Choosing a Wedding Photographer in Ayrshire & Glasgow
Choosing a Wedding Photographer in Ayrshire and Glasgow: A Complete Guide
As a wedding photographer in Ayrshire and Glasgow, I’m blessed to witness so many weddings first-hand. I’m a relaxed, documentary photographer, so it’s literally my job to stand back and take it all in, noticing what makes your day yours. I get to see the choices and decisions couples make that lead to their day, and how it all pans out. And newsflash, I’m getting married too. So I thought I’d scribble down some of what I’ve learned about finding the right wedding photographer for your day. If you’re still in the early stages of planning the day itself, I’ve written about that here.
What Does a Wedding Photographer in Ayrshire & Glasgow Actually Do on the Day?
There are many different suppliers and personalities involved in a wedding day (think venue, florist, hair, make-up etc.), but the one you will undoubtedly spend the most time with is your photographer. If you have chosen full-day coverage, I will arrive at your venue during your morning preparations and won’t leave until the party is in full swing. This covers morning-prep, the ceremony, group/family photos, couple portraits, speeches and the first few dances of your evening reception. For much of that time you won’t even notice that I’m there, but can expect to see me step in to help with awkward buttons, some reassuring words, and organise the guests for your confetti shot. I don’t like to over-direct, but will give you some suggestions or prompts if I think it’s needed.
Couples often ask about group and family photos. This is a part of the day that can take up time trying to organise the correct people, who undoubtedly want to relax and have a drink, (think herding cats). I always recommend keeping these to a minimum and suggest no more than 10. Before the day I have the list of groups and names you have provided in your wedding questionnaire and bring this along with me. One thing that can make this run more smoothly is to nominate someone from your bridal party to round up the people we need – they’re much more familiar with names and faces. Your questionnaire also covers the timeline of the day, so I’m always conscious of making sure group and couples portraits don’t run over. With so many different moving parts on a wedding day however, things do sometimes run late.
If this happens, we adapt. It’s often nice to have two smaller couples portrait sessions, one immediately after group photos. If time is limited, after dinner can be a lovely time to grab you both again for another 15-minute wander around the venue for more images of the two of you; sometimes the sun is setting or the light has changed which can get us some awesome shots. These parts of the day don’t need to take up too much time. This summer as the sun was setting and the meal was coming to an end during a gorgeous barn wedding, myself and the couple wandered a few minutes from the venue for a few more portraits of the two of them alone. The results were beautiful and had a completely different feel from the ones we shot earlier in the day. I also like to think of the couple portraits as a chance for you both to escape from the high-energy that surrounds you for most of your day – an excuse to be alone, breathe and reflect on this beautiful commitment you’ve just made to each other.
How Much Does Wedding Photography Cost in Ayrshire & Glasgow?
IThe price of wedding photography varies depending on hours of coverage, whether you’d like a second photographer alongside me, and whether prints or an album are included in your package. Ceremony-only coverage is something I offer too, depending on location and availability, and if you’re getting married a little further afield there may be additional travel costs, which I’m always happy to chat through.
This year I’ve had requests for two-hour coverage and a last-minute surprise wedding (so much fun) which required bespoke packages. I’m always happy to talk through your plans if what you’re looking for isn’t covered in my standard packages.
Regardless of what you choose, I’m fully invested in your day from first enquiry through to your final gallery. I’ll be there with my quiet, calm approach, and afterwards treat each image with the care it deserves.
You can see my current pricing and packages here, or get in touch if you’d like to chat through what’s right for your day.
How Many Hours of Coverage Do You Need?
The amount of coverage you need depends on the type of day you are having, and what you want to get from your images. If you’d like your gallery to reflect the story of your day, including the little bits that are often missed, then ‘The Full-Day’ is recommended. If however your day is more intimate with fewer guests and your main priority is memories of the ceremony, celebrations and speeches, then the ‘Intimate Days’ might be just what you need.
Choosing a Photographer Whose Style Fits Your Wedding
I understand it can be a little daunting when you first start looking for a photographer and see so many styles and approaches. My advice: narrow it down to the ones where the images make you feel something. For me it’s all about showing emotion and remembering the feeling of the day. Could you see yourself and your wedding in these types of images? What kind of images are in their portfolio and galleries? If you want candids of your guests smiling, laughing, crying, can you see that in their work already?
Venues I’ve Photographed in Ayrshire & Glasgow
One tip when choosing a wedding photographer in Ayrshire and Glasgow is to look through your venue’s social media or website for examples of photographers who’ve already shot there, since it gives you a real sense of how your day might look in that space. I’ve been lucky enough to shoot at some incredible venues across Ayrshire and Glasgow myself, including Bowfield Hotel and Spa in Howwood, Boswell’s Coach House in Ayrshire, Blackshaw Barns in Ayrshire, 23 Montrose Street in Glasgow and The Burns Monument in Kilmarnock.
Questions to Ask Before You Book
Before you book a wedding photographer in Ayrshire and Glasgow, it’s worth asking:
What happens if you’re unable to shoot on the day due to illness or emergency?
How and when will I get my images?
What’s the plan if the weather’s bad?
Do you have public liability insurance and a written contract?
Who owns the images, and can I print them myself wherever I like?
Ready to Talk About Your Wedding?
Having just booked my own wedding venue (eek!) and currently in the search for a photographer that meets the kind of feel and price-point I’m after for my day, I really do understand that this isn’t necessarily a straight forward decision. So if you’re looking for a relaxed wedding photographer in Ayrshire and Glasgow and feel you might align with my images, style and the way I work, please reach out – even just for a chat.
And if you’d like to know a bit more about me and how Fior Photography came about, you can read that here.
