How to Choose a Wedding Photographer in Kent: 2027 Guide
You’ve found the venue. The Pinterest board is getting slightly out of control. Now you need to choose the person who’s going to photograph it all. Easy, right?
Then you Google Kent wedding photographer and suddenly you're comparing hundreds of photographers, packages, styles and prices. So, how do you actually choose? Here are the things I’d genuinely look for when choosing your wedding photographer in Kent.
Decide how you want your photos to feel
Forget trends for a second.
When you look back at your wedding photographs in 20 years, what do you want to remember?
The laughter? The chaos? Your dad's face when he first sees you? Your friends crying during the speeches? Or do you want something more polished, posed and editorial? There’s no right answer.
My own style at Emilia Michaels Photography is documentary-led with a subtle editorial influence.
In normal language? I photograph the real stuff as it happens, then give you a little direction when we create your portraits. You get the emotion and the gorgeous frame-worthy photographs.
Don't choose from Instagram alone
Instagram is everyone's highlight reel. Ask to see a full wedding gallery before booking.
Look at:
Getting ready
The ceremony
Family photographs
Couple portraits
Speeches
Dark rooms
Rain
The dance floor
Anyone can show you 20 beautiful photographs.
You need someone who can tell the story of an entire wedding day.
Work out how much coverage you actually need
You don't automatically need 10 hours of photography.
As a rough guide:
2–3 hours → elopements, micro weddings and intimate celebrations
6 hours → preparations to speeches OR ceremony into the reception
8–10 hours → the complete story, from getting ready through to the dance floor
Choose based on the moments you actually want photographed — not simply the cheapest package.
How much does a Kent wedding photographer cost in 2027?
There isn't one standard price. Wedding photography prices vary depending on experience, coverage, what's included and the level of service you're receiving. For context, my current 2027 wedding photography collections are:
Intimate Wedding Experience — from £5752–3 hours for elopements, micro weddings and smaller celebrations.
Half-Day Wedding Collection — £945Around six hours of tailored coverage.
Full-Day Wedding Experience — £1,525Around ten hours, allowing me to tell the story from preparations into the evening.
Don't compare photographers on price alone. Compare style + experience + coverage + what you receive + how much you actually trust them.
Make sure you actually like them
Seriously. Your photographer is around for a lot of your wedding. I'll meet your family, your wedding party, your grandparents and probably the uncle who has appointed himself your second photographer. You need to feel comfortable around the person behind the camera. Because when you're comfortable, your photographs feel like you.
Documentary or posed photography?
If the idea of posing for hours makes you want to disappear, look for a photographer with a documentary approach. Most of my day is spent observing rather than directing. The hugs. The tears. The glances.
Your friends being ridiculous. The little things happening while you're somewhere else entirely.
I'll still guide you for portraits and organise your family photographs. But I don't want photography to become the main event. Your wedding should feel like a wedding, not a photoshoot.
Do they need to have photographed your venue before?
No. It's a bonus, not a requirement. A professional wedding photographer should be able to walk into a new venue, understand the light and find beautiful locations. Kent has everything from barns and manor houses to registry offices, hotels, churches and coastal weddings. Being able to adapt matters far more than photographing the same venue every weekend.
Check the boring stuff
Not glamorous. Very important. Before paying your booking fee, check: Are they insured?Do they have backup equipment?What happens if they're ill?How are your photographs backed up?When will your gallery arrive?Will you receive previews?How long is your gallery available? You shouldn't need to worry about these things on your wedding day. That's exactly why your photographer should have already thought about them.
Read the reviews differently
Don't just look at five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.
Look for patterns in what couples actually say.
“They made us feel comfortable.”
“We barely noticed them.”
“They captured moments we didn't even see.”
“They were brilliant with our family.”
“They kept everything calm.”
Those comments tell you what having that photographer at your wedding actually feels like.
Finally, trust your gut
You've narrowed it down to two photographers. You love both portfolios. Their prices are similar. Their reviews are great. Now ask yourself: Whose photographs can you imagine being yours? And:
Who would you actually want beside you on your wedding morning? That's probably your answer.
Quick Questions About Wedding Photography in Kent
When should we book our 2027 wedding photographer?
Once your date and venue are confirmed, start looking. Popular Saturdays can book well in advance.
Is six hours of wedding photography enough?
Absolutely, for some weddings. Six hours works brilliantly when you want a specific portion of the day documented rather than preparations through to dancing.
Do we need two photographers?
Usually, no. A second photographer can be useful for larger weddings, different getting-ready locations or additional perspectives.
What if we're awkward in photographs?
Almost every couple tells me this.
You don't need to know how to pose.
That's my job.
I'll give you direction when you need it and leave you alone when you don't.
What is documentary wedding photography?
It's photography focused on real moments rather than constantly staging them.
Think less “stand there and smile at me” and more “enjoy your wedding and let me document it.”
Looking for a Kent Wedding Photographer for 2027?
I'm Georgina, the photographer behind Emilia Michaels Photography, photographing weddings throughout Kent and across the South East. My approach is relaxed, documentary-led and slightly editorial. I want the beautiful portraits. But I also want your mum wiping away a tear, your friends howling during the speeches, the champagne being poured and your grandparents dancing when they think nobody is watching. Because those are usually the photographs that become priceless.
If you're planning your 2027 Kent wedding and want photographs that feel like your day rather than a day-long photoshoot, I'd love to hear what you're planning.
Explore my wedding photography collections, browse real weddings or get in touch to check your date.
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