The importance of a good wedding photographer

A good wedding photographer is invaluable and indispensable at your wedding. You will enjoy your wedding day carefree, while the photographer beautifully captures all your memories. Discover in this article some characteristics of a good, professional wedding photographer.

Photo (above, from left to right) : Photographer: Imperish Photography / Photographer: Portretmaker / Photographer: Koen Engels

A good wedding photographer...

Invests in training and quality equipment

A good wedding photographer invests in himself and continuously trains. In addition, they naturally have professional, quality equipment, each time suitable for any situation. Wedding photographer Gaetan Dardenne agrees: "I regularly attend workshops with other photographers that I look up to. I can also rely on my equipment, and I know how to obtain which images as a final result - in terms of colours, speed, consistency, and so on. In case of emergencies, I also always carry a second camera and a second card so there is always a backup."

Tells your story with beautiful images

A good wedding photographer tells a story with his or her images - your love story. Your photographer will follow you throughout the day and capture all your emotions, big and small moments. The first time you meet, the vows, your laughter and that one tear, every step of your opening dance, ... your photographer captures it all. All these photos will later be tangible memories of your day. Your photographer will edit them so the whole picture fits, and collect your favourite images in a beautiful wedding album. This allows you to relive your wedding story over and over again.

Manages the light regardless of the time or weather conditions

A good wedding photographer is flexible and adapts to circumstances and any changes in schedule. He or she will not be taken by surprise by the weather and can take beautiful photos in any situation - whether it is dark, raining or there is bright sunshine. Gaetan Dardenne talks about the importance of light for your wedding photos: "There is a big difference between natural daylight and artificial light at your evening party. A good wedding photographer can work with the sun as well as find beautiful light on an overcast day. In fact, they can always create beautifully lit images, regardless of the weather or the time of day - and that is a huge plus when following you all day long, inside and outside."

Guides you through the whole process

From a first meeting to your wedding album: a good wedding photographer guides you through the entire process. During your first meeting and any further preparations for your wedding day, you already build a rapport with your photographer - so you can trust him or her and feel comfortable in front of his lens. On your day, your photographer will do more than just take photos. He or she finds the most beautiful spots, always makes you look your best and has great suggestions for poses that feel natural. With all his or her experience and expertise, your photographer can respond well to different situations and has useful tips. Also, your photographer makes you laugh together and creates those wonderful moments. The two of you can relax and enjoy yourselves. Finally, most photographers offer beautiful albums, with a wide choice of materials, fabrics and colours, in which your photos will look their best.

Has a reliable back-up network

Finally, a professional wedding photographer has a good back-up network to fall back on in case of an emergency. So you can rest assured that someone will always be there for you. "I have two or three professional photographers who are always ready to replace me in case of an emergency - even though this has hardly ever been necessary," confirms Gaetan.

Read more on this topic via these links:

• How to find the photographer for your wedding
• How to find the photographer for your wedding
• The ABC of the photographer at your wedding