Q&A with photographer with Jaine Briscoe-Price: Expert wedding photography trends and tips

Looking for expert wedding photography advice from one of the local wedding industry’s finest? We’re thrilled to introduce renowned professional wedding photographer Jaine Briscoe-Price, where she shares her invaluable insights into capturing the magic of your big day.

With more than two decades of experience and a signature style that blends timeless elegance with authentic storytelling, Jaine Briscoe-Price has become a trusted name for couples seeking exceptional wedding photography. In this exclusive Q&A, Jaine answers our top questions from how to choose the right photographer, to tips for feeling comfortable in front of the camera, and what how to authentically capture your guests on the day.

Whether you're planning an intimate elopement or a grand celebration, this Q&A offers essential guidance straight from a seasoned pro. Perfect for couples who want their memories preserved beautifully and professionally, this is your chance to get inside the mind of one of the UK’s leading wedding photographers.

Your perfect wedding day starts with the perfect photographer. Read on for Jaine’s advice, tips, and her approach to telling your love story through the lens.

bride and groom with burnt orange theme, bride's veil blowing in the wind

How long will it take before we can see our photos after the big day?

This is a huge question... and one that often causes issues for many couples.

Some photographers deliver a small gallery (sneak-peek) of about 20 images within 48 hours… the highlight shots for you to share whilst away on honeymoon, followed by all the edited images in a gallery some weeks later.

This is where it can cause an issue; editing a whole gallery of 1,000 images (and some hand over many, many more) takes a great deal of time… and in full wedding season, where a photographer might have 2-3 weddings in a week, it becomes a challenge to not get behind in their workflow!

You will have an agreed timeframe in your contract, but often I see couples expressing their dismay on social media as the agreed 8 weeks becomes 12 or even 16 weeks.

The key for all photographers is to keep each couple well informed, especially if other factors such as illness might have caused the additional delay, to prevent couples becoming disillusioned with any delays, however it is also the photographer’s responsibility to realistically manage their diaries and workflow.

I actually approach this element differently, preparing the images within 2-3 days for an in person viewing over a picnic & fizz lunch, where the couple select their favourite photographs for their bespoke album. This method means I only re-touch the favoured 100-200, with their album being designed, printed and handed over in person within 12 weeks. Again we are all different and offer different services – it’s about choosing who is right for you!.

black and white image of a couple sitting on a park bench - engagement shoot

What can we expect from an engagement shoot – is it worth it?

Yes, for sure! This is a great way to get to know your photographer, put any front-of-camera nerves at bay and also, if you have children, enable them to see how fun it can be. So, go ahead and put your mind at ease for the big day!

There’s no need to have the shoot at your venue. It’s not a trial run for your experienced photographer but more a chance for you to become familiar with their relaxed, directional style with a few hints and tips to gain the best imagery, angles and expressions in the most natural way.

I arrange a viewing of the resulting pictures, to let the couple see how great they look, and explain why I might have shot from above or even on my belly on the floor! The viewing also establishes a set of their favourites which gives me a visual representation of their preferences too. Often my couples then ask for their favourite to be mounted and framed, which guests can sign on the wedding day.

Check out my blog for more on engagement shoots: jainebriscoe-price.co.uk/engagement-shoots-for-fun-and-confidence

What can we expect from our photographer on the big day?

Every photographer will approach your wedding differently; some might have a more relaxed, candid style, while others work to a more structured approach.

You'll have selected your photographer with care having met them, or at least Zoomed, to see if your personalities fit - after all you wouldn’t want a stranger taking your pictures and mingling with your guests all day, would you?

I believe in a very personal approach using the pre-wedding shoot to get to know the couple, followed by a viewing and meeting to establish a list of the most important people (family and perhaps a friend travelling from abroad) that you really want to include in specific shots.

On the day you need a photographer who's punctual, appropriately dressed for your wedding location and style, whether a tippee in a field or a city centre Cathedral and a polite, calm, professional manner.

They need professional indemnity and public liability insurance and to be fully versed with the timings of the day, key contact numbers if there are multiple addresses (from hotel to dress, ceremony and reception venue), plus a short list of family shots if you wish to include them.

Your photographer should work to an agreed method, whether working quietly in a more reportage style, or inspiring some inter-personal activity with bridesmaids, groomsmen etc, this is why you have a pre-wedding discussion.

Bear in mind, there are things your photographer will need from you too. They'll need to be fed and again this should have been agreed in advance, so they might re-charge both camera and their own batteries during your wedding breakfast. A wedding photographer works pretty full on from bridal prep to first dance and often more.

Agreeing a specific person in your bridal party to help gather guests is also essential as this prevents delay in any group or family shots, keeping the rhythm flowing and ensuring every specifically requested photograph is taken.

informal yet staged shot of bridal party in burnt orange colour palette in stately home venue with leather sofas

bridal party sit by the river in Chester on benches, bride and groom on one bench groomsmen and bridesmaids on the other

We don't want to spend hours on our group shots. How can we capture our guests without taking too much time away from celebrations?

Easy! An experienced photographer will know all the key shots that will organically happen throughout the day: Mum and bride while finishing bridal prep, father and bride at the reveal and entrance down the aisle, groom and parents just before the ceremony and so on. Therefore key group shots can be kept to a minimum of six (or perhaps eight if there are divorced parents) taking a maximum of 15 minutes!

Here are some examples of the groups you might prioritise:

Couple plus one set of parents
As above with siblings
As above with partners and grandparents
Then repeat

The remaining guests can be captured in many ways from arrival (perhaps with a second photographer on the case), to candids during the drinks reception, or the ever popular table dash, which I offer in an alternative way, taking 15 minutes and capturing the couple with every guest present.

As a wedding photographer for more than 25 years, I have fine-tuned my approach and timings to give the couple plenty of social time, while making the most of the venue, the grounds and guests.

Find out more at jainebriscoe-price.co.uk