Wedding Photographer Christchurch | Find and Compare Christchurch

Thanks to Christchurch’s old fashioned charm and extensive selection of historical buildings, there’s no shortage of interesting places to take photographs for your wedding. We’ve picked out of a few of the city’s best photography locations and listed them below, complete with a simple guide on why it’s a great location, and where it’s located.

1. The Arts Centre

Located along the edge of Christchurch’s city centre, the Arts Centre is one of several clusters of historic buildings within the city itself. Originally built as a university in the late 19th/early 20th century, its interesting array of Gothic buildings makes it one of the city’s best photography locations.

Our advice: Book ahead and reserve the reflection pool which, when photographed from the right angle, is one of the most interesting wedding photography locations in Christchurch. Bookings are $50 and need to be made in advance, as the area is one of the most popular in the city.

2. Hagley Park

Expansive, relaxing, and paramount to the city’s reputation as a garden area, Hagley Park is Christchurch’s biggest public park and one of its most obvious natural attractions. While winter weather makes it a poor place to have your photos taken in June or July, the park is one of the city’s most comfortable photography spots in summer. Large open fields, a selection of flower gardens (located in the Botanical Gardens section) and a scenic lake are all obvious wedding photography spots.

As Hagley Park is a public park, there are no fees required to shoot there. However, please remember that it is a public area and passersby are entitled to use the grounds — to keep people out of your photographs, it may be worth using a patch of ground that is located a little out of the way.

Finding locations for wedding photography in Christchurch needn’t be difficult — a quick stroll through the city is likely to reveal several potential locations or shooting spots. We recommend consulting with your wedding photographer as to where and when you would like extra photos taken. Many prefer to stick primarily with ceremonial photos, although other locations offer a mix of interesting, exciting, and beautiful backdrops for your special day.

The best cars are owned by car gurus. The best bicycles are owned by cycling enthusiasts. The best cameras are, quite obviously, owned by photographers and visual artists. But does that mean the best services are picked by ultra-skilled enthusiasts and professionals?

Not necessarily. Despite the overwhelming belief that you need to be an expert in any given field in order to navigate it as a customer, the likely reality of picking a wedding photographer is that you’ll know who is best without needing any in-depth knowledge of wedding photography. Wedding photographers in Christchurch know one thing in especially great detail — how to market themselves to you.

In fact, a detailed knowledge of cameras and photography could hurt you when choosing a wedding photographer. We’ve all seen the effects of specialisation syndrome — the ‘know-it-all’ mindset that can kick in when someone grows especially knowledgeable in a particular field. A focus on gear and shooting equipment can blind you — often leading you to pick the wedding photographer with the flashiest camera, and not the photographer with the greatest command of event photography.

In truth, you don’t need any knowledge of photography in order to hire a great wedding photographer. Look for samples and a detailed portfolio, and let their past work serve as a reference for your wedding photography efforts. There’s no need to feel left out and unable to discern the best from the worst; a good photographer will be able to describe their strengths without technical language or needless jargon anyway.

Choosing a wedding photographer isn’t easy — it’s a major event, and the slightest error in choice can leave you with inadequate coverage and tainted memories. We’ve all seen wedding photography gone wrong, and we’ve all made that same pledge to ourselves: that we’d carefully vet any wedding photographer before committing.

Thankfully, wedding photographers in Christchurch are largely professional and experienced, boasting impressive resumes and equally impressive photographic ability. The vast majority of professional photographers will have had their work published, often featured in leading journals and magazines.

But that doesn’t guarantee that you will receive the service you want from them. Everyone has different wedding photography requirements — some people want personal, close photos, while others wish to capture the event in its entirety. Here are some questions to ask your wedding photographers before committing to using their services.

Do you have examples of your photography?

Most wedding photographers were trained as photojournalists, portrait photographers, or event photographers. Take advantage of their extensive skill-set and ask to check over their previous work. Judging their portfolio will help you gain an understanding of their ability as a photographer, not just their skill in wedding photography.

Are you available anywhere online?

Our aim at Wedding Photographer Christchurch is to help you find photographers quickly and easily online. However, while many photographers have adapted to the internet and its marketing potential, some still haven’t invested in a website or online presence. To check their technical ability and marketing savvy, be sure to ask for examples of online work and references.

Do you specialize in specific wedding photography styles?

HDR photography — high dynamic range — has grown popular in the last five years. Many couples-to-be aim to keep their wedding photography fairly classical, while others prefer something more modern. Whenever you’re speaking with a Christchurch wedding photographer, ask them if they specialize in any specific styles or photography editing techniques. A skilled photographer will be able to deliver the photos you need in the style you want.

What is your editing turnaround time?

Event photography doesn’t take that much time, but editing can be a painfully slow process. If you’re in need of urgent wedding photos, be sure to ask your photographer to shorten their turnaround time and work around your needs. Always ask for an estimate on how long edited wedding photography will take to deliver, and ensure that your needs are met when choosing a good wedding photographer.

Are you searching for a Christchurch wedding photographer? Finding the ideal wedding photographer can be a difficult mission, especially when you’re forced to look through a laundry list of different candidates. We all suffer from the same fears about our weddings, and with so much riding on the big day it can be paralysing to choose a single photographer or wedding photography team.

Thankfully, we’ve put together a simple guide to help you choose the best photographer for your wedding. The first part covers one of the most important aspects of wedding photography: the location.

If your wedding is located away from the city centre — perhaps in a reasonably remote area such as Rangiora or Akaroa — it’s essential that you inform the photographer of the extra travel requirements ahead of time. Many photographers need to travel independently with their camera and video equipment, making a slight distance more than a minor issue for your wedding. Prices may change to reflect the added distance, but it’s rare to see more than a nominal travel charge added to your account.

Secondly, it’s important to keep the type of weather and environment in mind when planning your wedding photography. Vast, open areas will benefit from wide angle lenses and special photography equipment, while indoor weddings may require independent lighting or special lenses in order to be captured properly. Keep in mind the type of weather that’s likely to occur on the day too — sunny days may require that your wedding photographer brings filters or UV lens covers, potentially changing the appearance of your wedding photos.

Working out an ideal wedding photography package certainly isn’t difficult, but with a few small preparations the process can become even more simple. We’ll be back with another guide on wedding photography in Christchurch shortly, next time focusing on the price of wedding photographers in Christchurch and the amount of consultations recommended for high-quality photography.

Wedding photographers are, generally speaking, a relatively well marketed group of professionals. Artists by trade yet businesspeople at the same time, the average wedding photographer has a significantly better grasp of business image and marketing than the average service provider. However, that blessing can also be a curse for couples looking for a great wedding photographer — In the sea of visible photographers, who should you pick?

Luckily, there are ways to pick a great wedding photographer, many of which extend beyond the prettiness of their website and the length of their resume. We’ve scanned far and wide to bring you the best wedding photographers in Christchurch, and this is what we’ve learned along the way:

Go anywhere, shoot anything. Finding a great wedding photographer certainly isn't easy.

1. Costs aren’t everything, and shouldn’t influence your decision.

The most expensive wedding photographer isn’t necessarily the best. While most photographers charge relatively consistent and standard rates, there’s always a one-off provider which is priced above or below the norm.

It’s tempting to take that higher price as a sign of authority and ability, but it’s not always a sound strategy. Judge and select your wedding photographer on merit — mainly, their photography — and ignore price-based marketing methods.

2. Don’t go for the ultra-cheap provider at the expense of quality.

We’ve already told you not to go for the ultra-expensive photographer for no reason other than their price. Here’s a reason not to go for the cheapest photographer on the block, especially when their photography portfolio doesn’t quite live up to scratch.

Not only are ultra-cheap photographers less likely to be reliable, few of them understand the service side of photography. A reasonable price is an indicator that your wedding photographer is familiar and comfortable with the industry, and can live up to your needs and expectations.

3. Look at their gear, but don’t pretend you know it all.

If you’re a photographer yourself, it can be tempting to think that gear is what makes a good photographer. You see their kit and reckon with their ability — they don’t have the latest lenses, camera bodies, and other equipment?

Technology and equipment isn’t everything. There’s solid reasoning behind many photographers’ insistence on working with ‘outdated’ gear: it provides great quality and versatility. By all means ask your photographer about their gear, but don’t think they’re not capable because they’re missing the latest dSLR or zoom lens.

4. Experienced wedding photographers are worth it.

Experience may not give you perfect photography composition or control over the aperture level, but it does give you perspective on what wedding photography clients require. Instead of fighting for the cheapest or flashiest photographer on the block, aim for wedding photographers that are experienced, reliable, and sensible. It’s your special day and it’s only happening once, so value consistency and reliability above their ability to pull off flash photography tricks and new techniques.

While many couples wish for cheap photography, those who invest in a quality photographer will see much better results.

There’s little doubt about it — the world’s top wedding photographers can sometimes charge rates that would make even the average Fortune 500 consultant blush. It’s enough to put many couples off professional wedding photography altogether. However, there are some important reasons to invest in a professional when searching for wedding photographers, many of which simply disappear when you lower your budget.

1. Professional wedding photographers are experienced, giving you peace of mind on a very important day.
2. Wedding photography is difficult, and requires considerable editing and post-production.
3. The electrical equipment and camera-related accessories required for good photography can occasionally cost six-figure sums.
4. Amateur photographers experiment. Professional wedding photographers follow procedure and work with you.

The determining factors for cost are one and three — the amount of experience required for great photography, and the cost of high-quality photographic equipment. That point-and-shoot camera sitting on your desk simply isn’t enough for capturing a complete wedding. Not only does it lack the versatility required to prove valuable for wedding photography, it lacks the quality and depth of field for convincing, attention-grabbing photography. Shooting at a reception of wedding ceremony is distinctly different from shooting your belongings for an auction website, or even taking photos while on holiday. Quality requirements shoot upwards, and the amount of focus required for lifelong shots becomes significantly more taxing.

The second factor is the least replaceable, and for many couples the most frustrating when searching for a great photographer. Most wedding photographers can command high rates due to their experience — when hundreds of weddings pop up annually, the value assigned to each one can rise with them. The vast majority of wedding photography specialists have invested years — occasionally even decades into their craft — giving them an incredible deal of experience and value. The old saying — pay peanuts and you’ll likely get monkeys — truly applies here.

So as tempting as an amateur photographer may be, please don’t let the temptation to be frugal get in the way of quality photography. In ten years, what do you want to look back on — a wedding shot entirely on a cellphone camera, complete with visual artifacts and blurred details; or a detailed, beautiful, and artistic presentation? The choice is yours, and in our opinion, it’s a clear one.

Wedding photography certainly isn’t a field that favours those short on experience. From blurred out shots to photographs lacking in focus, the number of amateur mistake that can bring down a great wedding is large and sometimes, quite terrifying. We’ve all been exposed to professional photography — it works its way into the news, commercial presentations, and marketing materials of almost any form — giving almost anyone a clear eye into the value of highly polished work.

However, with the recession still in full swing and a growing number of people hesitating to spend money — even on their wedding — amateur wedding photographers seem like a sound saving. Not only do you save money, you essentially give someone an opportunity to improve their portfolio, boost their profile, and gain valuable experience. However, as any wedding planner is likely to tell you, a wedding certainly isn’t an event that should be placed in the hands of amateurs, and definitely isn’t a proving ground for new photographers.

Wedding Photographers Christchurch was set up with a simple purpose: to help you find the best photographers for your wedding or special event. We know exactly how important it is to have that perfect wedding, which is why we’ll always suggest you invest in a professional, highly-skilled photographer for your special day. Wedding’s are a once-only occurrence, and placing that special occurrence in the hands of an amateur can be a risky, and quite often poorly planned, decision.

So take the secure strategy for your wedding, and choose a professional wedding photographer. A range of options are available in Christchurch, each filling a different price range and photography specialty. Using our find-a-photographer and comparison services, you’ll be able to determine exactly what type of service is ideal for you, and exactly how to book it.