FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON wedding photography

What areas do you cover?

I mostly photograph weddings in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire but I will venture further on occasions. I like to stay within an hour and half drive of home mainly to allow for getting to your wedding venue with time to spare. Because I live in south Buckinghamshire, I’m also within reach of Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire for weddings.

Do you offer destination wedding photography?

I don’t offer it as part of my standard wedding packages but I’m always open to a discussion about photographing your wedding in an overseas destination.

Do you offer elopement photography?

Yes, absolutely. I offer a micro photography package that covers small weddings and elopements.

What is your style of wedding photography?

My style of wedding photography is a mix of editiorial portraits and candid natural moments. If you’d prefer all of your photography to be candid natural moments, I’m happy to work that way.

How do we book you?

As soon as I confirm my availability for your wedding date, I’ll invite you to have a call to talk about your day and what you’ve got planned. Following our call, I’ll send you a copy of my contract detailing the professional photographer services I’m offering. If you decide to move forward, I’ll need a signed copy of the contract by return along with payment of my booking fee; I’ll invoice you for the booking fee as soon as you return the signed contract. Once that’s done, you’re wedding photography is booked and in the diary.

How much is the booking fee and when are payments due?

My booking fee is £200 and is payable on signing my contract. The booking fee covers our planning in the run-up to your wedding, any venue meetings that we arrange and the setup of your wedding gallery. The balance is due one month before your wedding date; I’ll send you an invoice six weeks before. I accept payment by BACs.

Do you charge more for shooting at multiple locations?

If you are getting ready at one location, having your ceremony at another, and having your reception at a third, please let me know at the time of inquiring. In general, there wouldn’t be an additional fee, as long as all of the locations are within a short distance of each other and all have good parking facilities onsite or close by.

How many photographers come with you on the day?

Depending on the wedding package you’ve chosen, I’ll be on my own or with another professional photographer. If I’m working with an assistant, I’ll give you advanced notice.

Do we have to feed you?

If I’ll be attending your wedding for more than five hours, I do ask you to provide a meal for me. Wedding venues are generally able to provide a small plate of food (in the foyer or another separate area) at the same time as the wedding party is eating (so no important shots are missed).

Do you have professional photography equipment?

As a professional photographer, I use Sony pro cameras from the Sony Alpha mirrorless series for all my weddings.

Do you have public liability insurance?

As standard, I have £10 million cover for public liability as a professional photographer. If you’re venue requires proof of cover, I can send the relevant documentation by email.

How long will we have to wait for our photographs?

It usually takes me a couple of weeks to process your wedding photos. I edit them all individually and present them to you in an online gallery. If you’d like to create a printed wedding album, you’ll be able to make your selection from the gallery. All of your images will also be provided to you digitally (JPGs on USB) in a print ready format.

Do you have backup equipment?

I photograph every wedding with at least two cameras; each camera has a dual card reader, in case either card becomes corrupt or is damaged. I also bring multiple lenses and flashes, all of which are interchangeable. If you’ve asked me for a second professional photographer, you’ll have double the equipment with backup.

What happens if you’re sick?

If for any reason I’m not able to attend your wedding, I will offer you an alternative professional photographer of similar photographic style. You will of course have the right to refuse a substitute and make your own arrangements, at which point I’ll refund all monies paid.

We’ve been to wedding ceremonies where the photographer is quite distracting, how do you usually work?

If I’m photographing your wedding on my own, I’ll usally shoot from the back of the venue during the ceremony which I think is the least distracting method of photographing the ceremony. In religious buildings, it’s quite common for the celebrant to restrict the movements of the photographer during the ceremony so that’s something to check anyway.

Do I have to undress in front of you?

No, not at all. I’m a professional photographer and while I’m used to photographing people in various states of undress, I want you to feel comfortable so I’m more than happy to leave the room while you change into your wedding outfit, if that’s what you’d prefer. A lot brides like a photo of their dress being done up but we can always recreate the moment.

What can we expect on the day?

On your wedding day, I try to arrive a little earlier than planned, particularly if you’re getting ready at your wedding venue. This gives me a chance to find the wedding planner and take some photos around the venue, and in the ceremony and reception rooms before guests start arriving. If you’ve included bridal prep/getting ready photos in your package, I’ll come to your room at the agreed time.

I tend to work fairly quietly in the background, just capturing what’s going on; and that’s mostly what I’ll do for your whole day. If there are particular details or moments you want me to photograph, you can always let me know.

The only part of the day I don’t photograph is people eating – I’ll photograph your arrival for the wedding breakfast and be back for the speeches but I don’t photograph the bit in-between.

In the run-up to your wedding, we’ll agree an outline plan of your photography coverage; I find this helps to keep to the running order of the day, makes the venue happy and ensures you get what you want from your wedding photography.

We’ll also agree any group shots in advance and I’ll ask you to delegate the task of finding guests (for those group photos) to two members of your bridal party so you can just relax and enjoy the day.

Most of your wedding photography will be natural candid moments because it is a wedding and not a photo shoot. Having said that, if you’ve booked me as your professional photographer, I’m hoping you want some beautiful portraits as well.

When it comes to wow shots, like sunset and night portraits, I’ll setup the shots on my own, then I’ll call you in at the last minute so you’re not away from your guests for too long. The only caveat to this is if we have to leave your venue to take sunset photos, in which case you’ll need to be with me while I set up.

Unless you’ve paid for additional hours, I usually begin packing up about 10 minutes after the first dance

Can we meet you before our wedding?

I always try to meet you at your wedding venue before the big day. It’s a great opportunity to get to know each other and chat about the details. If I haven’t photographed a wedding at your venue before, I also find it helpful to visit around the time of day you’ll be getting married so I can see where the best light will be. In any event, it’s great to walk the grounds with you and find the best backgrounds for photos.

Have you photographed weddings for more mature couples?

Yes, I have photographed weddings with mature couples. You can find some examples in my wedding portfolio.

I won’t be wearing a white wedding dress, is that a problem for you?

Not at all. In fact it makes wedding photography a lot easier when the bride isn’t wearing a white wedding dress because the photographer is not at risk of overexposing the dress in order to get the correct exposure on people’s skin. The only potential downside is that your photos may not look like a wedding.

How do you work with people that suffer from camera shyness?

Photographically speaking, I have several techniques I use at weddings that can help camera shy couples. Something that seems to be effective with most of my couples is meeting up (in person) before the wedding day. I think, the camea shyness that you feel is partially caused by not knowing what to expect.

Something that might sound awful but also helps is having an engagement or pre-wedding shoot. If you want to try some self-help for being camera shy, I’ve put together a mini guide on things you can do.

Can we give you examples of wedding photos we would like to have?

If you’ve seen a few photos that you love (not necessarily taken by me) and would like to recreate on your wedding day – particularly if they were taken at your venue, I’m happy to create something similar for you in my style. Pinterest boards are a good way to show your photographer the kind of images you like. Just don’t pick photos of models or choose images in locations that are wildly different to your wedding venue, e.g. a Malibu beach at sunset when you’re getting married at a town centre location at midday.

We don’t know how to pose, can you help?

First things first, you don’t need to know anything about posing. One of reasons, I like to meet couples before they get married is to understand how they naturally relate to each other. On your wedding day, I’ll suggest poses that reflect what you do naturally. I might say, pop your arm here or put a foot there to perfect what you’re doing for a photo but nothing complex and nothing that requires you to be Britain’s next top model.

Do you take a different approach to posing older brides and grooms?

For all of your portraits, I will try to suggest poses that suit you as a couple. There are definitely a few poses that can be less flattering for older couples than younger ones and I’ll also steer clear of any lifts or dips that could cause injury. I don’t have a stock set of poses that I use at every wedding because that wouldn’t work for young or more mature couples.

Do you take sunset photos or creative nighttime portraits?

If you let me, I’ll take sunset photos and creative nighttime portraits. I can provide sunset photos all year-round but nighttime photos need darkness so during the summer months of May to September, it rather depends on how long you’ve booked me. From October to the end of April, I can offer night shots with fairy lights, light painting, gels, champagne sprays, sparklers and even smoke.

If you want specific shots, like the champagne spray or light painting, you just need to tell me in advance so I bring the necessary gear with me.

Have you won any awards for your wedding photography?

Yes, I’m pleased to say I’ve won multiple awards for my wedding photography with the Guild of Photography where I’m also a qualified member and continue to develop my photography skills.