What is your most memorable wedding?
Obviously our own !!!
Of my clients weddings, the one which was supposed to be a beach wedding just before sunset. Unfortunately, the limousine driver (with the bride and bridesmaids on board) got lost and finally arrived at the venue almost 2 hours late. Despite the additional challenges of shooting in the dark, I still managed to capture excellent images of the event for the bride and groom.
Describe your style in 5 adjectives.
Documentary, passionate, enthusiastic, reliable, competitive
What about your business are you most proud of?
Consistently capturing excellent memorable images for every bride and groom on their special day, and at a very competitive price. I also worked as an accredited freelance Trainer for Nikon Middle East and North Africa, running Photographic courses in Dubai and Qatar from 2014 until we left the U.A.E. in 2016 to move back to Hampshire.
What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?
Book a professional Photographer. Shortly after your wedding, the flowers will have wilted, the food will have been eaten and the limousine ride will also be a distant memory. You will only have the dress and suit (which you will probably never wear again) and your photographs as lasting reminders of your big day, and it is great fun reliving the day by looking through all the excellent photographs later in life.
What is your favourite personal touch you have seen at a wedding?
I personally love signing prints, since the guests comments create a superb personal and memorable souvenir of the special day.
On one wedding that I covered, the couple had napkins printed with a cartoon drawing of their engagement photograph.
Describe your typical process with a couple.
Meet up to discuss any particular requirements and get to know each other (plus take engagement photos and / or the image for the signing print, if required), and visit the wedding venue (if time permits).
Arrive at the venue at least 30 minutes before the booked time, to check out the lighting and location possibilities.
Capture the bride and groom preparation shots, the bride arriving at the venue, the wedding ceremony including signing the register, the couple leaving, group shots (both at the wedding venue and reception), bride and groom portraits, the reception itself, individual shots of speakers and guests reactions to the speeches, cutting the cake, the first dance plus many candid shots throughout the day.
Immediately upon returning home after the wedding, upload all images onto two separate disc drives (for backup) and start retouching.
Upload retouched images into dedicated gallery, release images after payment made, then supply backup copy of all images on DVD / USB stick to couple.
What is the No. 1 photo that you think every couple should take?
Holding hands and the bouquet whilst gazing lovingly into each others eyes
What is the most original photo you’ve been asked to take at a wedding?
Image showing tattoes on bride's back, with couple holding hands plus their large dog in their arms
What do you recommend for a rainy day wedding?
Umbrellas - so I can capture amazing photographs outdoors using reflections in the puddles
Describe how you got into photography.
My grandfather gave me a Kodak Box Brownie camera as my 7th birthday present. Determined not to be defeated, I fought for a couple of years getting acceptable images out of this "camera". I started doing an early morning paper round when I was 10 years old, which paid for my first "real" camera (a 35mm film pocket rangefinder), then my first 35mm film SLR camera with lenses. I also joined the local Photographic Society to learn how to continually improve my skills further, and haven't looked back since.