73 Wedding Pics That Went Wrong In The Most Memorable Ways

The thing about marriage is that, if it goes well, you’ll only have one wedding. That means one walk down the aisle, one first kiss, one first dance, one moment of cutting the cake. You get the idea. And because you can’t really repeat it again, or at least not in the same way, having someone there to capture it all matters.

And that’s not exactly a cheap thrill. For example, the average cost of wedding photography in the UK is roughly £1,400–£1,700. In the US, average pricing falls around $2,500 to $4,000, though wedding photographer costs can range anywhere from $1,000 to $50,000 and higher.

Numbers like that are enough to make anyone break a sweat. They also put extra pressure on choosing someone good so you don’t end up regretting it afterward. (And yes, more than a quarter of couples say they regret their wedding photos. Ouch.)

Luckily, photographers have shared plenty of advice online on how to pick the right person for the job. Here’s what to keep in mind.

First things first: there are genuinely lots of amazing, talented photographers out there. It’s just that being good doesn’t automatically mean they’re right for you. That’s why photographer James Richard recommends choosing someone whose style actually matches your vision.

“I’m a documentary photographer so the couples that get in touch with me want fun, relaxed and unposed photographs that show the various parts of the day as they naturally unfolded,” Richard explains on his website.

“And because that’s what the couples that book me are looking for, they love their photos, both the ones they were present for and the ones of their friends and family having a brilliant time together,” he adds.

To help you figure out whether someone’s style is truly your thing, Richard suggests asking for more than the highlight reel.

Don’t judge a photographer only by the best shots on their website or Instagram. Ask them to send a full gallery from one wedding day, so you can see how they capture everything from start to finish and whether it matches your taste.

But even if you love a photographer’s aesthetic, it still might not be the right fit for your wedding. Photographer Caroline Hancox makes a great point here: think about what your day will actually look like, and whether the photographer has experience with that kind of setting.

A winter wedding can have a completely different vibe from a summer one. Venues matter too. A cozy chapel might be beautiful in person, but it can come with dark corners and low lighting that make photography trickier. So it’s worth making sure the photographer has the skills and equipment to handle the type of wedding you’re planning.

Another big factor people often underestimate is personality. You’re going to spend a lot of the day around this person, and if you don’t click, it can make everything feel more awkward than it needs to be. If you book someone after a few emails, you might not actually have a clear picture of what they’re like to be around.

That’s why Richard recommends meeting the photographer in person, or at least hopping on a video call. “Not only will you be able to get more information from them but by getting to know them, you will naturally relax more in front of the camera and have more fun on your day,” he says.

And getting along with your photographer can make a bigger difference than people think. “When I am photographing a wedding I often get mistaken for one of the couple’s friends,” reveals Hancox.

“For years this used to really annoy me as I would be all, ‘No, I’m a professional photographer!’ But actually, now, this makes my day. I’m so pleased when this happens as it means that we fit together perfectly, and it looks like we’ve known each other for years. This is when the magic really happens,” she says.

Finally, before you sign anything, do a bit of due diligence. Try to check that other people actually enjoyed working with them on the day.

Richard suggests looking through reviews, and not just the ones featured on the photographer’s own website. If you can, check a few different sources too, like Google or Facebook. And if you know someone who’s worked with that photographer before, ask them every question you can think of.

Now, all that’s left is to get ready for the big day. Hopefully, your wedding photos turn out brilliant and end up being memorable for all the right reasons.