TELL ME MORE, TELL ME MORE
Tell me more, tell me more! EXCITING TIMES
I have been known to bust a few moves on the dance floor, cry during ceremonies and laugh out loud with guests during speeches. I hope (fingers and toes crossed) that you will feel you have gained a friend. I love keeping in touch with couples so feel free to add me on Insta.
It really is your day, your way…. I am there to document and not dictate.
Here is a list of commonly asked questions! Hopefully help you decide that I am the right photographer for you!
WHERE ARE YOU BASED & DO YOU TRAVEL?
I’m based in the heart of Cheshire, right by Delamere Forest however I cover weddings everywhere including Liverpool, Lancashire, Manchester and Shropshire, Staffordshire & Wales.
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE?
I shoot with two Sony camera’s and also have a third back up with a variety of prime lenses. They are super quick and work brilliantly well in low light which is essential for a natural light photographer.
HOW DO WE BOOK AND SECURE OUR DATE?
When you contact me saying you would like me to photograph your wedding I will send you over your contract and details to pay the £500 booking fee. Once I have these your wedding goes in my diary. Your balance is then due 4 weeks before your wedding date. Closer to the date I will send you my running order form and we will chat about timings and locations. You are of course able to e-mail me anytime from booking me until your wedding date should you have any questions.
WHAT IS A NATURAL LIGHT/DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHER?
This means that I use natural light sources wherever possible. This compliments my documentary style of photography, it’s unobtrusive and, I think, a lot prettier. Where there is no natural light source available I do use flash and/or video light. This essentially means that my job is to tell the story of your wedding day, just as it is. This means observing and waiting for all of the genuine moments and natural interactions between you and your nearest and dearest. I like to stay in the background waiting for it all to happen. This way I really get to understand the dynamic of your wedding and record it all for you in photographs. I will give you gentle direction for group shots and your couple shots but that is pretty much it. No cheesy set up poses!
DO YOU DO GROUP SHOTS – A FEW FORMALS?
Yes. Most couples have a list of “must have” photographs with close family of friends that they want. I recommend that the group shots are limited to 8-12 so that your photography fits in with your day rather than dominates it. Group shots do take some time organising so the more that you have the more it eats into a large chunk of your day. This stops me doing what people book me for, documenting all of the lovely and wonderful stories of your day. I am used to being grabbed to take pictures with certain friends throughout the day and that’s no problem at all. I’ll also be there taking pictures without you even realising
HOW LONG DO YOU NEED TO TAKE OUR COUPLE PHOTOS?
I would say about 15-20 minutes is ideal. It’s not uncommon for weddings to run over time so it is wise to factor in a little more just in case. The longer I am given with you means the more pictures of just the two of you. It’s actually really nice for you to have a little time on your own (I don’t count!) and just take in that “just married” feeling.
DO WE NEED TO FEED YOU?
I don’t expect you to pay for me to have a full wedding breakfast, I know that wedding costs mount up. However a bar meal or just a main course (most venues have supplier rates) would be great as it’s a long day and refuelling is essential. And I never turn down cake. Ever!
WE HATE HAVING OUR PHOTO TAKEN
Most people aren’t used to being photographed so feeling a bit apprehensive is completely normal so please don’t worry. I’m very friendly and relaxed and I won’t ask you to do anything silly or anything that you feel uncomfortable with. I just want to take pretty pictures of you all loved up so I will just give some gentle direction, chat to you and then let you do the rest. Nothing forced and over posed. My camera shy couples will tell you that they actually enjoyed their couple portrait part of the day, I promise!
WHAT IF IT RAINS?
The best plan is to have a few plain Umbrellas on standby so that if it does rain without any break we can pop out and have a few outdoor photographs and embrace the rain! I have some gorgeous blogs from weddings when the weather wasn’t on their side.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF UN-PLUGGED / ARE YOU HAPPY FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO TAKE PHOTOS?
Absolutely! I have no problem with your guests taking photographs, it’s always lovely for you to see as many photos from different perspectives. The only thing I ask you to consider is whether to have an “unplugged” ceremony. This means asking your guests to pop their phones, iPads and cameras down during your wedding service. This means that I get a clear, unobstructed view but, more importantly, you have an unobstructed view of each other and that your guests are truly present for the main event.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE POORLY?
I have never missed a wedding yet and I have no intentions for this to change! However I do understand that couples like to know what the back up plan would be if, in the unlikely event that, I was ill on your wedding day. I am part of a large group of photographers in the North West who have a similar approach to wedding photography as me. We are a friendly bunch who help each out in on these very rare occasions.
HOW DO WE RECEIVE THE IMAGES?
The final set of images will be delivered via an online gallery for you to download. Long gone are the days of floppy disks and USB’s…. its a digital world we live in! It’s so easy to download the images and feel free to share this with your friends & family.
DO YOU EDIT ALL OF OUR PHOTOGRAPHS?
Your photographs are culled and individually edited in my signature style as can be seen throughout my website. My photography and editing style compliment each other to form the final images that you receive. I use a mixture of colour and black and white in your set of images depending on what suits the photograph best. As I’m a documentary photographer I like your photographs to reflect your day as it was and as such I don’t use photoshop to drastically alter images.
WHEN DO WE GET TO SEE OUR PHOTOGRAPHS AND HOW MANY WILL WE GET?
I know that you are desperate to see your images so I always try to show one image as a sneak peek a few days after your wedding to keep you going. I then aim to have your “best bits” slideshow ready within 6 weeks and your full set of images ready within 8-12 weeks of your wedding. I provide you with a password protected on-line gallery with a print ordering service that you can share with friends and family – and download the images. You will receive 400+ images for a full day wedding.
CAN WE PRINT OUR PHOTOGRAPHS?
Absolutely. This is why I offer one package where you get all of your photographs digitally, give as gifts and send to family and friends as you like. I strongly recommend having your images printed by a professional printer. If you invest a little bit more in a professional service your prints will be an accurate reflection of what you see on your screen. My (vast) experience of high street printers has resulted in faded, discoloured and blurred images that don’t do professional images any justice. I do offer a professional print service via my online galleries.
OUR SUPPLIERS HAVE ASKED FOR PHOTOGRAPHS?
If your florist or hairdresser and any other supplier would like photographs of their contributions to your wedding I would love it if you give them my details so that I can send them watermarked copies and ensure that I am credited. This is because I own the copyright to all of your photos which means that images can’t be used or sold commercially without my permission. More often than not I contact your suppliers to show them your blog as it’s always lovely to see the wedding as a whole.
WE HAVE A PINTEREST BOARD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IT?
If you have a wedding pinterest board and want to share it with me it’s always lovely to see what plans and ideas you have for your wedding day. I would just ask you to bare in mind that I don’t recreate other photographers photographs. Your wedding day is all about you and your story and you will create your own gorgeous and unique memories. My style is documentary so I focus on moments more than staged images.
ARE YOU FULLY INSURED?
Public Liability insurance is absolutely essential.
SHOULD WE HAVE A SECOND SHOOTER?
If you would like groom preparation documented or have a large wedding (over 100 daytime guests) I would suggest that you consider having a second shooter. This would be arranged by me and would be an experienced photographer with a style and approach in keeping with mine.
DO YOU DO ALBUMS?
Yes. I offer albums in various sizes. They are beautiful! I love seeing my work in print – for you to treasure forever!
