So, you’ve picked the ideal photographer to shoot your wedding? The next crucial step is to book your photographer with a wedding photography contract. Having a contract shows that your photographer is a professional and understands the importance of ensuring everything runs smoothly. A signed contract also gives everyone involved peace of mind and ensures you receive what you paid for.

Essential Wedding Photography Contract Elements

Personal Information

A wedding photography contract should include the names of the bride and groom, along with contact information such as addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. This ensures clear communication between you and your photographer.

Event Details

Clearly outline the event dates, length, start and stop times, and addresses where the photographer needs to be. This helps avoid any confusion on the big day and ensures that your photographer is prepared.

Coverage Specifics

List the specific moments to be covered, such as bridal preparations, the ceremony, family photos, and the reception. This sets clear expectations for the photographer’s responsibilities and ensures that all important moments are captured.

Financial Terms

Your contract should include the booking fee, total cost, payment due dates, and any applicable overtime fees. This ensures transparency in financial matters and helps avoid any surprises later.

Deliverables

Specify the deliverable items, such as an online gallery, albums, and USB sticks, and state when you will receive them. Clear timelines for deliverables are essential for setting expectations and ensuring satisfaction.

Legal and Logistical Considerations

Copyright and Reproduction

Detail who owns the photos and any restrictions on their use. This section of the contract clarifies copyright issues and ensures mutual understanding between you and your photographer.

Cancellation or Postponement Policy

Include a clear policy on what happens if the wedding date changes. This protects both you and the photographer in case of unforeseen circumstances, providing peace of mind.

Failure to Perform

State what happens if the photographer is unable to shoot your wedding due to an emergency. This clause ensures there are contingency plans in place, protecting your investment.

Exclusive Photographer Clause

Specify if other photographers or guests can take photos at your wedding. This helps avoid any potential conflicts and ensures that your photographer can do their best work.

Event Food Service

Mention whether you should provide a meal for the photographer and their team, especially for long events. This ensures the photographer remains energized and focused throughout your wedding.

Customising Your Contract

Many contract details can be adjusted, added, or removed after discussing them with your photographer. If you are uncomfortable with any aspects, discuss them before signing the contract.

Having a comprehensive wedding photography contract helps make your special day go smoothly without unexpected issues. It ensures all parties are on the same page and provides legal protection for both you and the photographer.

For more tips and advice on wedding photography, visit my blog and follow me on Instagram.

The post Wedding Photography Contract – Why You Need One appeared first on Ashok Suren Photography.

How many hours of wedding photography do you need?

At some point during your wedding planning, you are going to ask the question, “How many hours of wedding photography do you need?” Booking the right coverage ensures that there are no regrets later.

Determining the Right Coverage

First of all, the amount of coverage and what you will get for it will differ from photographer to photographer. Since this is a common question from brides, I want to help answer it based on my experience as a professional wedding photographer.

Usually, for us wedding photographers, time is money. A full day’s wedding can mean an 8 to 12-hour day. After that, we have to back up and organise your photographs, cull through them, edit them, and back them up again before delivering the photos. Sometimes, the work after the wedding can take longer than the wedding day itself!

How Many Hours of Wedding Photography Do You Need?

It depends on how much of your day you want to be photographed. Often, I get inquiries from clients who, after checking my availability, ask for coverage of their wedding day. But is that 4-hour coverage? 6-hour coverage? 10-hour coverage? Figuring out the size of your wedding and looking at your wedding timeline will help you choose the right coverage that meets your expectations and budget.

Continuous Wedding Photography Coverage

First, we must understand that any photography coverage you choose will be continuous. There is no start and stop or breaks in between stages of the wedding day unless you make special arrangements with your photographer. For example, if you book a 10-hour coverage, your photographer will not provide photography from 8 am to 1 pm, break from 1 pm to 5 pm, and then resume coverage from 5 pm to 10 pm.

The Wedding Day

Bride and Groom Preparation

This part of the day can take 1-3 hours. How many bridesmaids and groomsmen do you have? A bride with two bridesmaids will need fewer hours than a bride with eight bridesmaids, a flower girl, and other family members all waiting for hair and makeup.

You may want your photographer to document the fun, natural shots of the bridal party getting their hair and makeup done, as well as the groom and his best men’s preparations. During this time, the photographer will also take detailed images of the dress, shoes, bouquet, rings, and other jewelry.

Things to Consider: Would you be willing to pay the photographer for the time to be there, as well as a second photographer if the bride and groom are getting ready in two different locations?

Individual Portraits

Right after prep is the best time for individual portraits of the bride and groom (separately), while makeup and hair are fresh. Allow 15-20 minutes each for the bride and groom.

Pre-Ceremony Photos

What do you plan to do before the ceremony? Exchange gifts? Prayer? Reveal the dress? Family picture? First look?

Some brides choose to have a special time with their mother, father, or both parents when they see her for the first time in her wedding dress. Moments like this are very special and worth your photographer capturing. You may also want some family pictures or pictures with the bridal party.

Things to Consider:

• • How long does it take to travel to the ceremony location? The photographer needs enough time to go to the second location.
  • Allow 20 minutes for the photographer to take pictures of the ceremony site, completely set up with no guests or vendors in the area.
  • Plan for extra time if things are running late—hair and makeup taking longer than expected, limo getting stuck in traffic, decorators being late, etc.

The Ceremony

The amount of time for the ceremony varies, but civil ceremonies wrap up in less than 30 minutes. Traditional Asian wedding ceremonies can be up to two hours long.

Things to Consider: After the ceremony, photos such as certificate signing, group photos with your guests (at the ceremony site), and pictures of you being congratulated can add to your time frame.

Formals and Couple Portraits

This is the time to take advantage of all the beautiful locations at your ceremony for family portraits, bridal party portraits, and romantic portraits.

Things to Consider:

• • How many group photos do you want? Gathering the right people can be a challenge and it can take some time, so plan for 3 minutes per group on average. For example, if you have ten groups, schedule in a 30-minute time slot.
  • Couple portraits should be done away from the guests to avoid interruptions. You may need to travel to another location for this. Allow a minimum of 30 minutes plus travel time between locations. The best time is just before sunset.

The Reception

Typically, your wedding reception will include various events that you’ll want photographed—grand entrance, cake cutting, speeches, first dance, dances with parents, fun dance photos of guests, bouquet toss, and the sendoff. Receptions are usually 5 hours.

Things to Consider:

• Decide if you want to pay for your photographer to stay for the entire reception to capture all the events.
• If you are working with a budget, you may opt to have the photographer finish just after the first dance to save costs.

Recommended Coverage Packages

2-3 Hours of Wedding Day Coverage

Ideal for a civil ceremony only, with onsite group photos and couple portraits at a nearby park or another location. Allow time for travel.

6 Hours of Wedding Day Coverage

Six hours of coverage is ideal for small weddings with fewer than 50 guests. In intimate settings, there are fewer people to manage and photograph, allowing the event to progress smoothly. This duration works well when the ceremony and reception are held at the same location.

While six hours of coverage typically does not include photos of the bridal preparations, it ensures that all the essential moments are captured. This includes the ceremony, family photos, couple portraits, first dance, and cake cutting.

8 Hours of Wedding Day Coverage

An 8-hour package will be enough for an average-size wedding. This coverage allows your photographer to capture the last part of your getting ready shots, some of the detail shots of the ceremony and reception, and the start of the dance floor at the reception.

10-12 Hours of Wedding Day Coverage

For large weddings, I recommend 10-12 hours of coverage. This is more than enough time to capture all the details of the day, including multiple moments of travel between locations, a longer ceremony, and changes of outfits for the reception (common at Asian weddings).

If you’re still struggling to decide how many hours of wedding photography you need, don’t worry. I am happy to chat and help put together a package that is suitable for you. You can contact me HERE

For more inspiration and updates, visit my Instagram Page.

The post How many hours of wedding coverage do you need? appeared first on Ashok Suren Photography.

Hello, Brides & Grooms! I’ve compiled a list of essential questions that I typically ask my wedding couples in this wedding photography questionnaire. Some questions are self-explanatory, while others include explanations to help you understand their importance. These questions will be incredibly helpful when planning your wedding. Moreover, having the answers ready will save you time during your wedding consultation, whether it’s with another photographer or with me.

Questions for couples

Who is your Wedding Coordinator?
(Contact names & phone numbers)
A bride and groom may not have their phones handy throughout the day. It’s always helpful to assign a friend or family member as a contact person if someone needs to get in touch.

How many Bridesmaids are you having?
Managing and organizing a large bridal party for photos can take a significant amount of time. Knowing the number in advance helps with planning.

How many Groomsmen will there be?
For the same reason as above, knowing the number of groomsmen will help in managing the schedule.

Do you need a second photographer?
Consider hiring a second photographer for larger weddings or if you need coverage of the bride and groom getting ready in two separate locations. This ensures no moment is missed.

Pre-Ceremony

Would the bride like her bridal preparation photos taken?
(Last makeup & hair finishing touches and getting in the dress)
If you are on a budget, you can skip this and opt for fewer hours of coverage to focus on the essential moments like portraits, ceremony, family photos, first dance, and cake cutting.

Would the groom like getting ready photos taken?
You might need a second photographer for this.

What time are the bride’s hair and makeup scheduled to start?

Are you planning on seeing each other before the ceremony?
Traditionally, this first look happens at the ceremony.

Ceremony

Where is your wedding ceremony taking place?

What type of ceremony will it be?
(Religious, formal, informal?)

What time will your ceremony start, and how long do you expect it to last?

Approximately how many wedding guests are you expecting?
This affects the number of hours of coverage you will need and whether there is a need for a second photographer.

When do you want group family photos taken?
Before the ceremony? After the ceremony? At the reception?

Where would be the best place for this to happen?
Consider lighting, distracting backgrounds, and the size of the groups.

Are there any special family situations (divorces, dramas, etc.) that I should be aware of?

Do you want a couple portrait session of the two of you?
We need to allow at least half an hour for these photos.

Will you be doing a formal exit from the ceremony, such as a confetti throwing celebration? 🎉

Reception

Where is your wedding reception, if different from the ceremony location?
You will need fewer hours of coverage if your ceremony and reception are in the same location.

What is the order of events at your reception?

Are there any unique or unusual parts of your wedding day that I should be aware of?

Do you have a formal exit planned?
If your friends and family are giving you a big send-off with sparklers, etc., you will want more hours of coverage to ensure your photographer captures all the fun.

Additional Resources

• Wedding Photography Tips

By addressing these questions in your wedding photography questionnaire, you can ensure that your wedding day is captured beautifully and comprehensively. Feel free to contact me for any further consultations or questions.  For more inspiration and updates, visit my Instagram Page.

The post Questions I ask my wedding clients appeared first on Ashok Suren Photography.

Hello, I liked to share one of my Winter weddings in 2018.
Richard & Laura had a small civil ceremony at the Glenfield registry office and then an intimate reception at the Winstanley house.

Winstanley house is a lovely boutique hotel and event venue in Leicester. As an expertly restored historic building. It includes all the conveniences from a modern venue while retaining the charm, class and elegance of a stately home.

As it was a winter wedding in December, it was already dark before we had time to do the couple portraits. But the artificial lights at the venue allowed us to try some night portraits outside.

below are a few highlights, I hope you enjoy browsing through these photos – Ashok

The post Richard & Laura appeared first on Ashok Suren Photography.

Who? : Ravi + Jess

What? : Simple traditional Hindu wedding ceremony and portraits

Where? : Shree Jalaram Prarthana Mandal, Narborough Rd, Leicester.

When? : October 2018

Although Ravi and Jess’s main event is next year. The couple wanted me to document their small and simple Hindhu wedding ceremony at their local temple. Close friends and family attended the ceremony lasting less than one hour.

We initially planned on doing one hour of couple portraits after the ceremony at a local park. Because it rained non stop heavily for most of the day, we could manage only 5minutes with umbrellas!!!!

Congratulations to you both once again, thank you so much for choosing me to be your wedding photographer, I look forward to your civil wedding and reception next year.

I hope you Enjoy browsing through these photos – Ashok 

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram to keep up with my latest work HERE.

The post Ravi & Jess appeared first on Ashok Suren Photography.

East Midlands Wedding Photographer

Who? : Joe + Abbi.

What? : Preparations, Ceremony, portraits, and reception at the MYTHE BARN WEDDING VENUE.

Where? : Mythe barn wedding venue, Sheepy Magna, Atherstone.

When? : September 2018.

I first Spoke to Joe over the phone a year before their wedding: ”we like your style and editing.” and after checking if I am available for their big day the next question was ”so how do we book you?” It’s always excellent to begin that way. Joe and Abbi are from amazing families, with warm, incredible parents, and friendly siblings and friends that surround them with so much love you feel privileged to be part of their special day as a guest and photographer.

Their wedding began with rain on a summer day, but the rain soon cleared before the ceremony. The rest of the day was full of light, and it was only inevitable that it slide towards the most flawless of orange sunsets for the couple portraits.

Here are a few highlights, from one of my favourite weddings in 2018. I hope you enjoy browsing through these photos – Ashok.

Check out Joe & Abbi’s pre-wedding photography HERE.

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram to keep up with my latest work HERE.

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Here is a West Midlands wedding and of my favourite weddings in 2018 — Tim & Gabriella’s intimate wedding. Tim & Gabi had a Stunning traditional Church wedding, followed by a beautiful Marquee and country garden reception – held at the family home in Worcester, Worcestershire.

The couple booked my FULL DAY WEDDING COVERAGE PHOTOGRAPHY + VIDEOGRAPHY package, which meant we covered their special day from morning preparations till the end at midnight. Of course, my video package is in partnership with the very talented Chris from Lifestyle visuals. You can see the video from this fantastic wedding HERE.

The ceremony was at St. George’s Church in Worcester, It is decorated beautifully and kept in spotless state. The reception venue was walking distance away, at Tim’s parent’s house within their beautiful gardens, in a marquee.

Above all Gabi is a wedding & events planner and runs her own company specialising in breathtaking weddings and unique events. So as you imagined the standards of planning were high. Indeed, the wedding included many nice touches including a brass band who walked with guests from the church to the reception. Canapés on arrival, a pizza oven, live singers, DJ, drummer & saxophonist to name a few!

Check out Tim and Gabi’s Pre-wedding photography HERE.

Wedding planning – Gabriella Dale

Flowers – FloralRoundabout

Videography – Lifestyle Visuals

Below are a few highlights, I hope you enjoy browsing through these photos – Ashok.

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Hola amigos! I am happy to share some images from one of my favourite weddings in 2016! A small, sweet and simple wedding in the heart of Barcelona. As a Leicester wedding photographer, I work mostly in and around Leicestershire. This wedding was a special occasion for me as it was the first wedding outside of the U.K and in my favourite City Barcelona!!

Ivan & Desi chose to have a small wedding surrounded by close friends and immediate family. It was a privilege to be part of their special day and to share these pictures with you. Also, I am available for International assignments as long as my flights and hotel are covered. Please see my INVESTMENT page for more detail.

Check out Ivan & Desi’s pre-wedding shoot HERE.

Remember to follow me on Instagram to keep up with my latest work HERE.

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