Booking Angela Waites Photography
If you’ve found me online, seen me at a wedding fair or I’ve been recommended to you I think it’s always good idea to head straight to my portfolio page where I show you my photography and edit style. My portfolio shows you photographs from various stages throughout your wedding day from preps in the morning through until your evening dance and night time photos. If you can see yourself in those photos then maybe I’m the photographer for you.
Your initial enquiry will most likely be ‘do I have your date available ?’. I answer every wedding enquiry within around 8 hours, usually sooner, regardless of whether I’m available or not so don’t forget to check your spam folder as I may end up in there. If I don’t have your date available I’m always happy to recommend fellow photographers who I know and would trust with your wedding day.
Hopefully you choose me as one of your wedding suppliers and I will send you a booking form to fill in with a few basic questions and a contract. I ask for a £200 deposit upon booking and this locks in both your date and package price. Your remaining balance is due 2 weeks before your wedding day.
I have 4 different packages to choose from in my wedding collection and the details for each are sent to you with the booking form. My pricing page and subsequent links for each package go into greater details about what is included and which may be right for you.
The way we view photos changes quickly, when I first started my career we were sending photos out on dvd’s, then usb’s became the norm. We are a nation of phone lovers now with many couples not having access to computers so your wedding photos are sent via a digital gallery that you can access whenever you want to from your phone or tablet. Obviously wedding albums are your permanent keepsake to be treasured and passed down. Do have a good look through the packages but don’t feel you need to make a decision right away. I have many couples who have decided to spend their wedding gift money on an album upgrade.
Around 6 weeks before your wedding day I send a final details form and your final invoice. This form is for you to write down any photos you would like and in particular any group or family photos. We can have a meeting if you’d like to either via zoom or teams or I am happy to meet you in person and show you sample abums and we can have a coffee and talk through the day. Don’t worry though, a meeting isn’t necessary if you’re happy to go ahead and book, I have photographed lots of weddings where I’ve not met the couple until the morning of their wedding but if you’d like to the option is there.
On the morning of your wedding day my official arrival time is 2 hours before your ceremony. I would always prefer to be an hour early than 5 minutes late though so don’t be surprised to see me outside taking shots of your venue long before I’m due. Which leads me on to the photos I take on your day. The venue where you have chosen to marry will change over time, may be taken over or may even disappear and become something else entirely. This is why I start with these photos so in years to come you will remember how it was on this, your wedding day.
I will join you in your prep room shortly after arriving to say hello and then take photos of your ceremony room. All the time you spent choosing colours and decor is recorded for your wedding album. Prep photos are very relaxed and candid. If you’ve asked me to bring a second photographer you will both have prep photos, if you’re both getting ready in the same venue I can do them on my own and will just run between the two of you. Also photos of your dress, shoes, jewellery and the flowers. If you would like your invitations photographing don’t forget to bring it with you.
Two hours is ample time to get photos of hair, makeup and the hustle and bustle of the room and these photos make a wonderful first spread in your album. Do allow enough time to have photos of you before you’re walk down the aisle and with parents and bridesmaids or groomsmen. These are very special.
I will be waiting and photographing at the top of the aisle as you make your way down to greet each other. A second shooter at this point can ensure photos of you both and this is included in my Coffee Table Album and Trilogy Packages. Your ceremony is photographed discreetly whilst ensuring all the key moments are caught. Your vows, ring exchange and first kiss as well as emotional parents and fidgety flower girls. Candid’s that you didn’t see at the time because you were in the moment but will love to see later.
I like a staged photo of you signing the register, I know a lot of photographers who find this a bit cheesy but personally I think it’s an important part of your history. Once done I head to the bottom of the aisle for your first walk together as a married couple. I’ll have spoken to the wedding team beforehand and we will have discussed whether you’re having welcome drinks, a confetti throw etc. I ask the team if they’re happy to hold off on the drinks while we do confetti and a full group photo.
This is definitely the time of day to do this as it’s the only time we have a captive audience. Trying to gather everyone up later in the day is like herding goldfish. Auntie Florence has gone for a wee, Uncle Fred is grabbing a pint and someone has always, always gone to either check in, nip home to let the dogs out or popped to the corner shop for a plaster for their blistered feet from those new high heels.
So we do it now and then we have a record of everyone who you thought should spend this amazing day with you. When we’ve got the shot I’ll suggest everyone go and get a drink whilst I bob around taking candid’s of the congratulations hugs and kisses you’ll receive.
Family and group photos will ideally be now whilst the welcome drinks are being enjoyed. Gone are the days when guests stand around outside for ages waiting to be called whilst the photographer goes through every variation of group they can think of. I recommend around 10-15 of these “mantlepiece photographs” but don’t worry if you have more, I’m quick, efficient and do it all with humour. Close family, friends from school or college and then the bridal party are the important ones and we can grab others throughout the day. This will ensure you have a day that just flows and more importantly gives you the freedom to enjoy it.
I ask you now if you’d like to take a walk with me so we can get some portrait photos of you both. This is time for you to be together for 15-20 minutes, to look at each other and say yay, we got married ! Gentle posing will leave you with relaxed and informal photos that you will treasure and trust me you will cherish this little bit of time away, just the two of you before the busyness of the day.
I am always happy for you to jump in my car if there is somewhere special you’d like to go. I’ve taken couples up on the moors, to the beach, climbing rocks and cliffs, to a castle, a lake, a bus stop and many more places. My car is big enough for the poofiest of dresses so let me know your ideas !
As you re-join your guests I’ll take candid’s, not just of you but of everyone interacting. Then I’ll head to your wedding breakfast room to photograph your table layouts, your wedding cake, name labels and everything else you spent so much time choosing. Your speeches are covered in an unobtrusive way capturing the speaker and yours and your guests reactions be they tears or laughter. I put my cameras down whilst you’re eating and take the chance to get something to eat myself but if you have organised entertainment for your guests like a magician or singing waiters I’m not far away and ready to jump up at a moments notice.
Depending on the time of year it’s nice to have a walk outside after your wedding breakfast, the light in late afternoon is usually quite beautiful and if there’s a sunset we definitely want that. I love night-time photos after the sun has set so if you’d like some we can do these at this point in winter or if you’re having a summer wedding we’ll head out after your first dance. Your wedding breakfast room will be having a tidy up and turn around at this point so guests may wander off to their rooms or into a lounge for a breather so a good time for some more photos for 10 minutes.
I typically set up lights for your first dance and I’ll have spoken to both the wedding team and the DJ or band so I’m aware if things are running on time and know where I need to be and when.
Regardless of whether you’re going all out dirty dancing or just shuffling awkwardly in the middle of the dance floor you really do want these photos, I don’t think I’ve printed an album yet that hasn’t had first dance photos inside. I leave your wedding around half an hour after your dance giving me time to get a little dance action from your guests. My Trilogy package includes an additional 2 hours for a studio booth which I do and my second photographer catches all the dance floor action, we both leave at around 10pm.
When I get home I upload and back your photos up instantly giving me 3 copies of each photo that I’ve taken. I stay up and edit around 30-40 photos ready for your social media sneak peek the next day, these photos are watermarked and are very helpful in the form of advertising, not just for me but for your other wedding suppliers and the venue too. There is an opt -in on the contract for you to give me permission to do this and it’s always much appreciated when you do but no worries if you don’t.
Your photos are edited by myself, where I personally go through every single photo I’ve taken and either edit or delete accordingly. I never delete a good photo and I don’t use a programme to cull them so you can be assured that you will have everything apart from flash misfires, people blinking etc.
Your gallery will be delivered within 3 weeks (as per contract) but usually sooner, I love looking back on the day and can’t wait to get started. Your gallery is online and password protected so it can only be seen by those you choose. A full download of high resolution photos is yours and you can print or share these as you wish. I do sell professional quality prints myself and these are guaranteed to be just as you see them in your gallery and not supermarket printed colours. Your gallery has a shop attached and can be used by yourselves and your guests should they wish to purchase downloads, prints or wall art.
In the gallery you can choose your favourites to build a list of photographs for your album. There is no rush to do this but if it’s not done within 12 months there will be an additional charge as the cost of albums to me rises each year. I make up an album proof online where you can see the layout and make any changes you would like. You choose the colour and what you would like writing on the front, if anything. Album delivery is typically around 4 weeks from you okaying your proof.
Hopefully that gives you a little insight into enquiry to delivery when you book me as your wedding photographer but , as always, I am on hand to answer any questions you have no matter how simple they may seem to you.
Thankyou for taking the time to read
Ange xx