Where are you based?
I live in a fab little town called Mirfield in West Yorkshire.
How far will you travel?
I will travel anywhere in Great Britain to photograph your wedding, session or event. Venues that are not within a 30-mile radius of my base will incur extra charges on top of the package that you have opted for. Depending on where it is that you are having your wedding and/or event, it might be necessary for me to book accommodation that is near to your venue. This cost will also be an addition to the package that you have opted for. Concerning photo shoots abroad, depending on where it is, I am open to negotiation.
What kit do you use?
My equipment is all Canon gear.
My main camera is a Canon 5D Mark II. I have a bag full of various lenses, a backup camera and more batteries and memory cards than you can shake a stick at.
What is your style?
The characteristics of my photography are very much of a candid and reportage style. A documentary approach if you like. I like to capture the moment without the subject even knowing that they are being photographed much of the time. I look for quirkiness, laughter, pure moments of joy and thoughtfulness. Beautiful moments! I sometimes play around with set poses and/or even introduce props into a shoot. These can often be fun and interesting, but it will always be from a relaxed, informal aspect. More a case of “lets see what happens” rather than in a forced or controlled context. This is more the case with family/child shoots and portrait photography rather than wedding photography. See MY STYLE for more info.
Where do you do your photo shoots?
I do not operate out of a studio although I have a portable studio rig. I mostly like to get out in the world. For family shots and portrait photography I will usually talk with you about a mutually agreed location. Somewhere beautiful with some great backdrops always works nicely. Certain urban backdrops are cool too. I can also come to your home to photograph you and your family in an environment that is familiar and relaxed. I am always open to discussing the location for the photo shoot. Happy to talk about options.
How many photos do we get?
It all depends on the package that you have opted for and the coverage of the shoot. See PACKAGES for a rough guide on image volume. I tend to take a lot of photos.
Why do you include a complementary engagement shoot?
If you are not used to having a camera pointed at you, having someone arrive at your wedding and start firing away at will, can be a little intimidating. Even for those among us who aren’t camera shy. I photograph my family extensively, but even they are not used to me following them around for a whole day reeling off photo after photo. I offer a complimentary engagement shoot for this reason. You get to know me a little bit, we can have some fun and you will hopefully become a lot more comfortable about being photographed on your big day. Plus you get some great shots to use either for your wedding guest book, save the date stationary or just to keep for memories sake. It’s also great for me to get to meet you and spend a little time getting to know you as a couple. I get a little insight into whom you both are and this is extremely helpful to me too.
Do you offer the digital files?
Yes indeed. I believe that you should have your digital files to keep. You will receive your images as high resolution jpeg files on either a disc or USB drive. The copyright will always remain with the photographer, but the images are licensed to you for your own personal use. What you can’t do is copy and pass on the images to third parties or resell the images for personal gain or profit. That would be very naughty. Very naughty indeed!
Do you edit your photos?
Yes. I do what is called a post process edit. I individually edit all the images that you receive. Where digital photography is concerned, modern technology has produced some fabulous digital solutions and software that gives photographers all the editing capabilities that a dark room has and much more beyond. I do not batch or bulk edit images. I believe that each photo is unique and therefore worthy of individual attention.
Can you make me thinner and remove my wrinkles?
I am not a great fan of polishing things up unnecessarily. You see a lot of photography in this age of digital technology that is edited to make the subjects look ridiculously unblemished. I believe that when you do this you also remove 90% of their character.
Manipulating images can harbour some great results. In terms of artistic and creative elements, making vast changes to photographic imagery regarding digital illustration techniques and/or fine art photographic productions, can be exciting and incredibly impacting. But that bit of muck on a child’s face, that wrinkle, dimple, runny nose and those tears etc, speak volumes about the here and now of who people are. As far as portrait photography is concerned, if you start to edit those things away, in my opinion you are removing the very essence of what it is to be alive and living.
How long will it take to get my photos back?
I look to get your photos back to you between three and four weeks after the shoot. Sometimes it will be sooner than this.
Do you include Black and White photos in your edit?
Yes I do. Usually these will be stand alone images, but very occasionally they will be a duplicate of a colour image. I prefer them to be stand alone images to be honest, but sometimes I feel it necessary to include both the colour and black and white version of the same image. The majority of the final edit shots will be in colour. If you prefer black and white images and are looking for a retro finish/edit where colour images are concerned, then I can talk to you about the editing process and what you are looking for in the finished article.
Can we have the unedited RAW files and do we get all the photos you take?
I use my professional integrity and experience to make an informed selection from the huge amount of footage that I capture during a photo shoot. I do not present contact sheets for viewing by the client in order for the client to make the selection, nor do I release the unedited RAW files for viewing or purchase either. The images that you receive in the final edit are a selection that I make that reflects the high standard that I adhere to. Asking to see everything else would be like asking a sculptor for the stone that they had removed from the block while fashioning their masterpiece. For various reasons I do not archive the images that are not in the final edit and therefore they will not be available at all.
Is it OK to provide you with a shot list?
Where weddings are concerned I certainly don’t mind discussing a few formal shots of friends and family. I understand that these types of shot are necessary. I usually allocate a small amount of time for these after the ceremony, although I do tend to keep these to a minimum. With family photo shoots I tent to cover many different types of shot. If you have something specific in mind I am open to suggestions, however, my style is very much about the moment and my approach is informal.
Do you have insurance?
Yes I do indeed. I’m Insured up to the hilt.
Will you need feeding at the wedding breakfast?
If you would like to feed me that would be absolutely wonderful! I will never turn down a smashing bit of grub. Do not feel obliged to feed me though. I will get through the day unscathed regardless!
If you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch via the CONNECT page.