CAN WE MEET YOU BEFORE WE BOOK?
Yes of course. Although 9 out of 10 couples are happy to book without meeting before the big day a small number do prefer to meet up in person to discuss their wedding plans. If you’ve got this far I’m hoping you’ve taken a look at my portfolio of previous weddings. There is also a great deal of information on this page but if you just really need to meet me and make sure I’m real then I would be delighted to meet you either in Farnborough or Richmond-Upon-Thames, Tuesday – Thursday any time before 7pm.
DO YOU DO GROUP SHOTS?
Yes I do, and I do them well. I just don’t tend to show them on my website as, to be honest, I don’t feel formal group photos represent my skills as a documentary wedding photographer. Groups are relatively easy once you’ve been doing them for a few years and I prefer to showcase the much more difficult to achieve documentary photography that I excel at.
With that said it is worth noting that nobody at a wedding wants to be subjected to an hour or more of endless group photos in every combination imaginable. This is the quickest way to take the buzz out of any wedding so I recommend trying to stick to a half a dozen or so group photos which should take no more than 15 minutes to complete. It’s also a good idea to have all group photos completed during the drinks reception.
I’m here to help you get the most from your photography so if you need advice on this part of the day just ask.
Here are some essential group photos I recommend every couple should have:
1) Bride & Bridegroom with Parents
1b) + Siblings
2) Bride with Bridesmaids/Flower Girls
3) Bridegroom with Best Man/Ushers
Then add in some choices of your own:
4) Your choice
5) Your choice
6) Everyone (time and weather conditions permitting)
The above are usually relatively quick to set up and photograph leaving you and your guests to enjoy the drinks reception. For samples of my group photos please take a look further down this page.
CAN WE HAVE PHOTOS OF THE TWO OF US TOGETHER?
You bet! However long you want to spend on your photos of the two of you together is entirely up to you but I find around 15 minutes usually gives me enough time to capture a variety of images you will love. My style is to capture natural looking photos of the two of you together while avoiding over-elaborate poses and wedding cheese. My aim is always to give you photos that make you happy rather than make you cringe!
DO YOU PHOTOGRAPH WINTER WEDDINGS?
Yes and I love them. The light between November and January can be a real treat for a highly skilled photographer. Photography is all about light so my best advice is to have your ceremony as early as possible, no later than 2pm if possible. This opens up many more options for the photographer than a wedding where the couple emerge from the ceremony into complete darkness. If you would like group photos outside then this needs to be taken into consideration. As with any other aspects of your wedding day please feel free to ask my advice, I’m here to help you get the best possible photography.
DO YOU PHOTOGRAPH THE DETAILS?
Yes I do. You’ve probably spent ages choosing the details that make your wedding unique and I’m going to make sure they get documented. At the end of the day it’s my job to ensure you get a balance of images that capture the spirit of the day and all the effort you put into making it such a fab occasion.
WE LOVE BLACK & WHITE BUT WE WANT EVERYTHING IN COLOUR!
I LOVE BLACK & WHITE! As someone once said “If you photograph a person in colour you’re photographing their clothes, if you photograph a person in black & white you’re photographing their souls”. It’s my favourite photography quote so yes, do expect quite a bit of black & white in your coverage but yes, you’ll be getting plenty of colour as well, just not both at the same time. This is a good thing, trust me.
DO YOU WORK WITH A TEAM OF ASSISTANTS, LIGHTING DESIGNERS, VIDEOGRAPHERS, SECOND SHOOTERS?
That’s pretty much the opposite of what I do. I’m subtle. I don’t draw attention to myself and I don’t get in the way. That’s my style, it’s different to others but it’s what works for me. Here’s something to think about, I don’t use flash. Unless you’re getting married in a coal mine I’m going to use the available light. Nothing screams look at me more than a photographers flash going off every few seconds and guess what, everyone starts mugging for the camera instead of simply enjoying the wedding and being photographed being, well, themselves enjoying a wedding.
HOW FAR DO YOU TRAVEL?
I’m based in Farnborough, Hampshire and can drive so I can cover a wedding being held anywhere in the UK so yes, Kent is within my area.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE ILL?
I would have to be dead to miss your wedding but if I’ve just got a bit of a cold then nothing is going to stop me from being there. If it’s more serious I’ll get another photographer to stand in. Not just anyone, someone I would want to photograph my own wedding.
HOW DO WE BOOK?
Great. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed but first we have to make sure your date is secured. There are other couples getting married on the same day as you (shocking I know) and I can only be at one wedding so to make sure it’s yours I’ll need you to sign a contract and pay a £400 retainer. That’s it! Once that’s out of the way you can start shopping for bands, cakes, chocolate fountains and all the other fun stuff.
HELP! WE CAN’T AFFORD A PHOTOGRAPHER
That’s ok, a wedding is still a wedding whether you have a photographer or not. Plenty of people make do with photos guests have taken and that’s fine. With that said some people’s priorities quite often surprise me. I once met with a couple who had spent over £15,000 on flowers but had a photography budget of £500.
A good question to ask yourself is “what DO I need”?
- A Boy and Girl very much in love
– Their closest friends and family
– A posh frock for the Bride
– Some lovely flowers
– Excellent food and wine to thank everyone for coming
Sounds like a fantastic day. Wouldn’t it be great to have lovely photos to remember it all?
