Questions I’m Usually Asked After Christmas
Is that a ring box in your pocket…
…or are you just pleased to see me?
Christmas has a funny habit of nudging wedding plans into motion. A proposal, a conversation over dinner, enforced time with the family, or simply the realisation that it’s time.
So if this wee blip on your radar is starting to ping a little louder, here are a few of the questions I get asked most often. Consider this a very informal mini-guide.
When should we book?
Earlier than you think — but not in a panic.
I know I’m not the first thing on the list. It usually goes venue, then celebrant (possibly your favourite band), then photographer.
Most couples get in touch somewhere between 12 and 18 months before their wedding, especially for popular venues and summer dates. That said, you can knock the whole show together in weeks if you really want to. The legal minimum in Scotland? 30 days.
Golden tip no. 1: the longer the lead-in, the more “opportunities” you’ll have to waste money on daft accessories. I mean, I love llamas… but do you need them at your wedding?
Do we really need a wedding album?
Short answer: yes.
Longer answer: you don’t need one in the same way you need catering or chairs, but albums are the part of the job that still matters years down the line.
Digital files are brilliant for sharing, backing up, and revisiting on screens. Albums are different. They slow things down. They’re what gets picked up by your kids, your grandkids, or passed across a table at a family get-together. They turn a collection of photographs into something deliberate and finished. The picture above is one of our wedding Legacy boxes. A neat alternative to a wedding album.
Golden tip no. 2: I provide you with a proposed album layout. You don’t even need to think about it — or at least, not very hard.
What if we don’t like being photographed?
You’re in very good company.
Most people I photograph don’t describe themselves as ‘comfortable’ in front of a camera. That’s completely normal. My job isn’t to turn you into something you’re not, it’s to make the experience feel straightforward and unforced.
There’s no need to perform or pose constantly. Good wedding photography comes from giving people space, clear guidance when it’s needed, and enough time to relax into the day. Comfort always shows before confidence does.
Golden tip no. 3: get a shortlist, talk to the photographers, and go with the personality that suits your vibe. You might save £200 booking someone on the cheap… but end up spending the day with a sociopath. Book someone you actually like. I promise you on your 1st anniversary you wont look back at sh*t pictures and think ‘What a bargain’
Is there a ‘best’ time of year to get married?
There isn’t a best time. It’s Scotland.
I always use T in the Park as my litmus test (Transmit, for the pre-millennials). You’ve seen these outdoor festivals blisteringly hot. You’ve also seen them dissolve into a full-scale mud bath.
Summer brings long evenings and flexibility. Winter has tighter schedules, lower light, and a quicker pace to the day (it’s cold). Spring and autumn sit somewhere in between, with their own rhythms and colours.
Golden tip no. 4:
April/May — nicest weather
June/July/August — longer nights
September/October — autumn colour
November/December — expect storms and be pleasantly surprised when they don’t happen
From a photography point of view, every season works. What matters more is how the day is structured, where the light is, and how much breathing space you give yourselves. The calendar month matters far less than people think.
Why photography still matters more than video
This one comes up more often now, and it’s worth saying gently.
Video is a brilliant addition when it’s done well. It captures movement, sound, and atmosphere in a way photography can’t. But photographs do something different. They stop time.
A single image can live on a wall, sit in a frame, or be opened in an album years later without needing sound, context, or a screen. Photographs tend to travel further and last longer in everyday life.
If budget allows, photography and video can complement each other beautifully. If it doesn’t, photography remains the foundation most couples return to again and again.
Golden tip no. 5: you can watch your wedding video too many times. It starts to overwrite the memory. You stop remembering the best man’s speech and start remembering the video of it. Watch it, enjoy it, then tuck it away for a while before revisiting it.
If you’re newly engaged and quietly gathering information rather than making decisions just yet, that’s completely fine. There’s no rush at this stage. Asking good questions early tends to make everything calmer later.
And January is a perfectly good time to start.