Lake District Wedding Photography FAQs
Planning a wedding usually comes with plenty of questions, and choosing your wedding photographer is no different.
Below you’ll find answers to some of the things I’m asked most often, from booking and how I work on a wedding day to what happens after your wedding.
If there’s anything else you’d like to know, just get in touch. There are no silly questions and I’m always happy to help.
Booking & Pricing
How do we book you?
If you’d like to book me for your wedding, I’ll send you everything you need to get your date secured.
The booking process is nice and simple: accept your quote, read through and sign the photography contract, complete your booking form and pay the deposit.
Once that’s all done, your booking is confirmed and your wedding date is reserved exclusively for you.
Then you can get back to the exciting bit — planning your wedding!
Do we need to pay a deposit?
Yes. A deposit is required to secure your wedding date.
For full-day wedding photography packages the deposit is £250, and for elopements and part-day wedding photography it’s £150.
When should we book our wedding photographer?
My advice is always to book as soon as you’ve decided you’d like me to photograph your wedding. That might be three weeks before your wedding or three years — there’s no right or wrong time.
I don’t reserve dates without a confirmed booking in place, so while you’re at the enquiry stage your date will still be available to other couples on a first come, first served basis.
Once you’ve completed the booking process and paid your deposit, the date is yours and I won’t accept another wedding booking for that day.
How much does wedding photography cost?
Wedding photography starts from £300 for a one-hour elopement or small wedding, with full-day wedding photography packages starting from £1500 for eight hours of coverage.
There are several options in between, depending on how much of your wedding day you’d like me to photograph.
Do you charge for travel?
Travel is included for weddings within a two-hour drive of Cockermouth. That covers the whole of the Lake District and Cumbria, as well as parts of the North West and South West Scotland, including Dumfries and Galloway.
If your wedding is further afield, I’m still very happy to travel. Additional costs may apply, including overnight accommodation where needed, and I’ll always confirm these with you before you book.
Your Wedding Photography
What is your wedding photography style?
My approach to wedding photography is natural, authentic and documentary, with a creative eye and a little bit of fun.
For most of your wedding day I’ll simply let things happen and photograph them as they unfold. I want you to spend your wedding with the people you invited, rather than disappearing for hours to have photographs taken.
That doesn’t mean I’ll never step in. I’ll give you a little direction when it helps, organise things like group photographs and confetti, and generally make sure you’re in the right place when you need to be. Then I’ll hand your wedding back to you and carry on capturing what happens next.
Do we have to pose for photographs?
Not unless you want to!
Most of your wedding photographs will be completely natural, candid moments. I’ll capture what’s happening without asking you to pose or even look at the camera.
For your couple photos, I’ll give you a little gentle direction so you’re not left wondering what on earth you’re supposed to do. Nothing complicated or forced, and definitely no standing around for ages holding awkward poses.
The idea is that you get photos you love of the two of you while still feeling like yourselves — and then get back to your wedding.
Do you take group photographs?
Absolutely, but only if you want them. Group photographs can be an important way to document the people who shared your wedding day with you, and I’m always happy to take them.
I recommend keeping your main group photo list fairly short so you don’t spend too much of your wedding standing around waiting for people to be found and organised. We’ll go through the groups you’d like before the wedding and make a plan to get them done as quickly and painlessly as possible.
If you want an impromptu photo with a particular group of friends or family at any point during the day, just grab me, grab them, and we’ll get a photo. I call these “grab & grins” and there’s no planning required.
What happens if it rains on our wedding day?
It rains in the Lake District. Quite a lot. That’s why it’s so beautiful. If I only photographed weddings when the sun was shining, I wouldn’t get much work done!
A bit of rain doesn’t mean you won’t get great wedding photographs. We’ll work around the weather, make the most of any dry spells and use indoor or sheltered locations when we need to.
If you’re happy to head outside in the rain, I’m happy to come with you. If you’d rather stay warm and dry, that’s absolutely fine too. It’s your wedding, and getting soaked for the sake of a photograph is definitely not compulsory.
Either way, it’s always worth having a wet weather plan for your day. Especially in the Lake District! It’s much better to be prepared for a sudden change in the weather than to let it ruin your day.
What if you haven’t photographed at our wedding venue before?
Every year I get to photograph weddings somewhere new. That might be a wedding venue I’ve never visited before, a completely new location or a DIY wedding with a tipi or marquee in a field.
Before your wedding I’ll do a little research, get as much information as I can from you about the venue and any favourite places you might have for photos. A pre-wedding recce can be helpful too, but if I haven’t visited beforehand I’ll arrive early on the day to have a look around and, where possible, chat with your wedding coordinator.
Photographing somewhere new can actually be really exciting. I get to see the venue with fresh eyes and no preconceptions about where or how things should be photographed. It gives me a blank canvas to work with and the opportunity to find something a little different for you.
What happens if you’re unable to photograph our wedding?
Thankfully, I’ve never had to miss a wedding, but it’s important to have a plan in place just in case.
In the unlikely event that illness or an emergency meant I couldn’t photograph your wedding, I’m part of a close-knit network of experienced, like-minded wedding photographers that I can call on to find a suitable associate photographer to cover your day.
I would still take care of everything behind the scenes. After your wedding, the photographs would come back to me for editing in my usual style, gallery delivery and, where included, your album design.
Most importantly, if anything did happen that meant I couldn’t be there, I’d let you know at the earliest opportunity and keep you fully informed about what was happening.
Are you insured?
Yes!
I’m fully insured, with both public liability and professional indemnity insurance. I’m also insured for the commercial use of a drone for photography.
If you or your wedding venue need proof of insurance, I’m always happy to provide details of my current policies on request.
Before & After the Wedding
What is a pre-wedding photoshoot?
A pre-wedding photoshoot is an informal photography session that you can arrange anytime after you’ve booked your wedding photography. Ideally, I recommend arranging it at least six weeks before your wedding, particularly during busy periods, so we have plenty of time to find a date that works and I can get your photographs back to you before the big day.
The photoshoot usually lasts around an hour and can take place at a location of your choosing. It gives us a chance to get to know each other a little better, have a chat about your wedding and, most importantly, lets you experience what it’s actually like to be photographed by me.
If you’re nervous or uncomfortable about having your photograph taken, a pre-wedding photoshoot can be particularly useful. You’ll get to see how I work, how little posing is actually involved and go into your wedding day knowing exactly what to expect.
You’ll also get some great photos of the two of you without being dressed for a wedding, which is a nice bonus.
What is a post-wedding photoshoot?
A post-wedding photoshoot gives us the opportunity to go somewhere that might have been impractical on your wedding day. Put your wedding clothes back on and we can create some amazing photographs without worrying about getting back to your guests, keeping to a wedding-day schedule or getting your dress or suit a little bit dirty.
You might want to hike up a fell, explore a cave, jump off a jetty or simply head somewhere in the Lake District that’s special to the two of you. Whatever you choose, we can have a bit of fun and create some more photographs to add to your wedding gallery.
And a post-wedding photoshoot doesn’t necessarily have to happen straight after the wedding. I’ve had couples come back to me later for more photographs after they’ve started a family, which is a really lovely way to continue the story beyond their wedding day.
How long will it take to receive our wedding photographs?
I aim to have your fully edited wedding photographs ready within four to six weeks of your wedding day.
Depending on how busy I am, you may get them much sooner. During busier periods, I’ll usually send you a preview within a few days so you have some photographs to enjoy and share while I work on the rest of your gallery.
And if you’re ever wondering how I’m getting on with your photographs, you’re always welcome to get in touch and ask for an editing update.
How will we receive our wedding photographs?
Your fully edited wedding photographs will be delivered through your own private online gallery.
From your gallery you can view and download your photographs in both high and low resolution, create favourites and easily share your wedding photographs with family and friends.
Your gallery will remain online for 12 months, giving you plenty of time to download and enjoy your photographs. There’s also an integrated professional print studio where you, your family and friends can order high quality prints, wall art and other products directly from the gallery.
As a little extra, orders placed through the print store receive a discount for the first two weeks after your gallery goes live.
Can we print our own wedding photographs?
Absolutely. You’ll receive high-resolution copies of your wedding photographs which you’re welcome to print yourself wherever you choose.
For the best results, I recommend ordering through the professional print studio built into your online gallery. Your photographs are printed by professional labs, so you’ll get much better and more consistent results than you’re likely to get from high-street or budget online printing services.
You, your family and friends can order professional-quality prints and other products directly from the gallery, with a discount available for the first two weeks after your gallery goes live.
Do you offer wedding albums?
Yes! I offer beautiful, professionally designed wedding albums that are made to last and give you a proper, tangible way to enjoy your wedding photographs away from a screen.
Some of my wedding photography packages already include an album, but you can also add one after your wedding if you decide you’d like one later.
You’ll choose the photographs you’d like to include from your online gallery and I’ll take care of the album design for you. You’ll have the opportunity to review the design and make any changes before it goes to print.
Other Questions
Do you offer wedding videography?
I specialise in wedding photography rather than videography, so I don’t personally film weddings.
If you’re looking for both photography and videography, I may be able to recommend videographers whose approach works well alongside mine. Just ask when you enquire and I’ll be happy to point you in the right direction.
Do you use a drone for wedding photography?
Yes — unless it’s blowing a hooley!
I use a drone to capture aerial photographs at weddings where the weather, location and flight restrictions allow. It can be a great way to show off your wedding venue and the surrounding landscape, particularly here in the Lake District.
Drone photography isn’t always possible, though. High winds, rain or restrictions around your venue may mean the drone has to stay safely in its bag.
Where conditions allow, drone photography is included as part of your wedding photography coverage at no additional cost.
Will you share our wedding photographs online?
Only if you’re happy for me to.
I love sharing photographs from the weddings I photograph on my website and social media, but your privacy is more important. I’ll ask you when you book, and again closer to your wedding, whether you’re happy for your photographs to be shared publicly.
You can be completely happy for me to share them, ask me to only use certain photographs, or ask me not to share anything from your wedding at all. Whatever you decide, I’ll respect your wishes.
You can read more about how I approach this in my Why The Privacy Of Your Wedding Photos Matters blog post.
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CONNECT?
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