What is your most memorable wedding?
They're all memorable to me but on wedding absolutely has to be Ben + Katie's wedding at Preston Court in the height of Summer 2022. An all-out gorgeous day from start to finish with so much of their personality stamped into the day! It was the party of all parties and I'd love to be able to tell you in person rather than writing it all down here. But if you want you can find it on the wedding stories section of my website.
Describe your style in 5 adjectives.
Documentary, timeless, relaxed and emotional imagery
What about your business are you most proud of?
The relationship I have with my couples and the guests on the day. I have been told time and time again from people how they've felt so relaxed around me and like I've just been another guest at the wedding, but one that happens to be pretty handy with a camera :-)
What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?
I could jokingly say to make sure you book me or to get your favourite suppliers booked as early as possible (the latter part is important). But my number one tip would be to give yourselves time; and I don't mean waiting for ages to get things done, I mean give yourselves time on the day to go with the flow. Don't book in too rigid a schedule with too many things going on, it'll make you focus more on the things that are happening and less on what's really important, you guys and your guests. Remember your day should be enjoyable for everyone.
What is your favourite personal touch you have seen at a wedding?
I see so many personal touches at weddings but I think one of my favourites was at Tom + Phillipa's wedding where Phillipa had hand drawn all the table names as beautiful illustrations of Peak District edges. All framed and set on the tables to mark each one. One lucky person on each table got to keep one and I was lucky enough to be given a copy of my favourite of Bamford Edge.
Describe your typical process with a couple.
I am a huge believer in making sure my couples feel comfortable with me and likewise me with them. So I always like to make sure we can meet up in person or over a video call which is really easy to book in with me, I'll share a whole calendar of availability with you guys so you can pick what works for you. If you like me and you want to book after meeting me it's a super simple process of booking in (with a safe and secure contract) and I'm always at the end of the phone or email if you have any wedding queries at all. I'm a supportive person who really cares and gets invested in my clients.
What is the No. 1 photo that you think every couple should take?
Besides having some stunning portraits with the two of you I think it's important to make sure you grab a few photos with your nearest and dearest. As much as they won't be the most creative images in your gallery they will become the ones you love the most over the years and with my help guiding and planning them with you it won't mean endless hours standing round.
What is the most original photo you’ve been asked to take at a wedding?
I'm always looking to create original photos through my creative photography and documentary approach, usually the only requests I'll receive are for family portraits. The rest of the time my couples trust in my process of documenting and storytelling their day.
What do you recommend for a rainy day wedding?
Embrace the weather! I'm a storytelling wedding photographer and if rain is part of the day then it's part of the story to document. I don't mind throwing my coat on and sheltering my gear from the rain to get you some epic images if you're game for grabbing a brolly and coming with me for a few minutes. It's always good to have a venue which has a few places for great photos as well just in case it's one of those days where the rain won't give up!
Describe how you got into photography.
Typically a cliched photographer over here, I have always had a camera in my hand from being a young lad when my parents encouraged me to use a 35mm film point-and-click camera from a young age. My passion for photography really grew when I moved to the Peak District around the age of 16 where landscape and wildlife became a passion before photographing my first ever wedding for some close friends in 2011. I haven't looked back since and absolutely love being a wedding photographer.