What is your most memorable wedding?
Every wedding is memorable for different reasons, but the one that stands out most is probably when I was contacted by a photographer who had forgotten that she was booked to shoot a wedding that day, and asked me to step in with an hour's notice. As I arrived at the venue, I felt like a superhero, there to save the day.
I didn't have a cape though, or any brightly coloured, tight fitting clothing for that matter.
Describe your style in 5 adjectives.
Relaxed, meticulous, stylish, fun, inventive
What about your business are you most proud of?
I'm immensely proud of my clients' response to my work, and the high level of customer service that I strive to provide. Every client's journey starts with a personal meeting to discuss their needs. Apart from some international customers, each couple will enjoy a pre wedding shoot where I can find out more about them, as well as giving them the opportnity to have some lovely relaxed photos of the two of them together.
What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?
Never, ever be tempted to ask a family friend to photograph your wedding. Whilst it's tempting to save money, it almost always ends in tears.
What is your favourite personal touch you have seen at a wedding?
When the bride had secretly had the groom's late father's watch restored to give him on the day.
Describe your typical process with a couple.
Mine is a very personal service. I limit the number of weddings I shoot in a year to enable me to devote a huge amount of time and attention to your wedding. Each couple’s journey starts with a personal consultation. This usually takes place at my home, but during Covid, it migrated online, and some couples still prefer to meet this way for the first time.
Prior to the wedding, we meet for a relaxed photoshoot, during which I can learn more about you; what you like, what you don’t like, so that I know more about what will work on your wedding day.
My most popular wedding coverage is unlimited. I’m there for as long as you need me, so there’s no need to worry about additional charges. Following the wedding, if you are having an album, we meet again at my home to go through the photos and choose the ones for your album. I even provide lunch and prosecco. During the pandemic, these meetings moved online. I now offer a choice. If we meet online, you still get the same level of attention – but you have to make your own lunch.
The most rewarding part of the entire process for me, is the reaction of the couple when they see their album for the first time. This is my business, so I need to make money, but that one moment is the reason I do it.
What is the No. 1 photo that you think every couple should take?
There are two candidates. The first would be the big group shot. I know from couples that I’ve photographed previously, that it’s important to them to have a shot of everybody who was there on the day. It’s also a great moment of celebration.
The second would be the signing of the register. It’s really the reason why everybody is gathered. It’s sealing the deal!
What is the most original photo you’ve been asked to take at a wedding?
Some years ago I was photographing a military wedding, and was told that the Red Arrows would be flying low over the venue on their way back from an airshow. I thought it would be a fantastic shot, but also a nerve wracking one, as I would have only a fraction of a second to get the right image, and needed to get so many variables in the right place; the couple, the venue, the 9 red Hawk aircraft flying at high speed and very low from an undetermined direction.
I was quite relieved when I was told it had been cancelled at the last minute - although also disappointed.
What do you recommend for a rainy day wedding?
Embrace it!
There's no need to stress over a rainy day. Your photos won’t be worse if the weather is bad, just different. It's out of our control, so make the most of it. There's almost always a point in the day when the rain holds off and we can go outside, and it always results in great photos, using the reflections off the wet paving stones.
Describe how you got into photography.
When I was a student, I worked for Kodak, went on all their photography courses, and caught the photography bug. I carried on as an avid amateur whilst working in the commercial world. In 2005, I sold a business and decided to spend the rest of my working life doing what I really loved.