Working together - information for Couples
I’ve tried to put together a page with all the information I think you need about us working together. If you have any other questions please check the FAQs page and the T&Cs page or contact me.
Key Timings
30% (or £150 if 30% is less than that) booking fee and due at time of completing booking form to secure your date. Your date will only be held for 48 hours without the booking form and fee.
Balance due 6-8 weeks before your date.
Photos delivered via online gallery 6-8 weeks after your date.
Book/album will be ready for collection up to 6 months after I receive your selection and payment if upgrading.
Online galley will be deleted 6 months after you receive it. (Reminder email sent two weeks before this date.)
Before the wedding
Things you need to tell me
There is a lot to think about and to organise when you are planning a wedding, and as much as you can leave me to photograph all the obvious (ie the ceremony, the speeches, you!) I will need some guidance on the most important aspects TO YOU. For example; has someone made you a special decoration, are you having a confetti cannon, has a cousin travelled all the way from Australia just for your big day and you want a photo of you both? Whilst I will mingle and take photos of as many of the guests as I can, if you don’t tell me the cousin Jo has made a special trip to be there and who cousin Jo is then I can’t guarantee to take a photo of her. And you know if you don’t tell me about that special person or thing that will be the one I miss. Likewise if you are having a confetti cannon or a parade of puddings with sparklers and don’t tell me when this will be happening, that will be the time I go to the toilet!
Also please bare in mind that I am more documentary, candid photographer and that is where my strength lies, if you have a big long list of shots that you want then you won’t get the best from me.
The day of the wedding
Other guests with cameras
I have no problem with other guests taking photos with their cameras or phones but please try and make sure you look at me when I’m taking a photo, once I’ve got my shots I’ll step back and let your guest take photos.
Ceremony restrictions
I know from expereince that some churches/venues can be quite restrictive about where photographers are allowed to stand during the service. I have even heard stories whereby one vicar beforehand has said it’s fine to go where you like but then on the day the vicar taking the service has a different rule. I will always try to speak to whoever is officiating your service be it in a church, registry service or wherever you’re getting married beforehand to find out where I can stand but please bare in mind if I’m stuck at the back and the church is huge your photos of the service will be affected.
Group shots
I feel people have a bit of a love hate relationship with group shots; on the one hand you want to make sure you get those all important photos of you and your family but equally you don’t want to spend ages standing in a line plastering a smile on your face. They also take time, time away from you spending it with your loved ones having fun. That’s why I suggest if you do want some group shots you keep the list to about 10. Also remember that unless you don’t speak to anyone thought out the whole day I will probably capture you with friends and family but in a much more relaxed and natural photograph. Here are some ideas of groups shots:
Couple and parents
Couple and children
Couple and immediate family (parents, siblings, their partners and children)
Couple and grandparents
Couple and wedding party
Bride(s) and bridesmaids
Groom(s) and groomsmen
Group shot
To help speed up the group shots it would be great if there is a family member or friend who can help round people up for me - someone with a loud voice is ideal!
Also I am not a really pushy person so if you’ve asked me to take some particular photos but then on the day you or your guests are reluctant to do it I won’t make you. I want you to enjoy yourselves and not feel like you are constantly being pestered by me to get Great Aunty Janice for a photo!
However when it comes to photos of you and your partner I do strongly suggest that we take a little of bit of time out to get some beautiful portraits, this only has to take 10 minutes or so but if you are happy to spend longer then great. If we can do this when the light is likely to be at its best that will make your photos even more amazing. When ‘the best’ time is all depends on what time of year you are getting married but that is something we can chat about.
Food glorious food
If the booking is for 5 hours or more then I will need to eat at some point. I don’t expect to be sitting with your guests (in fact I would prefer not too!) and I don’t need to have the same 3 courses as everyone else, just something to keep me going. I can bring a sandwich if there is somewhere I can keep it so that it’s not getting all squashed in my bag or warm in the car, or if I can purchase food at your venue that is ok too, I just need to know what the deal is. A hangry photographer is not a happy photographer!
Over-running day
If your day over-runs then I am usually ok to stay on. The cost for this is £100 per 30 mins. You can of course ask me on the day to stay on but chats about money etc on your wedding day are far too mundane so you may prefer just to pre-authorise it before hand. I will only stay on the minimum amount of time required ie until just after the first dance (again unless you want me to stay longer) and I will send you an invoice after.
After the wedding
The Photos
I aim to get your photos to you within 6-8 weeks. You then have 6 months from that date to choose the ones you want in your book/album. You will receive your book within 6 months depending on what time of your you make your request (usually within 2 months). Your online gallery will be available for 6 months from the date you receive your full gallery. If you wish to extend your online gallery there will be a cost of £75 per 12 months. If you gallery has already expired there will be an additional cost of £75 to re-upload your gallery.
You will get all the photos in colour and black and white and in the original 3:2 landscape or portrait format. Some photos will work well as a square and you are more than welcome to crop the photos as you see fit. Please bare in mind if you crop a photo too much you will lose some quality.
When you get your wedding photos don’t be surprised that they are not sepia toned, vintage looking as that’s not my style. Hopefully you’ve looked through my portfolio and seen that I go for the natural, bright style and that is what you will get. If that’s not what you want them I’m probably not the photographer for you as I’m not going to edit my photos differently to what you’ve seen already from me.
Also if you are rather fond of a selfie stick and a snap chat filter then my photos of you maybe not what you are used to seeing, but please remember that my photos are the real you and that is what is important as that is the you your partner is marrying. Please don’t ask me to alter your photos - your partner knows that your face isn’t wrinkle free and if your wedding photos showed that then they would be a lie (in this digital age camera never lies line is no longer true!) I know how easy it is to be critical of yourself in photos - trust me I am not fond of most of the images of myself - but I won’t photoshop you slimmer. There are little things you can do to get the best ‘you' in the photos, for example you can work out what is your best side (but make sure you let me know), perhaps book me for an engagement or couple shoot before hand so that you get used to having a camera in your face and a little practice session to work out what angles you like best and for us to get to know each other?
Ultimately your partner, family and friends see you every day without a filter and as long as you look happy in the photos the photos will be amazing.
Choosing your photos for your book
Once you’ve received your photos, had time to look through them a few times then you need to pick the ones you want for your book or album. For a 28 page book I suggestion you choose 28-40 images, for a 40 page book/album choose 40-80 images. Sounds pretty simple doesn’t it? However trying to narrow down your selection and making sure you get a good flavour of the day is hard! If you chose over the recommended amount then you will have multiple images on each page, if you are happy with that then fine but the images will lose their impact and the book will look busy and cluttered. I try to design my books with single images per page with a few pages of two or three images - the details shots or room overview with no people in it or maybe a sequence of events. I’m more than happy to give you some guidance if you’ve got a short list that is more a long list. I have example albums and books available for you to look at if you want inspiration.
I will send a link so you can view the book before it goes to print and you can make one round of small changes. Extensive or further changes will incur a charge of £30 per set of changes.