One of the most common questions I am asked when couples approach me after looking for wedding photographers in Glasgow or Ayrshire is if I’ve photographed their particular venue before.
It’s understandable, as I imagine people feel more secure if a photographer knows the venue. The danger though is that if you rely too much on this method of selecting a photographer you end up with someone who just goes through a list of pre-prepared shots that they’ve done dozens if not hundreds of times before.
Good wedding photographers will know how to make the best of any venue. They will understand how the time of day and year will affect the light, how to supplement that with creative use of additional lighting and also what features of a venue will work for wedding photographs, whether that be bridal shots, portraits of couples or groups.
One thing I always do when visiting a wedding venue for the first time is do a recce beforehand to identify all the areas I want to use for the photography. I also check that these will be available for use on the day, arrange any special access for restricted areas or gates that need unlocked and also check what will work at certain times of the day or year. The summer can offer the greater choice when gardens are in bloom and the leaves are out but strong sunshine in the middle of the day can make it difficult for the couple and all the wedding guests if they are all squinting into the sun.
If I know a wedding venue well or if I’ve previously done a recce, I will also do a second check a few hours beforehand just to make sure everything is in place. Sometimes, if you’ve had a lot of rain beforehand the grass can be too wet and soggy for groups even when the sun is out. There’s nothing worse than half the guests getting their high heels stuck in the ground and the bride’s dress covered in mud!
In summary, it’s all down to planning and preparation. In the end that’s more important than if you’ve been to a particular venue before. Having said that if you’d like to know which wedding venues I’ve photographed then here’s a list of some of them.
Wedding Venues Ayrshire
- Savoy Park
- Brigadoon
- Horizon Hotel
- Lochside Hotel
- Dumfries House
- Sorn Castle
- Turnberry
- Waterside Hotel
Wedding Venues Glasgow
- Sherbrooke Castle Hotel
- Hotel Du Vin
- Hilton Glasgow
- Central Hotel
- Double Tree by Hilton Glasgow
- Abode Hotel
- Marriot Hotel
- Radisson
- Oran Mhor
- People’s Palace
- Crowne Plaza
- Busby Hotel
Wedding Venues Edinburgh
- Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club
- Rutland
- The Balmoral
- Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa
- Edinburgh Castle
Other Scottish Wedding Venues
- New Lanark Mill Hotel
- Eastwood House
- Gledoch House
- Newark Castle
- Cornhill Castle
- Ednam House
- Balbirnie House
- Dunkeld Hilton
- MacDonald Forrest Hills Hotel
- The Inn on Loch Lomond
If you have any questions, please get in touch: