How to find a good TOG

So pleased you've posted this as I feel EXACTLY the same! Will be following replies with interest x

Im sure that you have but if not try reading all of this thread https://www.hitched.co.uk/chat/forums/t/378780.aspx as it has some stuff about style.

It sounds very much like it is early days yet - so keep looking and do not book anyone untill you have a better feel for what you like. I would say about 70% of my weddings say the same thing about not being photogenic and dont like their picture taken, but I honestly never see any of it it on the day, there is so much going on around you, and you will be feeling 100 dollers as your hair is done - makeup, that dress and you are gonna feel great, its part of what an experianced photographer will do on the day- make you feel relaxed

Hi missloll89.

I can imagine it is quite daunting because there are thousands of websites to look through too! The Husband and Wife team you met, what did you like about their photos? Perhaps that is a good benchmark to start from?

The great thing is, you can keep looking and now you have something to compare to, you can always go back to them if you don't see anything else you like as much.

A lot of couples are very nervous about having their picture taken but because you are so happy and excited on the day, it doesn't seem to bother them when it comes to it.

I'd base your decision more on the photos rather than the album style because there are a lot of styles of album but the photos that go in them are the important thing.

It might help to start a list of what you're looking for out of your photos - do you want lots of group shots, shots where little 'moments are captured', artistic style shots, shot that look very different etc etc. Just write anything down both of you would quite like to see - even if it's silly things like a 'photo of the two of you looking nice'. Once you've written all down, even if they seem very general, start going through photographers with your list in mind and whether their photos are close to it or not, then hopefully you'll get more of an idea of what you like and then you can go from there. For us, finding the photographer was a bit like finding my dress - I looked at tons but once we saw the photos of the person we chose we knew they were the right one for us. Keep looking until you're 100 per cent sure as I've heard loads of people say they swapped laters and lost deposits because they panicked they were running out of time and just booked someone.

A HiB on here, Marianne Chua, has been writing a wedding photography 101 series on her blog, and it goes into a bit about choosing a style. It might be helpful for you: https://mariannesphotoblog.wordpress.com/2013/03/29/101-for-marrieds-to-be-part-1-how-do-i-find-my-wedding-photographer/

When I booked my tog, I was trawling different sites looking at past work.... and like the OP.... they were much of a muchness and I liked them all. So, I chose based on whether I liked them and thought I could get on with them as they end up a major part of the machine. I chose Peter from here.

My daughters wedding was three weeks ago. With that experience, if I was to say what was the most important thing about a tog and what I would look for the criteria would look like this:

1. Did I like them

2. Were they personable and considerate to guests

3. Did they capture photos and set up shots in an unintrusive manner (Ihate togs who are bossy with loud voices)

4. Had they got loads of wedding experience behind them

5. And finally...... did i like their previous work.

Peter was all those things and more. Loads of our guests commented favourably on our lovely tog. And to top it all.....the photos are the best I've ever seen!

I hope that helps you with your process.

This! It's a very helpful read.

I would definitely make a decision on what type of photography you like before booking anything. I didn't and am now starting to regret my decision. I have no doubt whatsoever that my photographer is very good at what he does but the more I look the more I realise that his style is very staged and the photographs are all posed, where as we would prefer something much less formal with more candid shots to match the casual feel of our wedding. I'm considering forfeiting my deposit and looking elsewhere now.

I hear this quite a lot ☹️

I think sometimes, people just get sick of looking. There are a lot of sites out there for all suppliers and it can get a bit draining looking over and over.

Do you love their work, do you love them and are they within budget is always a good starting point.

We ended up finding ours based on the recommendation of another tog who's work we respected but who was booked. Good togs tend to keep good company so if you email someone and they are booked, ask them who they would recommend.

You have to get along with your tog as they are of course a very big part of the day. They should be within your budget and you should love their work. Don't be worried about where they are located or anything like that as photographers are usually happy to travel. Maybe ask your venue if you've booked it as some offer a deal with some suppliers, I know my venue does if we were to have booked a the local photographer.

Another tip I would give you is if you possibly can it is always better to spend that little bit extra on your photographer as once the day is over all you have left are the memories and the pictures, and they will be a constant memory for you

There are so many different styles so I know how hard it is! I was lucky because I just sort of found mine on here

I'm feeling the same too! Not sure on my tog anymore maybe I rushed into it! Still 16 months to go am just having wobbles already! unsure what to do!

Thanks for the advice guys , i read the 101 guide and it was helpful accept for the fact i seem to like all the different styles of photography !! arrghh how to choose now , i seem to be drawn to the more art / fashion types and the quite edited types of photos , the photographers ive looked at seem to do this kind of thing but its hard as some of thier pictures i absolutely love and others not so much , should i be looking at going for one where i love all the pics , its really hard ... but all your advice has helped me more

The ones you like, could you email them and ask them to see a whole gallery so you can get an idea of what a whole wedding would look like?

Yes I would say that this is a very good next step, but dont just take one example ask to see others-- try even asking for what date wedding YOU want to see, dont take whatever they want to show you.

If as you say you like some from one photographer and not others - just ask them, as may well of the Bride and groom of the shots that you do not like, if the photographer is roughtly what you are looking for im sure they can alter things to better suit wht you need.

Thanks Sandy...??