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Here is a selection of Q&As from Your London Wedding magazine whether it be about flowers, hair and makeup, fashion, wedding themes, health & beauty, cakes, stationery, legal advice. If you would like your question answered by our experts, please email it to editor@yourlondon.wedding
To view more expert advice on a different topic, please select one from the list below.
Capturing Memories
| Q | Lots of photographers offer an engagement shoot, but we're camera shy and don't know if it's for us. What are the benefits? |
| A | Lottie Povall says: Well, they don't say practice makes perfect without having a little truth behind the saying. If you're already feeling camera shy about your wedding day, then an engagement shoot is the ideal way to learn to relax and be yourself in front of the camera. One of the essential things to remember is that you'll only see the best photos! There won't be 50 of the same poses to choose from as that's your photographer's job, alongside helping you relax. I think a misconception about engagement shoots is that they are rigid and awkward when they can also be as candid as you'd like them to be. Personally, that's my favourite way to shoot them. They're a fantastic opportunity to spend more time with your photographer and see how they work and how compatible you are. On your wedding day, you'll know precisely how your couple photos will go, and you'll only need to spend 10 minutes away from your guests! Remember, you can think outside the box. You don't have to pose for hours. You can do something fun like go to an arcade, a fairground, a club, or the beach at sunset. You can even bring your pet, a great alternative if you can't have them with you on your big day. |
Lottie Povall, Lottie Povall Photography
Photography
| Q | Finding a fab photographer is so important to us and with that comes a cost. Do you have any advice on getting the best for our buck? |
| A | Jeff Oliver says: Your big-day photos capture the memories that you'll cherish for years to come so it's important that you find the right pro – if there's one element of your budget not to cut – it's this one! You want to make sure that you get the best for your money and here's our advice on the best way to do that: - Be cautious if a photographer offers you something at half the price of others on the market. You want to pay the right price but for a quality service. - Do your research – check reviews and portfolios to make sure that you're happy with what other couples are saying about the photographer and that you like their style. - Check your package – how many images will you receive after the day, are they print or digital, how soon after the day will you receive them. Also, be aware of cheap base packages where any additional items such as extra hours or a second photographer, are an added cost. - Be clear on timings so you can book a package that covers the parts of the day that you want capturing on camera, rather than needing to book a full day's coverage if you don't need it. - Think about different days of the week or months that aren't during peak season for a more affordable package. |
Jeff Oliver, Jeff Oliver Photography
Top tips for a winter shoot
| Q | We're planning a winter wedding and would love to get some photography tips for this time of the year to make sure we get the best pics possible – help! |
| A | Paul Gapper says: Keep warm! It can get quite cold in winter, while it rarely snows these days in the south, it looks amazing when it does. Remember if you're going to be outside for a while ask someone to bring a coat or a shawl to keep you warm while your photographer looks for great places to take your pics. It can get very muddy at this time of the year so ask the same person to walk with you and hold your dress to keep it off the ground. The evening sky can look amazing so be sure to think about the twilight zone and time your shoot for then. When looking for your venue, choose one that has plenty of good indoor spots for your backdrop just in case the weather turns – fireplaces look cosy and wooden barns look amazing with candles flickering in the background. Have a good supply of umbrellas on hand and using sparklers instead of confetti always looks good. You could even end the night with an amazing firework display (if your venue allows). I'd advise to hold your ceremony earlier in the day and also speak to your photographer to check that they're able to shoot in low light conditions. If you have your wedding during the winter, the chances are you can get better rates with more dates available plus if you time it just before Christmas you have all the lovely decorations free of charge. |
Paul Gapper, Paul Gapper Photography
Big-day shoot
| Q | My partner's extremely camera shy so I'm worried about our photos not looking natural. What advice can you share and how can you help with that on the day? |
| A | Jeff Oliver says: Being camera shy is like a vicious circle, you feel awkward in front of a camera, it shows in the final photo, you don't like the final photo and so the cycle continues. We have several tips and tricks to overcome this, first off is having a pre-wedding photoshoot. This may sound like a baptism of fire, but the number of our couples that have gone into a pre-wedding shoot feeling shy and nervous, and finished being much more comfortable and having enjoyed it, is countless. Another thing to remember is that many photos are taken from a distance, leaving couples to relax and chat a little, rather than having a camera up close and in their face. When looking either at each other, or 'off-camera', they almost forget we're there. We find shooting this way produces natural photos from even the most camera-shy person. Ultimately, trust your photographer! They'll work with you to help you feel more at ease and less awkward when having photos. |
Jeff Oliver, Jeff Oliver Photography
Photography
| Q | What are the key wedding trends for 2022 and how are couples planning their weddings differently this year? |
| A | Doville Gailiuniene says: Some guest lists and wedding budgets are getting bigger in 2022. Couples are making the most of the opportunity to bring their nearest and dearest together. Larger weddings are slightly harder to run, but I love the thrill on the day. The organisation is key to keeping everything on track and to getting the best out of your wedding pictures. Remember, that for big weddings timing is everything. Here are my top tips: - Have a clear timeline of the day – You can't have 10 large group pictures in 10 minutes, you need to be realistic with your timings for photographs. - Communication is key! Write a list of must-have pictures and share your ideas with the photographer. - Visit your wedding venue with your photographer to look at the best locations for portraits and family pictures. - Consider investing in a second photographer or even a third. You won't regret it. You'll have more images and a variety of different angles such as the groom's first look while the bride walks down the aisle. One photographer won't be able to cover both. Your wedding pics will be a lasting memory of that special day. We as photographers can change a lot, but we can't change the mood so enjoy the day and have fun. |
Doville Gailiuniene, Doville Gail Photography
