What is your most memorable wedding?
All of them. Everyone is unique.
Describe your style in 5 adjectives.
Natural, documentary, reportage, artistic, discreet, modern.
What about your business are you most proud of?
Having so many happy couples recommend my services.
What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?
Style your wedding day the way you want it, not what relatives or friends have told you to do.
What is your favourite personal touch you have seen at a wedding?
Individual, personal messages to each guest placed on the tables thanking them for all they have done for the couple.
Describe your typical process with a couple.
Following the initial enquiry I arrange to visit you to hear your plans and you can view some of my work and ask me lots of questions. There is no hard sell and I leave you to discuss your thoughts. If you choose to book me a deposit is required to secure your date and price as many bookings are made one, two, three years in advance. A second payment is due a month before your wedding day with final payment afterwards. I arrange to meet with you both at the venue a few weeks before the big day. This meeting is so important. It gives us all a chance to get to know each other and for you to feel comfortable with me, the camera and how I will work on the day. We talk about timings, family dynamic, guests with special needs, group photos and so on. We look at locations for your couple photos and I suggest a few things that work well. This ensures that on the day I can be unobtrusive and you can enjoy your day to the full. This includes a quiet walk around the grounds with me some distance away with my big lens capturing some precious moments alone. For full day photography I arrive to capture your morning preparations and stay until late into the evening, way beyond your first dance, to photograph some of your evening celebrations. Your story is not complete without these.
I will spend several days editing using the latest professional software. Approximately two to three weeks later I upload a password protected highlights gallery for you to view. All of your images will be ready on USB a couple of weeks later. I also offer a range of albums. If you choose to add one to your collection, this can be done at time of booking or anytime before or after your wedding day. Details of information I need to begin designing your album will be sent to you. Once you are happy with the design, your album is printed by a professional album maker in the UK and delivered to you approximately one month later.
Many couples keep in contact with me and recommend me to friends and family and I often see them again at a wedding or return to photograph their children, which is lovely!
What is the No. 1 photo that you think every couple should take?
Photos of the couple alone. The day is such a whirlwind and apart from when you are eating and during the first dance you won't spend much time alone together.
What is the most original photo you’ve been asked to take at a wedding?
As my style is documentary, couples want me to capture the natural, unique, wonderful moments that happen all day.
What do you recommend for a rainy day wedding?
I have a white wedding brolly with me for couple photos, but please feel free to bring your own. Plus wellies! If you really don't want to go outside, plan B comes into operation. But photos with brollies are amazing!
Describe how you got into photography.
I have loved photography since I was given my first camera when I was about six. When I finished school I studied photography full time for three years. I worked in a commercial studio for a few years and at a University and then created Parkwin Photography in 2008.