Here are some of the most common questions asked. If I haven't covered your question, please let me know and Email me to discuss your needs.
That is entirely up to you. There will be no pressure from me for you to book when we first meet and I would suggest you talk everything over before you book. Once someone has booked a date, that date is gone and I can't let you have the same day. It is wiser to book once you have fixed the date.
I hold full professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Should a venue require evidence of this I am more than happy to provide copies.
Yes, I do. A copy can be provided at any time.
Please tell them that nothing I bring will be plugged into any socket. Everything is run from batteries and I have enough spares to last more than double the time needed. Due to this, no PAT certificates need to be supplied.
Personally, I think it is a really important part of getting to know each other and to build trust. I know I am very easy going but you won't be sure of that until we meet. Having us all meet up gives us all the chance to get to know each other and discuss any wedding day photography ideas you may already have.
I'd also suggest another meet up closer to the wedding to run through any changes or new ideas.
Excellent, thank you. If I haven’t already provided you with a copy of my contract, contact me and I will send you a link to a copy for you to complete, upon receipt of the completed contract and the booking fee, I will confirm the booking of your wedding day.
I mostly cover weddings in Devon and Cornwall but I am open to travel further. We can discuss this when we meet.
I will always look at a venue in person or, if it is far away, research the location online to make sure I know the best places to shoot from, for sunny or rainy days!
I love the 'capture the moment' shots and I like my photos to be storytelling. There is an art to photographing someone when they don't see you taking the photo. Those photos are priceless and are the type of photos I enjoy taking the most.
Most think we stride up to the wedding, take a few photos and we then go back home and everything is done. The reality is the actual wedding day is only a small part of my process. The editing of photos can take several days or more because I want each photo to look the very best. The price you pay is not only the wedding, the meetings and venue research, it's also to spend time making sure you'll have photos you'll remember for life.
That would be entirely up to you. I can be there from start to finish. I would suggest that I don't stay much after the first dance, as this is when smartphones tend to take over. You tell me what you'd like and we will work out a schedule between us.
It's very often a main part of the day for weddings so yes I do. I would suggest that no more than half a dozen should be scheduled and we can discuss this during our chat. It can be as formal as you want but I like to capture some 'off-the-cuff' shots if possible and if time allows.
It can be time-consuming and sometimes difficult to get everyone in the right place for the formal shots. I would strongly suggest that you have a nominated person (usually the loudest or most bossy person you know) to help me so we can get them done quickly so everyone can get back to the fun.
This is why it is so important for us to meet up prior to your wedding, not only for us to get to know each other but also for me to get a feel for how you are with having your photo taken. Honestly, you really don’t need to worry about anything, it’s not about me and my camera, it’s about you both. The only time you will really be in front of the camera is when we go for a walk to get some stunning photos of you both while you take some time out together, no false smiles, it’s my job to make you feel comfortable and inject a little bit of fun with my photography.
Yes. If I have to leave the venue to get something to eat I may miss opportunities that you'll wish I had been there to capture. I'll also treasure you forever if a coffee or a can of full sugar Red Bull appears every now and then ;-)
I ask that I am one of the very first to be fed so I am prepped and ready for the after-dinner activities.
I drink at all because I don't like not being in control. There are so many settings and considerations in photography. Impairing all those decisions is far too risky so I won't do anything that may harm my thought processes. I do vape but I'll do so away from anyone.
All the rain will do is limit the places I can photograph you but that also doesn't mean we can't get 'rain-creative'. I will know before we get there where I will be taking the photos, whatever the weather.
My absolute priority would be to reach out to other photographers to see if someone else can take over. I am very lucky in that I am very rarely unwell. Having a second photographer would be a very good option if this worries you.
I don’t want to stand out but I still need to be comfortable and agile. Many wedding photographers, myself included, prefer wearing all black. This makes it easier to remove ourselves from things like reflections in mirrors, things that we sometimes can't avoid because the angles will only work in one way. I'll be wearing a black shirt, black chinos and the comfiest footwear I can find.
I would never come to a wedding with just one camera, one lens or one SD card. I bring two cameras and both have two SD cards. Each photo I take writes to both cards at the same time. If one card fails the other should still have all the photos. I usually bring 5 lenses with me, for different parts of the day. I am using lighting more and more so that is also part of my day.
I like to try and get a handful of edited photos to you within a few hours of getting home, or by the next day, so you can use them for social media. Please then allow up to two weeks for all the remaining photos.
All weddings are different and things like the numbers of guests to photograph can vary from wedding to wedding. I won't guarantee a minimum because I want to be free to shoot quality and I will not to be forced into quantity. Unless you've hired the Chinese State Circus for the reception, with dancing elephants and fireworks, expect photos in the hundreds, not thousands.
One more important point; I won't deliver photos that have no emotion. The more emotion there is on the day, the more photos you'll receive. The most emotional wedding days I've photographed have received more than double the amount of photos compared to weddings with less emotions.
My price includes general retouching of each photo to pull out the best colours. It does not include editing the photo to remove things like; tan lines, running fake tans, Auntie holding up a giant iPad in your ceremony photos and so on. I can do it but I'm really sorry to say, it isn't cheap and nor is it part of the wedding package.
The copyright always belongs to the photographer but as described in my contract, you are pretty much free to do with them as you wish but if you upload to places like social media, they must be untouched (no filters etc). I am happy to talk over this with you.
Email me to discuss your needs.
"He is an amazing photographer. From start till finish, it's been a seamless process. He wanted the very best for our day and was a pleasure to interact with. We loved the style and quality of the pictures and how the photography was very natural. We could not have asked for anyone better...thanks a million!" From Phillip & Bethany
"This is too perfect. I can't stop looking at these. Brings back all the emotion. Thank you xxx "
Kate & James