Describe your style in 5 adjectives.
Natural, relaxed, documentary, subtle and beautiful
What about your business are you most proud of?
Running your own business there are many things to be proud of, but the proudest thing for me is when people come back to me, and recommend me to others. One thing especially is a couple who's wedding photographs I took, and now we meet every year so I can photograph them and their beautiful children. It's lovely to have been there at the beginning of the joining of their two families and now to see them becoming their own family, it's very special.
What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?
It is your wedding and make sure you never loose sight of that. Your wedding should be a representation of you and your relationship. Don't feel obliged to do anything you don't want to or don't feel comfortable doing. Also enjoy every second and have lots of fun. As a photographer I also suggest have some time just the two of you and the photographer, couple shots are lovely. It also gives you some time to process the day, the two of you, well...and your photographer.
What is your favourite personal touch you have seen at a wedding?
I've seen many lovely things from homemade cakes; decoration; photographs of the couple as children, and the table names being special places that mean something to the happy couple. My favourite has to be a bride who made her own stunning wedding dress. What wonderful thing to have ben able to achieve.
What is the No. 1 photo that you think every couple should take?
Selfishly I would say a confetti shot, as I love all the movement and colour, and all the guests are so animated and happy, but really it should be a photograph of just the couple. I always make sure that I have sometime with the happy couple alone and away from everyone else. It gives them time to process the day so far and have a quiet moment. It also enables them to have a romantic and beautiful photograph. The couple shots are the ones that last many lifetimes, for future family members to hold on to.
What do you recommend for a rainy day wedding?
I always check the weather before every wedding day to make sure I'm prepared for whatever it brings. If it does rain, I always come ready with my gorgeous rainbow umbrellas. I think you should embrace whatever your day brings, and enjoy it. Sometimes the best photographs are those that you weren't anticipating taking.
Describe how you got into photography.
I have been interested in photography since a very young age. I go back to the days of film, and still have many of my old cameras.
I love the idea of capturing a moment that may otherwise be forgotten forever. I lost a very dear person to me when I was younger and when they passed I looked at the photograph I had of them and realised that there wouldn't be anymore. It was a very poignant moment for me, and subsequently photography and my photographs means so much to me, and to be able to capture these special moment and memories for other people for me is such a privilege.