What is your most memorable wedding?
The first wedding I ever photographed was on a super hot July day at a beautiful barn, it was incredible, just hot!
The couple wanted a really chilled out vibe, with everyone relaxing and enjoying the day, that included the food. Around 2pm a Tesco van arrived and the bride hopped in and started unloading picnic platters, drinks and bags of crisps, all the guests lined up and carried bags and bags to the tables and dug into the food.
As the evening sunset began, we spotted a Waitrose van slowly making its way up to the road towards the barn, I looked at the bride and she smiled "What can I say, sometimes you have to spoil yourself and get the good desserts from Waitrose". We laughed as we went help unload desserts and freshly chilled wine from the van.
Can't say I've ever seen another wedding where the bride unloads a Tesco van, but it was an awesome day!
Describe your style in 5 adjectives.
Authentic
Fun-Filled
Colourful
Celebration
Happy
What about your business are you most proud of?
That when you look at my photos, you don't see a pose, you see the couple, you get a sense of who they are. You see the way the smile, the way they move, it's them.
What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?
I have so many!!!
But the BIG tip is to remember to have fun with it. It's very easy to get bogged down and overwhelmed when planning your big day it suddenly feels like a giant tasks, so find ways to enjoy the planning experience. Have a date night where you only eat 20 different types of cake with the excuse you're trying to find the right flavour for your wedding cake. Play 90s cheesey pop and dance around your kitchen because you're reheasing your first dance. Sing terrible karaoke 'cos you want to be able to sing along with your band.
Create fun, silly moments even whilst planning your wedding, to look back on.
What is your favourite personal touch you have seen at a wedding?
Rather than a guest book, one couple cut out a hundred white fabric triangles. They laid them out on a table with fabric pens and glitter and asked guests to decorate one each. After the wedding, they sewed them all together to make the most INCREDIBLE bunting, it's still hanging up in their flat!
What is the No. 1 photo that you think every couple should take?
Generations. I never expected that to be one of my favourite photos, but it's so rare to have everyone together (I'm writing this whilst we're in the pandemic, so it feels especially true) that having that photo you with your grandparents will feel even more special in the years to come.
What is the most original photo you’ve been asked to take at a wedding?
Sea wine! I shot a beach wedding, but what I didn't know was that the couple had instructed all their guests to bring their swimsuits. Around 3pm all the guests and the couple got changed and ran into the sea whilst carrying inflatable flamingos and enjoyed an afternoon swim. The mother of one of the grooms ran in after them with a bottle of wine yelling "you forgot your SEA WINE". Drinking a bottle of champagne whilst in the sea feels incredibly decadent and it's an experience I highly recommend.
What do you recommend for a rainy day wedding?
Bulk buy clear umbrellas from Amazon, honestly clear umbrellas are PERFECT. They don't create any weird shadows or colours and you can see everyone's faces as they jump in puddles.
Describe how you got into photography.
I have loved photography for years and my first Christmas with my partner he presented me with my first "grown-up" camera. I don't think he had any idea what he started, but that camera didn't leave my hand and was the start of my career as a photographer.