What is your most memorable wedding?
Jen and Simon in May 2015. It was a Scottish RAF wedding with an hilariously naughty bride and groom, a very mischievous sword party and far too many bare bottoms. It was the most fun wedding I have photographed, I don't think I've ever laughed so much! The fact that I was so willing to get involved in the mad antics and have a giggle was the reason Jen and Simon said they'd chosen me!
Describe your style in 5 adjectives.
Earthy, fun, artistic, natural and contemporary
What about your business are you most proud of?
I am most proud building my business from scratch by myself and the fact that it grows naturally every year.
What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?
I would say to plan in more time than you think you need for each aspect of the day as things do inevitably run over and and the couple then feel rushed. I love seeing couples being able to fully enjoy the day.
What is your favourite personal touch you have seen at a wedding?
I love it when the bride, her mum and girlfriends all get involved in decorating the wedding reception room. I've seen some really inventive and absolutely beautiful touches and it means so much more when they've all put so much time and effort in to it.
Describe your typical process with a couple.
An enquiry comes in and I respond as quickly as humanly possible but always within 24 hours. I ask on my form how they would like to converse in the beginning but it's generally via email. We set up a convenient time and place to meet up as I think it's so important to meet before taking any bookings. The videographer is one of the suppliers that you'll likely spend all day with so it's really important to me that my couple feel totally at ease in my company.
During the meeting we chat through the timings and details of the day. This is even before they book as I think it helps them to iron out any potential issue areas as for most, it's their first time planning a wedding whereas I have attended over 160 so my experience is often helpful here.
I ask them to have a chat together afterwards about how they both feel about me, and then let me know if they'd like to go ahead. I'm very opposed to sales tactics and pressure selling so it's just the 'nice chat and see what happens' kind of approach.
Once the booking is made a booking form is sent out to gather all their info then the deposit invoice and the contract are sent. Once the deposit is paid then the date is all theirs.
Next we arrange the engagement session, to be held on a date and at a location that is suited to them. This helps us better get to know each other and I often find that it takes all the nerves out of the photos on the day. Some couples bring their children and others bring their dogs. I'm very easy going about who comes along, it's their shoot after all :)
I keep in fairly constant communication throughout and offer any help and advice that I can along the way.
I sometimes meet again with the couple and we often arrange a walk around the venue to choose good spots for photos. This time is to iron out any issues and dispel remaining concerns before the big day. This isn't always necessary and, again, is up to my couples.
I will check in with my couples the week before the wedding to make sure they are really happy with everything and then eventually the big day arrives!!
What is the No. 1 photo that you think every couple should take?
Some couples don't want a portraits of just the two of them on the wedding day but I think this is a must. They often feel that it will look staged and they are uncomfortable having their photos taken but I have many ways of putting people at ease and capturing lovely natural images. The engagement session helps so much with this.
Aside from having some beautiful photos of just the two of them, it also gives them a chance to get away from the madding crowd for 20 minutes and have a little time to themselves.
What is the most original photo you’ve been asked to take at a wedding?
It has to be the one of the bride standing in the middle of a line of scotsmen wearing kilts and flashing their bottoms at me. I saw a little more than I wanted to that day :D
What do you recommend for a rainy day wedding?
Just roll with it. If it's part of your day then we will do our best to incorporate it.
Describe how you got into photography.
I went on a round the world trip and took with me my little DSLR. I fell in love on that trip ;)