Real couple worries (and what helps) • Next steps
We’re Marta May Photography – also known as The Mays (Marta + Artur). We’ve photographed 400+ weddings and we’re TWIA National Winners and now TWIA Judges, so we know what separates “pretty highlights” from consistent, story-led coverage.
Booking your wedding photographer can feel like a huge task – especially when you’re scrolling Instagram and everything starts to look the same. Highlights are easy. The real question is: how do you spot the difference between a pretty portfolio and a photographer who can deliver the full story, consistently, in real wedding conditions?
If you’re wondering how to choose the right person – and how to feel confident it’s a genuinely good decision – you’re in the right place. This post is our simple, practical checklist to help you book a photographer you’ll trust, enjoy having around, and love looking back on for years.
And yes… we’d also love to find our kind of couples, too – the ones who want natural, fun, emotion-led photos with a bit of cinematic magic. So we wrote this to help you choose well, whether you book us or not.
Wedding photography is a personal choice
Wedding photography is a very personal choice, because you’re not just booking “photos”. You’re choosing the person who’ll be close to you all day, in the most emotional moments.
When you feel relaxed, happy and comfortable, your photos naturally look better – not because you’re “posing well”, but because you feel like yourselves. That’s where the real magic happens: the laughter, the tears, the hugs, the chaos… the story.
So yes – finding the right match matters.
Booking your wedding photographer: 10 top tips
1) Start with style (not price)
First, work out what kind of photography you love: more formal and traditional, or relaxed, unobtrusive and creative. Then ask yourself: how do you want to feel on the day – and how do you want to remember it?
2) Notice how the photos make you feel
When you look at a photographer’s work, do you feel excited? Connected? Emotional? If the images make you feel something, you’re already closer to the right match.
3) Don’t judge by Instagram alone
Instagram is highlights. A great feed doesn’t always mean consistent, full-day storytelling. Use it to discover photographers, but always check their website and full galleries too.
4) Look for consistency, not just a few “wow” shots
Anyone can post their best 20 images. The real test is whether the work stays strong all day: prep, ceremony, speeches, dark dance floors, and everything in between.
5) Read reviews for patterns (not perfection)
Testimonials matter, not because every review is glowing, but because patterns tell the truth. Look for words like calm, organised, friendly, helpful, reliable… and “they made us feel relaxed”.
6) Make sure you feel safe (contract + backups)
You’re trusting someone with moments you can’t repeat. A professional should have clear terms, insurance, backup kit, and a proper plan for files and delivery.
7) Check they can handle real wedding conditions
Can they shoot in rain? In winter? In a dark church? In harsh midday sun? In a wild evening party? The best photographers don’t need perfect light – they make great work in real light.
8) Choose someone with a clear, honest process
Do they explain what happens next after booking? Planning support, what they need from you, how they work on the day, and when you’ll receive your gallery. Clarity = professionalism.
9) Creativity matters (but it should still feel like you)
Creativity is what stops your photos looking like everyone else’s. Look for photographers with their own voice – not just whatever is trending this week – while still keeping the photos real and true to you.
10) Book the vibe (because they’ll be with you all day)
This is the big one. Your photographer is the supplier you’ll spend the most time with. If you like them, you’ll relax. If you relax, your photos instantly become more natural, more emotional, and more you.
Wedding photography is THE FEELING
Choosing your wedding photographer isn’t just a practical decision – it’s an emotional one. Because what you’re really booking is the feeling your photos will bring back: the nerves, the laughter, the hugs, the happy tears, the chaos, the calm… all of it.
To help you choose the right match (and to help the right couples find us), we asked our own couples how they felt before they booked their photographer, what they were worried about, what they didn’t know yet, and what helped them feel confident.
Their answers were brilliant, honest, and very real. We hope they help you too.
And if you’re feeling stuck right now – unsure who to trust, worried you’ll look awkward, confused by styles, budgets, or “what matters most” – tell us. We genuinely love these conversations, and we’ll always be honest about what will work best for you (whether that’s us or not).
The most common worries couples had before booking a wedding photographer
Here’s what they told us…
1) “Will the feel of the day be captured?”
“I wanted photos that show the full day… right through to the party.”
Our DOCU-ART approach
We photograph weddings as stories, not a checklist. That means the big moments and the in-between ones: nerves, laughter, reactions, hugs you didn’t see happen, and the chaos you’ll want to remember. We also get to know you beforehand so we understand what matters most to you.
2) “Will we look good… and feel comfortable?”
“I was worried we’d feel awkward and the photos would look staged.”
Our solution
Nearly everyone worries about this – even the most confident people. The fix isn’t “posing better”. It’s feeling safe. We guide gently when needed, keep things moving, and focus on connection, not performance. If you choose to do a pre-wedding shoot, it’s the fastest way to feel relaxed with us.
3) “What if it rains?”
“I was most worried about the weather.”
Don’t worry
Rain doesn’t ruin photos – panic does. If it rains, we adapt: sheltered spots, stylish umbrellas, reflections, after-dark rain magic, and (sometimes!) that post-rain sky that looks unreal. You enjoy your day – we’ll make the weather work.
4) “Will the photographer fit in / be intrusive?”
“We wanted someone who would blend in and keep it relaxed.”
Our approach
Your wedding isn’t a photoshoot. It’s your day. Our job is to slip into the flow, make guests feel comfortable, and capture the real atmosphere without taking over. We’re friendly, calm, and there when you need us – invisible when you don’t. You can find out about what others think about us by reading the TESTIMONIALS.
5) “Will we spend ages having photos taken?”
“We didn’t want hours of awkward posing away from the fun.”
Our solution
We keep portraits short, natural, and timed well, then we let you get back to your people. Some couples want more photos, some want barely any. We’ll talk it through, and we’ll shape it around what matters to you.
6) “Will our photos look too posed or dated?”
“We wanted relaxed photos… not ‘stand and smile’ all day.”
Our DOCU-ART approach
Most of your gallery is real moments – not posing. For portraits, we give light direction and simple prompts so it feels natural, not stiff. The goal is always: you looking like you.
7) “Will our photos feel unique – like OUR story?”
“We wanted something emotional… not generic nice photos.”
Our solution
That’s why we care about the first chat (and why we love pre-wedding shoots). When we know your energy, what you love, and what you hate, we can photograph the day in a way that feels personal, not copy-and-paste.
8) “Will there be enough time for everything?”
“Fitting everything in during the day… and capturing everyone.”
Our approach
We help you keep it realistic. We’ll suggest simple timing tweaks, we’ll keep group photos efficient, and we’ll make sure you get the moments that matter without turning the day into a schedule sprint.
9) “What if we can’t afford the photographer we love?”
“It was nerve-wracking trying to know who to trust… and what it would cost.”
Price matters, but so does reliability, consistency, and peace of mind. We’re transparent about what’s included and why. If you’re comparing options, our pricing hub breaks it down in plain English.
Quality and prices
Can you put a price tag on your memories? We know that we do our job of capturing moments and emotions really well because we know how important they are to our couples. That’s what we always have in mind when shooting and then editing wedding photos.
We are really proud of our AWARDS – they are our QUALITY CERTIFICATE. Our packages are flexible and you can choose the option that works best for you. We have a special page about WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY PRICES. Get in touch with us to find out more and chat with us.
10) “What if my family misbehaves?”
“My main worry was family misbehaving.”
Our answer
We can’t control your family… but we can promise this: the real, messy, hilarious bits often become the best memories. We’re calm under pressure, quick on our feet, and we genuinely love a lively dance floor.Take a look at all the beauty and fun we capture at weddings (this is the video we submitted to TWIA and later found out we won THE BEST UK WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER 2023:
FAQs for “10 tips for booking your wedding photographer”
1) When should we book our wedding photographer?
As soon as you’ve chosen your venue/date and you’ve found a style you love. Most couples book 9–18 months ahead for in-demand dates, especially weekends in peak season.
2) How many photographers do we actually need?
If you want both of you getting ready, more guest moments, and stronger dance floor coverage, two photographers helps a lot. If your day is smaller or you’re keeping things simple, one can be enough.
3) How do we compare photographers without getting overwhelmed?
Pick 3 shortlists max, then compare the same things:
style → full galleries → reviews → approach → what’s included → how you feel about them. Too many options makes everything feel “samey”.
4) How many photos should we expect from a full day?
There’s no universal number, but you should expect a complete story: getting ready → ceremony → reception → party. Look for consistency and storytelling, not a specific number.
5) Is it normal to pay a deposit and sign a contract?
Yes. A deposit secures the date, and a clear contract protects both sides. If a photographer doesn’t use either, that’s usually a sign to pause.
6) What if we hate being photographed?
That’s exactly why your choice matters. A documentary-first photographer with gentle direction will make it feel more like hanging out than “posing”. If you want, you can add a pre-wedding shoot later – but you don’t have to.
7) How do we avoid ending up with photos that feel too posed or too random?
Look for balance in full galleries: real moments + a short, well-timed portrait window + efficient group photos. If everything is either stiff posing or chaotic snapshots, the balance might be missing.
8) What’s the biggest mistake couples make when booking?
Choosing based on a few highlight shots (or price alone), instead of checking consistency across a whole wedding day – including dark venues, rain, and fast moments.
Booking your wedding photographer: final thoughts
If you’ve been nodding along, you’re not alone, most couples are asking the exact same questions when they start looking.
The biggest takeaway? Choose with both your head and your gut.
You want someone whose work you love and someone you’ll feel relaxed with on the day. When the fit is right, you stop worrying about photos, and that’s when the most natural, emotional, joy-filled moments show up.
If you’d like to see whether we’re your kind of people, we’d love to chat. We’re The Mays (Marta + Artur), and our style is DOCU-ART: unposed storytelling with cinematic, natural portraits.
More useful links:
Wedding photographer consultation: why your first chat matters
Wedding photography prices (UK): what you’re really paying for
Rainy wedding photos: how to stay calm and get magic anyway
How to avoid a wedding photography disaster
