For the most part of the day, my style is best described as documentary (or photojournalistic) mixed with some timeless, creative (or ‘fine art’) portraits. Capturing genuine, spontaneous emotion is the driving force behind my work and why I prefer to stand back and let your day unfold naturally, capturing the atmosphere, details and genuine affection that makes your day uniquely your own.
How I approach a (typical) wedding day
At some stages of the day I might ask you to move into better light, and during your couples portraits I’ll be there to guide and direct you as we shoot, but in general, I take a very hands off approach on a wedding day. You don’t need to pose or look at the camera, and I won’t ask you to fake anything, just be you, embrace the journey of your day and all the emotions that come with it. This way, your pictures will be an honest reflection of who you are as a couple and your one of a kind story.
Documenting your preparations is a great way to start the narrative of your day, especially if you’ve decided not to see each other before the ceremony. You get to see what your partner was doing and experience all the feels a second time around – of all our wedding pictures, the images that bring back the memories of that nervous energy and excitement are some of my favourites.
If you’re not doing a first look, next up will be your ceremony. Depending on the set up, I try my best to stand back, be as discreet as possible while moving around to cover different angles, capturing all the important moments as well as your guest’s reactions. During the vows and ring exchange I might come a bit closer if that’s ok with you, but my goal here is to try be as unobtrusive as possible.
After the ceremony, it’s time for some family formals. Trying to get everyone together can be a bit like herding cats, so I’ll ask you to decide on these combinations ahead of time. I’ll have a list with me, but I’ve found it’s best to designate someone to round everyone up, so these go as smoothly as possible. These pictures shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes. We’ll start with the biggest group first, and work down from there. Some of these will be looking at the camera, and for the rest I’ll try to get you to interact more naturally with each other.
During the apero I’ll wonder around capturing the atmosphere, taking some lovely natural, candid images of you and your loved ones, and generally being on the lookout for moments and emotions. If there are any more group pictures we missed in the previous session, now is a good time to take them.
Next up we have your portraits. Try to see this as a chance to relax and enjoy some time alone together away from your guests. We’ll start with a couple of pictures looking at the camera, and after that we’ll get moving. I love capturing my couples walking, being close with each other, unaware of the camera. You don’t need to pose, so please let that pressure fall away. Be yourselves, and do what comes naturally to you as a couple – and if something looks awkward I’ll tell you. I like to try and keep things as simple as possible here, 30 minutes in a preferably quiet place with some beautiful light is usually all we need. The final look and feel of these images is very much a collaboration between us, so try to let go, enjoy the process and embrace these moments together.
During dinner, I’ll usually take a small break to eat something while you’re eating (pictures of people eating aren’t usually a good look). If it’s possible for me to be seated at a table with guests or in a room off to the side so I’m close to the action that would be great, but we can talk about this beforehand to find a good solution. I’ll also be there to document any speeches, reactions to the speeches and in between courses I’ll move around, on the look out for more lovely moments and emotions.
After the cake cutting (if you’re having one) – it’s time to hit the dance floor! This is usually the first time my flash comes out. I’ll be there to capture your first dance, and the first 30 minutes of your party, when most guests will be on the dance floor at the same time (unless you’d like all the evidence from later on too).
After your wedding, the editing process begins. Your high-resolution JPEG images in colour and black and white will be ready to view via a private online gallery around 8-10 weeks after your wedding. Around 20% of your images will be in black & white, and if I think they work in colour and black & white, I’ll give you both versions. The final look and feel of your images will be a direct reflection of the energy of your day. Whether your day is high energy – filled with belly laughs and craziness, or it’s more serene, calm and intimate – the atmosphere and vibe of your day will be come across in your photographs .
Where do we go from here?
A big part of getting the most out of your wedding pictures is finding a photographer you trust, can relate to and who you’re on the same page with, so you can relax, be yourselves and focus on what’s most important – having the best day with your loved ones.
If you’ve come this far and like what you’ve seen – yay! Please say hello via my contact page, I’d love to hear all about you, your other half and what you have planned for your big day.