Frequently Asked Questions:
There is no such thing as a stupid question.
How do you work and what is your style?
As a one person business, I feel a lot of responsibility towards each and every couple. I take the time to get to know my couples, listen to their wishes and give them a lot of useful information to help plan the order of the day and to get the most out of the photography. I am very knowledgeable and creative, but also friendly and intuitive.
Most of the photographs I take on the day are in a documentary style. I am the observer, the fly on the wall, another participant, always there, but always in the background and never in the way. I combine my documentary photography with very creative and beautiful portraits that make the most of the surroundings.
How long have you been a wedding photographer and how many weddings do you shoot per year?
I started as a freelance wedding photographer in spring 2012, but had already shot quite a few weddings by then. I typically shoot 25-35 weddings per year. This might not sound much in comparison to other photographers, but I also do brand and editorial shoots, plus I have two kids, a husband and a cat who need me.
Where are you based and what area do you cover?
I am based in Bath and I cover Bath, Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
Do you work alone or with a second shooter?
I usually work alone which allows me to observe and photograph without the wedding party being too aware and affected by it. I recommend a second shooter for large weddings and when you want to capture both the bride and groom getting ready in different locations. I know many excellent wedding photographers and a second shooter chosen by me will always be experienced, reliable and similar in their creative style.
Do you also do engagement shoots?
Yes, I do. And if you want to we can include some fun shoots that you can use for your ‘Save The Day’ card or for your guest album on the wedding day. An engagement shoot is also great if you feel unsure in front of the camera and want to get a ‘practice run’ in before the big day.
What packages do you offer?
I mainly offer whole day packages (8 or 10 hours are the most popular one), but I also photograph smaller weddings. If you cannot find a package that suits you, I am very happy to give you a custom quote.
Do you shoot same sex weddings?
Yes absolutely! Love is love. And I love LOVE!
Do you need food on the day?
If you have booked me for longer than five hours, can you please provide me with a meal. This does not have to be fancy, but please can it be gluten free!
Are you insured?
Yes absolutely.I am fully and professionally insured. I am very happy to send my insurance certificate to your venue if required.
When and how will we receive the photos?
It usually takes me around 6 weeks to edit and post the photos to you. For July to September weddings it can take me up to two months due to the quantity of weddings. You will receive your photos via a secure online gallery from which you can download individual or all images. You can also share this gallery link with your friends and family if you wish.
Do you do site visits?
I don’t typically do site visits no. The main reason is that there are so many variants that can be different on the actual wedding day: the weather, the light, the vegetation. However if you are getting married at a big or complex venue, I will always be happy to visit the venue before the wedding day if I can.
Common Worries:
We all have things that we worry about, whether it is about the way we look or the planning of the day. I am here to help you as best as I can!
I hate posing or having my photo taken.
I totally feel you! I think most of us find having our photo taken very difficult. That is because we are not used to it, we don’t know how to stand or present ourselves. As a consequence all photos of us don’t look like us and we don’t like them.
However it doesn’t have to be like this! When you feel insecure in front of my camera, I like to get you involved. I explain my photo idea to you, take a test shot and show it to you so you get a feel for what I am creating. If you don’t like the angle or a particular features of yourselves (we all have those special dislikes), we can change them. Together we can create some photos of yourselves that you truly love! The only two things we need for this is patience (of which I have a lot) and time.
I feel really concious about my weight. How can you help me?
First of all thank you for being honest. Weight and/or body shape can be a delicate issue. I encourage you to express any fears to me in private and before the big day so we can talk through your particular issues and discuss how we can make you feel comfortable. I can take a beautiful portrait of everyone as long as you give me a chance!
We want some group pictures, but don’t want it to take all day.
To be honest I also don’t want group pictures to take all day, there are much better things to do on a wedding day!
However certain group shots are really nice to have and my recommendation would be to at least have these five: her family, his family, both sets of parents, bridal party and if possible a big group shot. Of course I can take more group shots, but please be aware that these can take quite a bit time out of your day!
What do we do if it rains on our wedding day?
It’s funny you ask, because I have written a bog post about exactly this subject!
Also please remember: a wet knot never comes undone. 😉
What happens if you get sick?
I have never missed a wedding due to sickness! I am generally in very good health and this is because I like to look after myself. In addition I don’t do risky sports or eat risky food before a wedding.
If something happened to me and I was not able to photograph your wedding, then I would do my best to mobilize the community of wedding photographers around me to either find a stand in (associate) or a replacement photographer.
What happens if your camera breaks?
Then this would be the very first time this has ever happened! I have never broken a camera, but please note that I shoot every wedding day with two cameras, so should one break I always have another one to hand.
Does it matter if you haven't worked at my venue before?
No, it doesn’t. If I am not familiar with a venue, I can either do and visit it some time before the wedding or arrive 1-2 hours early on the day to have a good look around. But even when I am unfamiliar with a setting, I do not find it hard to take good photographs, as I am very spontaneous and creative in that sense (as most documentary photographers).
What others said when they received their photos:
Because what my couples think really matters to me.
Thank you very much for getting all our photos ready before Christmas. We are extremely happy with your work. You were fantastic on the day and the end results are wonderful. We will treasure these photos forever. Thank you for making our wedding day special and for capturing our memories in such a magical way.
Thank you ever so much. We sat down last night and looked through them all. What an absolute fantastic job you have done! We are so pleased with them and can’t wait to share with family. Thank you again!
I just wanted to say a big thank you for all your hard work on the day and the lovely photos. The photos are perfect! We love them so much. Huge thanks for all your hard work and for capturing our special day. Lots of the guests said to me how great you were with them on the day as well.