When it comes to planning your wedding you may not just be able to go with the first thing that comes to mind, such as the venue you always wanted or that made to measure Vera Wang dress for obvious reasons. Budget and timing being the big ones. There are lots of details to mill over such as who to invite and where to seat them, not to mention any last minute inconveniences. However putting aside your wedding theme, ceremony venue, dream dress, flowers and everything else on your list, there’s something that really needs your full attention and we can’t stress it enough: the photographer. Your choice of photographer must be carefully considered, after all you want every memory of your big day captured beautifully.
In order to shed light on what the most important things are when it comes to selecting your happy snapper we contacted the exceptional Inesse photography studio. Based in Rome the studio was founded by Stefano Snaidero, experienced photographer and movie maker who specialises in both private and corporate events.
Stefano’s studio is composed of the best photography pros within the industry who have extensive experience of wedding photography and so can do a fabulous job whatever the weather. However much like all good photographers, they still require you to book as ahead of your big day as possible. But how long before your big day should you book your photographer ensuring that everything is taken care of to perfection?
“The advice I give to every couple is to always book in good time, especially if you get married during peak wedding season, where finding availability of services on certain days can be very difficult as many photographers are booked up early. Many couples make the mistake of leaving the photos and video as one of the last things to arrange, and in some cases already have a very limited budget at this point. To put it in perspective what I like to remind people of is that the photographs and the video are one of the few things that are a real keepsake, and will allow you to relive one of your biggest moments for years to come, giving you a beautiful memory of all the effort you put into making your day perfect. “
We think the worst thing that can happen is that the photographer and couple have little or no time to meet and get to know each other.
“In reality, the photographer is the person who spends the most time being in close contact with the couple during their day, on average up to 12 h (yes, this is how long a wedding actually lasts!) So if you pick your photographer at the last minute, it’s a big risk and can affect the flow of your big day and result in less than satisfactory photos. “
Experience is essential in this case. It’s a given that top bridal magazines and publications carefully select their photographers so why shouldn’t you? But what else needs to be considered?
“The first thing is real professionalism, demonstrated above all in time, because too many photographers these days aren’t qualified wedding photographers. This is a specific skill, with its rules and its techniques. Improvisation always brings disappointing results. Many couples often ask me for a quick fix for their poor images. But poorly taken images can’t be changed, so making time to research your photographer before you book is crucial. “
“Secondly I would say discretion. Being invisible, whilst telling the whole story is my goal, because only then can you ensure that the wedding unfolds naturally and everyone is at ease being themselves letting their emotions show without feeling intimidated by the presence of the camera. One of the greatest compliments that we get is when at the end of wedding people tell us: “we never saw you!”, only to discover that we recorded their entire experience of the day.”
“And last but not least, is empathy. Being comfortable around your photographer is key to great images. To establish the right feeling is essential this allows the couple to enjoy their day by fully trusting the person in charge of documenting the entire event. This will also make your photographer feel at ease which guarantees that you’ll have incredible images. “
Now to the more complex part of settling on a fair price. So here it is the one question it boils down to, how can everyone’s budget and wants and needs be satisfied?
“I’ll go back to what was said at the start: do your homework early so you can book in good time! And once you’ve narrowed it down to the one, everything else will fall into place. In general our prices come from a couple’s budget to which we adapt the best possible services. In many cases after we meet couples, they realise that in the long run photos are something they will value a lot more than perhaps their flowers. And so revise their budget, allowing more for their photos and videos.”
Every bride and groom are different, because each couple has their own style, as do most photographers even though they use a blend of styles. So what style of photography should you go with?
“I always find it difficult to define my own style, because style doesn’t just mean the type of pictures taken, but the overall style of the studio that runs the service as well as the relationship between the couple and the photographer. Make sure it’s a style that suits your personality. My style for example, is the constant care of the couple with everything they need. Advising and providing them with guidance, including in areas not directly related to the photos but that are likely to influence them (choice of location, lighting, colour of their clothing, etc.) “.
“As for the images, what interests me most is the power of the light, the constant search for bright images that show life beautifully regardless of place and time of year. If you get married in December you should still have bright images that transmit joy and vitality. My other passion is the “decisive moment”, that is, the strength of the unique moments in which as a photographer I have privilege to witness. I am responsible for demonstrating the true beauty and the strength of this experience. I am a lover of light and moments, constantly chasing them, and I have the good fortune to meet clients who share their precious emotion filled day with me”.
So there you have it, top tips from a top photographer! Now that you’ve got the photographer sorted, how about the perfect wedding planner to plan your dreamy destination wedding in Italy?
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