How to Choose a Wedding Photographer (UK Guide)

There’s so many wedding photographers out there!? Who’s for me? What style do I want? Who do I feel connected to?

Photographers just share their best images on the gram, nearly every photographers says they are “documentary” and “award winning”!

How can you choose someone to document the most important day of your life? I’ve got a guide for you…

 

First—decide what matters to you

Before you start looking at millions of websites, ask yourselves this:

What do we want our photos to look like?

• Do you want something posed and editorial?
• Or do you want something real and full of moments?

If you’re on my website, you’re probably leaning towards the second option.

That’s what documentary wedding photography is all about—nothing staged, nothing forced. Just the day as it happened- REAL LIFE!

 

Documentary vs traditional wedding photography

Here are the big differences…

Traditional photographers:

• More posed photos
• More direction given
• More “perfect” moments

Documentary photographers (like me):

• No posing
• No interruptions
• Real moments

This isn’t me calling out posed work or traditional work. This is up to you. What do you prefer?

Because once the wedding day starts, you can’t switch styles just before walking back up the aisle!

 

Ignore the highlights—look at full wedding galleries

Nearly anyone can put together a great-looking portfolio from 10–15 “best” photos across different weddings.

What you want to see is a full wedding gallery.

• How do they handle less than ideal weather?
• What do the photos look like in the evening when the light has started to fade?
• Can they tell a story from start to finish?

If a photographer doesn’t show full weddings, I’d be wondering why.

 

You’re not just hiring photos—you’re investing in a person

You’ll spend more time with your photographer than almost anyone else on your wedding day.

So ask yourself:

Do we actually like them? Do we connect with them?

Not in a “they seem nice” way—but in a:

“Would we feel comfortable having them around all day?” way

Because if you feel relaxed, your photos will definitely reflect that.

 

Don’t base your decision on just price

Wedding photography in the UK typically ranges from around £1,000 to £5,000+.

That’s a big range. I’m somewhere in the middle to upper end of that spectrum.

But cheaper isn’t better value if:

• You feel awkward all day around your Photographer
• You’re being constantly posed and you don’t want to be
• Or the photos don’t feel like you guys

Most couples I speak to say the same thing:

“The photos are one of the only things that actually last.”

So it’s worth getting the decision right.

 

Ask about how the Photographer actually works on the day

I won’t:

• Line people up for hours of group photos (I only tend to do 6 group photos maximum)
• Constantly pull you away from your guests (we’d only need 10-15 minutes for couple pictures)
• Turn your wedding into a photoshoot

Instead, I’ll:

• Blend in with the guests
• Let things happen naturally
• And document the day as it unfolds

That approach isn’t for everyone—but if it is, you’ll know pretty quickly.

 

Red flags to watch out for

A few things I’d be cautious about:

• No full wedding galleries, just curated best images
• Overly posed portfolio showing no genuine moments
• Prices that seem too good to be true

Why experience matters

Experience isn’t just about years—it’s about situations.

Weddings are unpredictable.

• Rain
• Dark venues
• Tight timelines

You want someone who’s seen it all before and won’t panic when things don’t go to plan. I could tell you the time about the power cutting out for 2 hours in a castle during the party and what we did!?

So… how do you choose?

You’ll probably narrow it down to a few people who all take great photos.

At that point, it comes down to:

• Who you trust the most
• Who you feel comfortable with
• Whose work actually feels like you

And if you’re looking for documentary photography…

If you’re after something natural, relaxed, and genuinely reflective of your day—then that’s what I do.

I’m based in Kent but photograph weddings across the UK and internationally too.

No awkward posing. No forced moments. Just the real stuff.

If that sounds like your kind of thing, you can contact me here