What if you had wedding photography you regret?
I recently showed my cousin the images from a wedding shoot. The edits were a labour of love. This was made worthwhile by a delighted bride who had several of the candid and posed images displayed on canvases in her home. During our pre-shoot consultation, it was important for me to get an understanding of the aspects of their wedding which were most important to capture. Aside from posed photos, which were important as it was rare all the family were together, they wanted to convey their love through candid moments and also their love for their children.
My cousin loved my work. But began to remark on her own wedding photography & videography regrets. She had gotten a bundle deal from a venue which included photography and videography, at the time this seemed great. However there was limited contact prior to her big day. Her consultation was little more than the ironing out formalities and as she wasn't in direct contact with her videographer or photographer until the busy day, there was little time to talk so they really couldn't know what was most important to her.
The resulting photography felt impersonal, as if she was just another client and they were going through a set of poses and motions not necessarily suited to her. She wasn't given the opportunity to review any of the images, which she felt was reflected in the final images not being as flattering as they could have been. Her children, who are extremely important to her, were barely photographed and most of the candid shots lacked emotion and story. This hurt, as though the day was joyful, a large part of reliving it was through the images captured, which in this case didn't do her day justice. Unfortunately, I don't shoot family events as I want to be present, and as a groomsman this would have been particularly difficult. Nonetheless, this has reinforced to me the fact that every bride and wedding is unique, requiring individual focus to really capture the aspects which are important to that couple.
Will we be a good fit?
I've photographed thousands of individuals, in both intimate studios and busy event settings. Some people are naturally confident around a camera, but if you're nervous, I promise to put you at ease. I'm an easy going, though focused photographer and I do genuinely enjoy the process.
I typically recommend a posed photography session at a convent point in the day, usually after the ceremony - alongside candid photographs throughout the day. It's also great to do a couples shoot later in the evening once the drinks have flown and the light is softer. More than anything, my aim is to tell the story of your day through a series of moving moments, doing justice to your special day and capturing the emotions of the people most important to you.
I love to have a chat and your guests will feel comfortable around me. That said, I'm not intrusive, I know above all I am present to serve a purpose and I will often go unnoticed. My editing process is discussed more below, but I do want to stress that I don't offer image manipulation as standard (i.e. removing elements from photos). Moreover my style will generally be in keeping with the aesthetic present on my website, though I am open to viewing Pinterest mood boards etc to see the feel you would like conveyed.
Whats my post processing like?
Taking beautiful photographs on the day is only part of my job. I spend significant time after the shoot, selecting and editing the best images. All final images are edited in colour, though some will also have copies delivered in custom black and white styles where this makes for a more emotive image. The editing process includes elements such as adjusting colours, temperature, emphasising the direction of light in images and various clarity and sharpness adjustments alongside cropping. This process makes a huge difference to the final album that is delivered and I use the leading industry software. The total number of images will vary, though for a full day (6-8hr) shoot you can expect around 400 of the best images, which tell the story of your special day.
All images are delivered digitally, with the option to purchase a USB with all the final images on. I can also offer curated premium albums featuring a selection of the very best images. I don't usually deliver the Raw images, as part of my responsibility is to select the best images and discard duplicates or anything unflattering. However, if you let me know in advance, I am happy to keep these aside and deliver them, but this comes at an extra cost which covers a large USB and postage.
When can I expect my images?
I will deliver sneak peak images on the day after your wedding. This will also include a selection from inside your venue and outside so you can get a feel for the colours used. This is a great opportunity for your input.
Final images are then delivered within 1 week for small ceremony only weddings or up to 4 weeks for larger full day weddings. This allows me the time to properly edit, cull, and review your images.
If I sound like the photographer you're looking for head over to my contact page and drop me a message. Please include the date and venue for your big day if you have one secured.