by English Wedding member Amanda Karen Photography

As we eagerly await being able to meet up with people face to face, we know that we can’t put life on hold, and for planning a wedding, that means still booking your suppliers to secure your wedding dream team. For those of you that have been avid readers of English Wedding Blog for some time, will know that choosing the right wedding suppliers and what to ask your wedding photographer are topics I’ve talked about before. And that advice still stands, however, how does it differ in the current environment we find ourselves in?

Embrace the technology

Video call conferencing providers have certainly been a lifeline for so many during the pandemic, enabling us to see and keep connected to our friends and family, I’ve lost count of the number of zoom pub quizzes I’ve taken part in!  

But they are also super helpful in being able to meet prospective wedding suppliers in a more personal way than just a standard phone call.  Choosing your wedding photographer is a big decision, so being able to see them helps with that gut feel you’ll form as you talk, making sure you choose the right person for you. It also means, if you and your partner are not currently in the same bubble and living together, you can still both meet your photographer online.

Full gallery access

The absence of not being able to meet in person, means you won’t be able to flick through gorgeous wedding albums of previous couples your wedding photographer has worked with, so it’s even more important to ask to see a full gallery of images.  Social media and websites can only show you so much, it’s a brief snapshot of their favourite images.  By seeing a full gallery, you are able to get a real feel of how your day would be captured by that photographer.

Embrace the excitement

I know it’s more stressful planning a wedding in a pandemic, there are so many unknowns, and you can cover those ‘what if?’ questions on the video call.  But I know one thing for sure, the wedding photographer you’re talking to will be so excited to hear about your story as a couple, the engagement story, your hopes and plans for your wedding.  So put the stressful bit to one side and allow your wedding photographer to sweep you up in the excitement and romance of it, remember why you’re doing it.

Maintain communication

If plans do have to change, remember to keep your photographer in the loop.  If you are in a position where restrictions mean you’ll need to change your date, before committing to a date, talk to your photographer (and other key suppliers) to see what dates they have availability.  Using something like Doodle Poll is a great way of seeing who is free on what dates.  By doing this, you won’t run the risk of having to start your search for suppliers again, you’ll still have your wedding dream team and won’t be compromising on who you have creating your special day.

When the world returns to normal…

Once you’ve booked your wedding photographer, and the world returns to normal, this is when you can arrange to see your photographer face to face.  I know for us, I can’t wait to book in our couple’s engagement shoot which is included in their coverage, get to meet them face to face, catch up on how they’re getting on, and of course celebrate their engagement.  But for those of our couples that want a wedding album, it’s the perfect time for them to see and feel the samples in the flesh, which again reignites that excitement as they think about what their wedding is going to look like in an heirloom album!

So, don’t despair, you can absolutely still book your dream wedding photographer with confidence.

Take care,

Amanda x