What is your most memorable wedding?
I had not long started photography and had received a very last minute booking (The night before the wedding the bride contacted me)
I arrived at the venue as normal ready to capture however NO guests arrived, no bridal party arrived and I was left there for about an two hours before the bride & groom turned up rocking their everyday clothes!
((Without going into the personal details they very nearly weren't married that day!!))
When they arrived at the venue just before closing time, they were married with just them, their two witnesses and myself present and THEN just as they started to sign the register their guests arrived, we dressed the bride in the ceremony room and her friends proceeded to do some very quick hair and makeup touch ups & we continued to take the posed family photographs!
These are available on my Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/LouiseOgdenWeddingPhotography/photos/?tab=album&album_id=541071909287860
I certainly will not forget that day in a rush!
Describe your style in 5 adjectives.
Relaxed, Natural, Approachable, Affordable & Reliable
What about your business are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the fact that I managed to build Louise Ogden Wedding Photography into the successful company it is today with no photography or business experience or qualifications, just my high school GCSE grades and with no experience in the wedding industry!
Everything that I have learned has been via hands on experience and I think this is why I have become as successful as I am as that experience is invaluable!
What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?
I have two top tips! The first from a business point of view is to always look at client reviews & testimonials to get a true impression of the company you are looking at hiring!
AND from personal experience... Don't try to please everyone! It is YOUR big day! Of course take advice and opinions from your loved ones but remember this is your day!
What is your favourite personal touch you have seen at a wedding?
It always brings a tear to my eye when couples included a loved one who has passed away, whether this is a by placing picture of them on the head table / in the function room, dedicating a song to them or even wearing an item of their clothing as part of their wedding attire!
Describe your typical process with a couple.
Upon inquiry I will discuss my different packages available to the couple so they can choose what level of coverage is best for them. I send over examples of my past work & client reviews and once they are certain they wish to book in We can either do that via email or in person ( A booking contract is filled in with me and them keeping a copy) and then we have a final meeting about 4 weeks before the wedding to go over in more detail their day, times & photo plan.
Couples are welcome to contact me at any point if they have any additional questions they want answering or even if they just want a chat
What is the No. 1 photo that you think every couple should take?
I always take time to get some time to take images of just the couple alone, I only have 3 images of myself and my husband from our wedding and they are most precious to me, I wish we had more as it feels like we didn't see each other much on the day
What is the most original photo you’ve been asked to take at a wedding?
Oh gosh! A few years ago me & the grooms men disappeared to capture a fun photo that the groom wanted to do to surprise his new wife! We went down to the pool , with rubber ducks, armbands and shower caps, and got a fantastic shot of them all jumping into the pool and then another in the hot tub!
Managed to keep it a secret until the couple received their images on USB!
What do you recommend for a rainy day wedding?
As I shoot documentary style if its raining I position myself inside or under a shelter to capture any outside images such as arrival at the venue and as long as the couple is happy to have a few posed images outside in the drizzle, then lets go for it! If its heavy rain we use the inside of the venue to capture images and should the clouds clear up for us later on head outside!
Describe how you got into photography.
I started doing portrait photography in 2006 when my daughter was born as I found there was a serious lack of affordable, reliable and down to earth photographers, I had always enjoyed taking images so i just practiced with my daughter & friends children! and then when we married in 2008 and struggled to find a photographer it solidified my desire to expand and provid wedding photography too!
I have always enjoyed taking images so it was just a natural progression into the business really!