Capture family milestones. Family photography is a big part of what portrait photographers do. Some families like to get pictures made every year to show the progress of their family over the years. This is a good way to preserve memories in the highest quality possible. It is also eye-opening to look back and see how much you have changed from year to year.

Prepare for weddings. Perhaps no day in a lifetime is as important to a girl as her wedding day. And if you’re the husband-to-be, you will learn with each passing year just how important that day was to you as well. It is a portrait photographer’s specialty to capture you and your spouse at your most handsome or beautiful. These pros are also equipped to capture the day itself in all of its joyous wonder.

Document the growth of your children. Separate and apart from family photos, you may wish to use the services of a portrait photographer to document the changes in your children over time. You can never prepare for how much, and how fast, your kids change throughout the years. Most parents want to hold on to a piece of their youngsters at each stage of their developing lives. Surrey portrait photography is a great way to do it.

Prepare for a special event. Graduating from school or chronicling a family reunion are both reasons to celebrate. Unfortunately, time moves on faster than anyone is often prepared for. While the memories will always be in your head regarding these special times, pictures help you to better flesh out those memories.

Modeling. Some people have the right look. If that sounds like you, then you will inevitably need a headshot. Whether you’re a professional model, actor, or you simply think it would be good for business to have a high quality professional shot available, this service is indispensable.

Just because. Don’t let anyone tell you that you have to have a reason to get high quality photos. Perhaps the best reason of all to place a portrait photographer in your employ is because you simply want to.

Boudoir photography is not strictly about weddings.  The reason that it is becoming so closely connected to the wedding industry is that many brides-to-be are fastening on to the idea that it makes an intruiging and surprising wedding or honeymoon gift for their new husband.  Some fine art for his and her eyes only.

So what is boudoir photography?  Put simply, it is artistic, beautiful images of a woman in her lingerie.  Not surprisingly, boudoir photography has its roots in French noir imagery (boudoir literally means “to pout”).  Whilst the photography is always about beautiful lingerie and sensuality, this theme is often conveyed through dark shadows, understatement and perhaps enigma.  The photography tends to suggest that the woman is very feminine, liberated and most importantly, fully in control.  Certainly, it is generally not about glamour, nudity, or even direct eroticism.

Perhaps the main reason why this genre of photography has become so closely associated with brides, is that ahead of the wedding day itself, boudoir photography offers the chance to build confidence in front of the camera and reaffirm that they can look great in photographs.  And in reality, the gift idea is great excuse for women to be adventurous and enjoy what is often marketed as a luxury experience.

In fact, the build-up to the boudoir shoot is seen as very much as part of the experience. First choosing your lingerie is seen as a sumptuous affair and on the day itself, some photographers even offer a shoot preceded by spa treatments as well as make-up.  The idea behind this is that it helps in relaxation and in placing the woman in the right positive frame of mind about herself.

The photography itself tends to be a continuation of the pampering theme. The best boudoir photographers are skilled at bringing out the best in women by using a subtle caress of light to create and intimate atmosphere – and careful posing to bring out the woman’s individuality.  The more relaxed and trusting the subject is, the better the results.  Results that aim to be treasured for a lifetime.

Checklist for Boudoir Photography

1. Does the style of the photography impress and excite you? Ask to see examples of previous work.
2. Rapport with the photographer is important. If booking with a large or national company, which photographer do you get?  Can you meet them beforehand and see their individual work?
3. How will your images be presented? The albums and other products on offer should ideally have a sumptuous, but personal and private feel to them.
4. Check the credentials of the photographer. Are they professionally qualified with the MPA or BIPP?
5. If it is a male photographer, will he be accompanied by a woman?
6. In what environment does the photography shoot take place?  A luxurious hotel suite may often more be attractive than a studio if the latter has a clinical and assembly-line feel to it.
7. What else is included as part of the experience? Some package include spa treatments and make-up, for example.

Gate Street Barn  is  set in the Surrey Hills, next to a working organic farm and small landscaped gardens.    It’s location lends itself to a lovely  secluded, quiet atmosphere;  and whilst this offers photography with a rustic dimension, it can still be quite dramatic.

From the beginning the couple and guests feel there are ‘away from it all’ and are very relaxed – which helps the photography.   The staff are very organised and friendly too.   This is strengthened by allowing the bride to get ready in an adjoining dedicated room.   This allows the photography to flow right up until the Registrars come over to interview the bride!

The barn itself – which has recently been refurbished and can hold 130 guests – has the space and light conducive to capturing the ceremony and speeches well.

Many of us remember “the bad old days” of wedding photography, when it was really just a few shots of the couple outside the church and then an endless list of dull formal group shots.  In fact, some of the lists we see in bridal magazines of the “must have” group shots seem to be still stuck on the past!  Modern wedding photography has come a very long way from this, but it’s still seen by many as the responsibility of a good wedding photographer to “make the image happen” at key moments of the day, and not to simply rely on chance.

This is why couples should seriously consider photographers who are able to vary their photographic style throughout the day.  There are times of the day when unobtrusive photojournalism is the only option (for example, during the ceremony).  But natural, posed images are the best option for creating flattering and artistic images of the couple at other key points of the day.  For example bridal portraits, when her hair, make-up and dress are perfect before the ceremony will be posed,  as will shots of the groomsmen before the wedding (even if it’s done in a relaxed and contemporary way).   Read more about photographic styles here.

Some couples worry that posing will be difficult or awkward but in fact most people are surprised by how much they enjoy it, especially once they have seen the results it produces!  Choosing a photographer who includes an engagement photo-shoot as part of the wedding package is a great way to get to know your photographer better and practice posing.  You’ll feel so much more relaxed on the day.

So when looking through a photographers’ portfolio, ask how particular images you like were achieved:  you’ll probably be surprised by how many of the “natural” shots are posed, so be prepared for this at your own wedding!

The underlying problem is that these stories relates to clients who think they are playing it safe by signing up with a large organisation.  But buying wedding photography services is not like buying a car.  Most people would assume that with other types of big purchase (such as a car) you are better off buying from a big organisation – like a high street dealership – than from a small organisation (like an advert in the motoring press).  The reason for this being that if anything goes wrong (such as the car breaking down within months of purchase), the dealership will offer a warranty; will want to protect its reputation – and will have the resources and incentive to correct any problems.

Of course, problems with wedding photography cannot readily be rectified after the big day anyway.  But there are other reasons why wedding photography is different.   The big difference is that virtually all talented wedding photographers work for themselves.  They do not work for big organisations, as these companies usually only pay a “day rate” to their photographers, which is not enough to earn a living (many photographers who do this work are unqualified, and have a Monday-Friday job that pays the bills).  All the photographer is expected to do to earn the fee, is turn up on the day, take the photographs and then hand over the disk containing the images to the parent company.  If the photographer doesn’t hand over the disk, all they lose is their fee.  They are not incentivised to “go the extra mile” for the couple.  The images the couple have seen when being sold the service are often not those produced by the photographer they get on the day.

Of course, opting for a particular size of photography business is not the solution in itself. The key point is that clients should not take comfort from large companies in the way that the public might do in other areas of commercial activity.  Instead wedding couples should look at a range of factors when choosing a wedding photographer.  Start with our checklist.

However, the shoes you wear to walk down the aisle do not necessarily need to be the ones you will wear all day. If you have a long wedding dress, your shoes do not really show much. So in the summer, many brides like to have a pair of stylish white flip-flops handy.  They can be worn if their “Jimmy’s” become uncomfortable!   They are also useful for any photographs which involve walking on a soft grassed surface to avoid your heels digging into the ground. Of course, if you do go for this option, treat yourself to a pedicure in the week before the wedding too.   An alternative way of preventing sinking heels is to use transparent high heel protectors; but they can be a bit fiddly to attach and will not prevent your shoes from getting wet if it’s been raining (Tszuji sell some which you can view at: http://tinyurl.com/ya3edpu .

In the winter, a funky pair of wellies can be a good idea if you will be walking on wet ground to get that fabulous shot. My1stwish.co.uk have some great ones which you can see at: http://tinyurl.com/yc6q2ls.

One of the advantages that wedding photography has from the outset is that the couple and guests feel there are ‘away from it all’ and are very relaxed.  The staff are very organised and friendly too.   This is strengthened by allowing the bride and wedding party to get ready in Mill Cottage which is on the same site.   This allows the photography to flow right up until the Registrars come over to interview the bride!

The Mill room itself is fairly tight for photography during the ceremony, although it is a very characterful space.

After the ceremony,  there are some great photographic opportunities by the lakes, which are behind the buildings and away from the guests, cars and fences!  This can be potentially be a touch more work for the brides – and particular their dresses – but it is worth the effort.

In the interior, the hotel offers some unusually high and striking  windows with lovely soft light.  In fact the whole interior of the hotel is characterised by interesting decor and lighting which the more skilled wedding photographers will relish.

Outside the hotel has a wonderful private terrace and landscaped gardens.  And best of all, it back on to the River Thames!  The river is always busy of course, but with patience, there are some great images waiting to be captured.

This hotel describes itself as a boutique retreat set in stunning private gardens and parkland. It is a fabulous place to photograph, partly because of the mix of traditional and modern settings it provides. The gardens and terraces are very traditional and pretty; and while the photographs are being taken, the guests feel very secluded and relaxed.

The interior of the hotel continues in that vein with some very interesting wood-panelled rooms with lovely directional but soft light.

But the hotel has modern aspects to it – particularly in the spa areas – which can offer the photography some extra contemporary dimensions. The staff seem to be very efficient – and mindful of the need for support for good photography.

6. Look at the photographer’s testimonials.
7. Ask to see photographs from a couple of single weddings. This way you will be able to assess their consistency and mix of styles.
8. What awards has the photographer won? This gives you a guide to how top peers rate his/her work.
9. Do not just look at digital images. Review the quality of their prints and how they are presented.
10. Check that the photographer you meet will be the same one who does the work on the day!
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