My Approach

Hello, and welcome!

I can’t remember a time when I haven’t been passionate about art and stories. I’ve been photographing weddings since 2008 but before that I was an animator. It was a dream job that I loved for many years, then I discovered photography and realised that there is a lot in common with telling stories through film and animation and finding stories through a camera lens.

A wedding day is full of emotions, humour, moments of belly laughs and tears, some of them you will be part of, but so many of them will be happening all around you and will pass you by in the excitement of the day. I see my job as an observer and storyteller, not as a director or distraction, so your day unfolds naturally.

If you would like to read my e-brochure, organise to meet over coffee for a chat, ask a question or check to see if I’m free for your wedding date, just fill out my contact form below. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

The Preparations

I love this part of the day! I start wherever the bride is getting ready and spend a couple of hours planting myself in the middle of things. I don’t do any posing at all, I just want to discreetly capture the atmosphere, the nerves, the fun and the buzz of anticipation. It’s also a good time to get people used to me being there. If the groom is nearby I will also try to sneak off for a little bit to catch some of his morning too.

The Ceremony

I aim to arrive at the ceremony, whether it’s at a church or on the side of a mountain, about half an hour before the bride. This gives me a chance to be there when the groom and the guests are arriving and greeting each other and nervously waiting for the arrival of the bride. When the ceremony is underway I try to find a spot, usually to the side of the altar, where I can observe everything but where I’m out of the way. All the attention at this point should be on you guys, not on me! This is also why I don’t use Flash during the ceremony as having a bright light going off while everyone is quietly watching you exchange vows can be very distracting.

The Portraits

After the ceremony is usually a good time to get those all-important family portraits, I will have asked you for a list of your groups (not too many!) and if possible we will do those right there wherever you had your ceremony. If that’s not possible we will do them as soon as we get to the reception venue. I want to keep them laid back and I don’t want to keep people too long so everyone is happy and smiling. At this point I hope you will let me steal just the two of you away for some portraits too. Now, I know you probably don’t like having your photo taken (me neither!) but I promise I will keep it light and fun and I won’t be asking you to suddenly become a runway model (unless you are one, in which case this should be easy). Instead I like to just chat with you and let things unfold naturally and I might do a little bit of direction but mostly we’ll just be having a bit of fun with it. I’ll take as much time as you want to give me, if you say we only have 10 minutes then we’ll get some nice portraits, but if you’re up for spending 30 mins we’ll be giving the creative process some time and we will get something even better.

The Reception

Ok, so from here on in it’s pure Documentary Photography and this is when I’m at my happiest. I will mix and mingle amongst your guests looking for those moments of laughter and humour and emotion. These are all the most important people in your life gathered together under one roof and I want to capture all of it for you to remember forever.

The Speeches

Usually, my packages include my staying until you are announced in to sit for dinner, but you can extend that through the Speeches and the First Dance. Speeches are full of emotions… they can be happy, sad, hilarious, unpredictable and the wonderful thing is by this stage everyone is relaxed and has completely forgotten that I’m there.

The Dancing

I don’t just stay for your First Dance, I stay for some time after, I want to capture your Granny dancing with the Best Man and your college friends doing that dance they always do and everyone letting their hair down.