This week I was invited onto BBC Radio 4 to talk about a photographer who scammed a bunch of couples by taking their money and either not showing up, sending someone else (who they then had to pay again!) and/or never delivering any photos. Luckily, situations like this are very rare, but she shared a few tips on how to avoid it happening to you.

There was so much more I wanted to say on air, so I’m taking matters into my own hands and leaving the rest of my advice here!

Pricing & Payment

An experienced, reputable photographer in the UK will usually charge at least £1500–£2000 for a full wedding day coverage. Of course you can pay a lot more and a lot less than this but be wary of anyone charging way under market rate (like £500 for a full day with UK-wide travel included, you know how much trains cost these days, right!?)

Regarding payment, photographers will usually take a deposit upfront and may offer instalments but won’t expect you to pay for the full amount at the time of booking or way in advance. The final balance will usually be due just before the wedding.

Contracts

A proper contract is a must. Make sure you check things like what happens if they can’t make it, or if it’s the person you’ve been talking to who will actually be shooting your day. Never EVER book anyone without paperwork.

Portfolio

Don’t just look at a few Instagram highlights. Ask to see full wedding galleries so you can check how they handle tough lighting, bad weather, and different parts of the day.

Website

Do they have a self-hosted site (.com/.co.uk), or just a free subdomain? Either is fine but the latter does probably mean they are less experienced.

Do they share their own face and personality, or is everything very generic? In the example we were speaking about, their website copy could have been written by AI or anyone TBH and didn’t really tell you anything about who they are as a person or their style.

And someone just relying on a Facebook page to get bookings? Run a flipping mile.

Social Media

Are they active on various social platforms? Not just Facebook but Instagram and TikTok? If not, it could indicate that they’re not very busy, or they are not prioritising their marketing.

Now I don’t mean they need to be doing TikTok dances or even posting on social media multiple times a week. But if they have zero social media presence or haven’t updated in six months then it’s definitely something to look out for along with all these other points.

Reputation

Check testimonials, reviews, Trustpilot, comments – and not just the ones they are sharing themselves. If comments are hidden or turned off, that’s suspicious. Established photographers usually invest in marketing, get featured on blogs/magazines, and advertise because they’re serious about their business.

Communication

A good photographer will happily jump on a Zoom or meet in person before you book. If they won’t provide a phone number or only want to speak over email or DM that should worry you.

Problems like this are very rare, but they do happen and of course there are no re-dos when it comes to your wedding.

Finally, when looking for a photographer, check out the ones we work with and feature. We love and recommend them wholeheartedly!