What is your most memorable wedding?
My own, of course! I still treasure that day and all that it's brought me, in terms of love, joy, companionship, children and, of course, the hard work that's gone in to it to make it succeed.
Describe your style in 5 adjectives.
Friendly ( so much nicer than saying customer-centric, don't you think?), flexible (to quote the burger advert, "you wan'it, you got it!"), artistic, technical (yes, you can be both...) and probably most important, helpful. Our ethos is that we're here to serve.
What about your business are you most proud of?
We're not a sausage-machine churning out wedding after wedding, expecting our customers to conform to our way of doing things and then wait 6 months for the results. Every wedding is hugely important to us and we'll do our utmost to make sure you're happy with the result.
What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?
Think of the planning as being a bit like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, except you have unlimited 'phone a friend' and 'ask the audience opportunities'. Get advice from as many people (with actual, current experience) as early as possible in the planning process so you don't go down any rabbit holes. If you engage Fraser- Cave Photography, we'll happily give you advice on anything, where we have actual, current experience ;-) of course!
What is your favourite personal touch you have seen at a wedding?
Oh boy, it was a real tear-jerker. The person asked to read at the wedding told the couple they'd read the words of a song, but on the day, after reading the first line they started to sing and with each verse more and more joined in a flashmob. Fortunately I'd been warned it was going to happen so could position myself but, even so, I was having to shoot through my tears!
Describe your typical process with a couple.
I love to be able to engage early, preferably with a call to get a broad idea of what you want, confirm timings, locations, potential shooting styles etc. However, the really important elements are the face to face meetings and I'm happy to have as many of those as you need. A key milestone will be the engagement shoot where we can spend at least a couple of hours discussing options, trying some poses and getting you both as comfortable with being in front of the camera (and me!) as possible. After this, you'll be able to use your personal online gallery to have a look at some editing options and give me feedback about what works for you. Nearer the date I'll need your ideal shot list and will have have liaised with your venue well in advance of the wedding day.
What is the No. 1 photo that you think every couple should take?
I don't think that's really for any photographer to say, I believe we should listen to what you want. Sure, I'll recommend poses for you and help you with them, but I can also guarantee the photo you love best from the day is when you're at your most relaxed and have probably forgotten I'm there.
What is the most original photo you’ve been asked to take at a wedding?
I love using smoke, or sparklers, or even rain because they always create something unrepeatable and can turn good into great.
What do you recommend for a rainy day wedding?
It rained on our wedding day, so I suggest you do what we did, embrace what it offers: reflections in puddles, peoples expressions, the huddles under umbrellas, on the subject of which, there are some really dynamic photos that can be had using a dirty great white umbrella and flash-gun!
Describe how you got into photography.
My grandfather gave me a Kodak Instamatic on my 11th birthday and my first photo was of a daffodil. When the film came back from the printers weeks later and it was just as bright and vibrant as it had been in my mind's eye, I was hooked.