Let’s be honest: the phrase “recommended supplier” gets thrown around a lot in the wedding world. It sounds prestigious. It sounds important. But here’s the thing – as a seasoned professional wedding photographer, being on a venue’s preferred list might not be the holy grail it’s often made out to be.
And for couples doing their homework, this shouldn’t be the deciding factor either, unless it’s for the RIGHT reasons (which we will come on to)!
Experience Trumps Association
You can be on no venue lists and still shoot circles around someone who’s photographed at that venue maybe a dozen times. Why? Well great photography doesn’t come from familiarity with the fire exits and light switches. It comes from instinct, vision, and a creative obsession with storytelling. Not to mention years of experience!
A professional photographer knows how to adapt to any environment – whether it’s a grand Yorkshire manor or a quirky barn with a disco ball and a curious goat.
The light changes? We adapt.
The schedule shifts? We pivot.
The registrar or vicar says “No photos from this angle”?
We find the shot that works.
That’s not something a venue recommendation guarantees.
Recommended Lists Can Be… Politics in a Pretty Dress
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, being on a recommended supplier list has more to do with networking than talent. There are venues that only recommend those who’ve paid to be there, or those they’ve worked with socially, not necessarily the ones delivering the best results.
That doesn’t mean all venue-recommended photographers are subpar – not at all! I myself am recommended at two amazing venues but that recommendation comes down to my working relationship with the venue and not based on a bias of paying them in one form or another. We share exactly the same work ethics and ethos – it’s all about the couple!
Your Wedding Is Unique – Your Photographer Should Be Too
When venues hand out a list of “preferred suppliers,” it’s sometimes (and I stress sometimes) designed for ease, not artistry.
And while that might make sense for things like chair covers (sorry, chair covers), your wedding photos last forever. You deserve someone who gets your vibe, your style, your priorities – not just someone who knows where the kitchen door is.
Some of the best weddings I’ve photographed were at venues I’d never stepped foot in before.
What Actually Matters in a Wedding Photographer
Put recommendations to one side for a moment. Focus on this:
-
A killer portfolio with real wedding moments, not just styled shoots.
-
Glowing reviews that speak about how you were made to feel, not just how you looked.
-
Someone who gets just as excited about your dog in a bowtie as you do (that’ll defo be me then).
-
A photographer who brings calm, confidence, and a cracking sense of humour to the day.
That’s the photographer you want – being recommended is a bonus!
Final Thought: Don’t Follow the Herd
It’s your wedding. Not the venue’s. Not the planner’s. Not the florist’s.
You get to choose the people who are going to tell your story. If your chosen photographer happens to be on the recommended list – great!
If not? Don’t sweat it for a second.
Hire the person whose work stops you mid-scroll. The one who makes you laugh in their emails. The one who says “I’ve got you,” and truly means it.
That’s the photographer you’ll remember.
And guess what? You’ll have that AMAZING day!
So why this blog post? I mean, I am recommended at two incredible venues and for that I’m ALWAYS grateful for, but the recommendation from these venues is based on everything above – what I bring to the party, how I can make you feel on the day and these are also venues that I personally recommend too because I know that THEY bring the same as I do to the wedding day! It’s about you the bride and groom and the venues who recommend me share that too!
