It took us forever to write this review because every time we started, it got all emotional. It’s hard to put into words everything we think about Mark's services as after spending our wedding day with him, it kind of feels like we're reviewing a member of our family. :)
We got married at the Inn on the Lake in Glenridding which is a very popular venue. Sure enough there are a number of photographers who work in the area but I can’t say we had an easy time finding the right one. (Disappointingly a surprising amount of popular photographers forget how special the occasion is for the couple and that all interactions are part of the service even at the enquiry stage.)
Long story short, after speaking to a number of photographers, I knew I would choose Mark at the very first interaction, even before I've gone through his images at length! From the first moment on, Mark spoke to me with such excitement and enthusiasm which made me feel really special and reassured that our day will go smoothly.
Now I'm not camera shy but we're both on the anxious side as people, plus we were worried about the added the nerves of the day so I knew that finding the right person for our photos would be the most important job. The photos are one thing but trust me on this one, it has to feel right with the person.. There are I'm sure many skilled photographers out there who have studied for years and can work with lights and produce great images. However, your wedding is much more of a personal and intimate experience than just photographs. Capturing the essence of your memories and the flavour of the day in pictures requires a whole lot more than just skill with a camera.
Enter Mark..
All the way through the preparation stages, every time I spoke to Mark he was warm, kind and caring. I was confident that he would be the right person for the job and I wasn’t wrong. From the first second of the day to the last we felt looked after & listened to. Mark made us both feel comfortable and calm. He got on great with us and all of our guests & soon enough it was like we had known him for years and he was part of the family.
If you want a lot of posed family pictures and pre-planned shots, sure, Mark will do it for you (with unworldly patience I might add - side note; plan ahead for keeping your guests in check when it comes to requesting group photos), however that is not why Mark’s photos are incredibly special.
Capturing YOU, the very essence of you, the best version of you but it a way that is real and still you - that is Mark’s exceptional talent. One that requires intuition, care, an exceptional eye for emotions behind moments & dedication.
Throughout the day he guided us gently, whilst also listening to our thoughts. He’d do absolutely anything to get it right, whether that was climbing on top of furniture (or parts of a steamer boat) or moving fifty chairs out of the way at the speed of lightning.
After the wedding the care and warmth did not stop (I mean he’s a lovely person so that’s sort of a given). In a couple of days we received a sneak peak package of amazing shots and soon after we got our full wedding story with the most beautiful photos!
They are so much more than pictures though. Everything and I mean everything is in them! Our whole day, our story, our emotions. We look at the pictures and immediately we’re transported back in time to those special moments and relive all the feelings! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you Mark for creating a miracle of a wedding story for us, you’re truly amazing!